DVD Drive & Blank DVDs

T

tiandup

Well-Known Member
Joined
May 28, 2010
Messages
314
Reaction score
0
Location
127.0.0.1
For some reason my DVD drive can't "read"/detect blank dvds. Every time I try to open it through my computer it says: "Windows can't read the disc in drive G:\". I've fiddled around in the bios, uninstalled, disabled and tried updating the drivers but nothing seems to work. I have Windows 7 and it's an IDE drive.
Any advice would be appreciated.
 
Last edited:
How old is the drive?

Being IDE I would imagine that you've had it for some time already and it is failing due to normal wear and tear.

Have you tried blowing it out to clear any possible dust?
 
Sounds to me suspiciously like you need a new drive, I'm afraid. You could try some sort of lens cleaning option, but I'm going to go out on a limb and side with the need for a new drive.
 
MickeyD said:
How old is the drive?

Being IDE I would imagine that you've had it for some time already and it is failing due to normal wear and tear.

Have you tried blowing it out to clear any possible dust?
Click to expand...

Yea it's quite old maby 3 years and yes, I clean my whole pc atleast every month since its on most of the time.
 
Rodent-Boy said:
Sounds to me suspiciously like you need a new drive, I'm afraid. You could try some sort of lens cleaning option, but I'm going to go out on a limb and side with the need for a new drive.
Click to expand...

Well it still reads fine so why doesn't it detect/"reads" that its a blank dvd?
 
I just noticed that the icon in Computer change from DVD R/W to CD Drive. Can it be the IDE Controler?
 
Last chance saloon...
1. switch off and unplug IDE and power cable from DVD writer. If possible also unplug the IDE cable from the motherboard.
2. boot up PC (right through to the W7 desktop).
3. switch off and plug everything in again.
4. boot up and see if it has detected it properly.
 
Happens to me sometimes as well. I don't bother opening blank DVDs with Explorer anymore - I go straight to Nero. Interestingly, the PC detects the drive as a CD drive when there is a blank disc, but as a DVD-RW when the tray is empty.
 
MickeyD said:
Last chance saloon...
1. switch off and unplug IDE and power cable from DVD writer. If possible also unplug the IDE cable from the motherboard.
2. boot up PC (right through to the W7 desktop).
3. switch off and plug everything in again.
4. boot up and see if it has detected it properly.
Click to expand...

Maby it's that time again. Format & Reinstall:erm:
 
Yep, probably the drive. New ones only last about 2 or 3 years if you're lucky. Fortunately they're dirt cheap.
 
tiandup said:
I tested it with my old PC's IDE drive and it is stil saying it cant read the disc :(
Click to expand...

I had a DVD writer which was two years old and I replaced it yesterday (as it gave me the same problems you are experiencing) with a new one (R160), so yeah. Just buy a new one already :erm:
 
Odracir said:
I had a DVD writer which was two years old and I replaced it yesterday (as it gave me the same problems you are experiencing) with a new one (R160), so yeah. Just buy a new one already :erm:
Click to expand...

I'm guesing your new drive is sata?
 
tiandup said:
Sory, didn't see the second page. I've only got 4 Sata Slots and all of them run hardrives
Click to expand...

Well then it looks like you still have to replace your old DVD writer with a new one anyway. No point in trying to revive the old one as it will give you endless hassles.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X