DVD/CD-RW Drive does not read anything

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zizo911

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Hey guys I really hope you can help me, I have a DVD/CD-RW combo drive that has been working for years, but all of a sudden it has been unable to read anything. I tried uninstalling the drivers but it still doesn't read anything.Thanks
 
First thing to do is put a head cleaning Cd into it to make sure the lenses are clean. If it still does not work, throw it away and buy a new one. These drives do not last forever. If you have used it often for two years or more, you have done well.
 
CA195 said:
First thing to do is put a head cleaning Cd into it to make sure the lenses are clean. If it still does not work, throw it away and buy a new one. These drives do not last forever. If you have used it often for two years or more, you have done well.
Click to expand...

+1. On average they last 2-3 years. Depending on usage too. Go purchase one at your hardware shop, for around R150.
 
thanks will try cleaning it. but it does read discs, but just not able to view the content on it. hope it makes sense.
 
my guess.. it's stuffed !! or else you have software issues. So you say it reads i.e. can play a DVD, but you cannot see the contents ?

Wish we could entirely get rid of optical drives .. grrr and just go flash (usb) drives :)
 
what happens if you try boot of a bootable CD/DVD?
 
like a xp cd? i tried booting with it and it worked, so i guess the drive still works?
 
Does it have issues with copied discs but read original discs?
This is due to normal wear and tear.

Recommend that you buy yourself a new one.
 
like a xp cd? i tried booting with it and it worked, so i guess the drive still works?
 
zizo911 said:
like a xp cd? i tried booting with it and it worked, so i guess the drive still works?
Click to expand...

Not always. What happens if you try and boot a copied disc?

Sometimes a drive will read originals but not discs you burned. If you can boot of both types then I would say the drive is fine and you have a software issue.
 
i tried an original and copy disc. both worked. so the drive must work. must be a software problem? i recently installed xp sp2.. dnt knw if dat has something to do with it
 
Isntall SP3, maybe it fixes the SP2 bug :D

Drive however seems fine though if you could boot of both types of disc.
 
You wouldn't happen to have Daemon tools installed? I was close to trashing a drive the other day too...turns out Win7 and Daemon tools just had a misunderstanding.

Also check under Admin Tools -> Computer Management -> Disk Management what it says there.
 
i had a program similar to that, magic iso. it would'nt let me uninstall it. how you check admin tools in xp?
 
i switched on the pc. and now the drive is totally bust... oh well had a great 5 years with it :). thanks again for the help. so anyone know the price range of a new dvd writer? and what make? thanks
 
Keep it til you get your new DVD drive :)
Too many times people think the drive is faulty (99% probability it is the drive)
then they throw it out and buy a new one, and the new one doesn't work either :) LOL

PS: Take your drive with to the PC shop and ask them to recycle it.
Incredible deception has a E-Waste service, and theres an E-Waste sticky on this forum or something.
 
Hey good news guys, I installed xp Sp3 this morning and now the drive been working fine again. Almost threw it away. Thanks
 
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