DVD writer and Windows 7

Bikerza

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Can someone maybe shed light on my problem?

I have a gigabyte DVD writer (DUAL GO-W1616B) which I had no problems with before. I bought Windows 7 and it just refuses to read the DVD. It reads any CD I put in the drive and also tried other DVD's (back-up data etc) and it reads it all fine. It also reads another DVD (checked DVD size over 4 Gb)
Put the Windows 7 DVD in my laptop, and it is definitely working (DVD itself not damaged).

I did a firmware upgrade and also not resolved the problem.
Could it be memory causing the problem? I have only 1.5 Gb of memory?:confused:
Currently running on Windows 7 RC where I experience this problem.
 
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it is odd, i have had something similar but never tried to solve it before getting rid of the machine in question.

Is your laptop a DVD writer? try copying the disk to another DVD and boot off it?
 
Can someone maybe shed light on my problem?

I have a gigabyte DVD writer (DUAL GO-W1616B) which I had no problems with before. I bought Windows 7 and it just refuses to read the DVD. It reads any CD I put in the drive and also tried other DVD's (back-up data etc) and it reads it all fine. It also reads another DVD (checked DVD size over 4 Gb)
Put the Windows 7 DVD in my laptop, and it is definitely working (DVD itself not damaged).

I did a firmware upgrade and also not resolved the problem.
Could it be memory causing the problem? I have only 1.5 Gb of memory?:confused:
Currently running on Windows 7 RC where I experience this problem.

Must be a driver/compatibility problem. Call Gigabyte SA support and check with them.
 
I also had a similar problem with an older sony dvd writer. I ended up buying a new samsung writer... works fine.
 
Is this when you try to boot off the DVD as opposed to try and read it in the OS currently on the machine? If it's the former then how can it be a driver issue? Memory wouldn't be the problem. The problem is with your DVD drive.

Some older DVD drives have problems with certain types of DVD media. Copy the DVD to another disc and give that a try. Perhaps use the same brand media you used for your backups.
 
Thanks for the advice.

The DVD writer is on my PC. I have done a firmware upgrade, but it didn't solve the problem. When the Windows 7 DVD is in the drive, during boot-up, it just don't boot up at all. When starting the OS (win 7 RC) normally and then inserting the DVD, it just keep trying to read it and causes explorer.exe to hang. Explorer eventually gives up and closes down and refresh itself.

I also thought it to be a driver problem, but that does not explain why it reading CD's and other movie & data DVD's.
I will in the meantime try and report this to Gigabyte.
 
its funny u say that. I have an external LG running on Fedora. I copy lots of disks.

I tried to copy a windows 7 disk yesterday and it just wont read it. the whole thing just hangs and flashes like its looking for something. interesting.
 
I'm not sure about the alignment thing. How come it read some DVD's and not others?

Edit: Both MS and Gigabyte is extremely silent about this.
 
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And Gigabyte reply:

"Dear Sir,

Thank you for your kindly mail and inquiry. About the issue you mentioned, if this DVD can read other CD and DVD without problem, basically, it means the hardware is normal. We suggest you to contact with Microsoft and see if they can help you to test their DVD.

At last, if you still have any further question to this issue or suggestion about our products/service, please do not hesitate to contact with us. If you have any issue different from original, make sure you issue a new form in order to get proper assistance and it may be response faster as well. We will try our best to help you resolve the problem ASAP.

Best Regards,
GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY:
 
Thanks for the advice.
I also thought it to be a driver problem, but that does not explain why it reading CD's and other movie & data DVD's.
I will in the meantime try and report this to Gigabyte.

Hang on there, that could then be a DISK issue? Tried any other install/bootable DVD. Maybe your installer/auto-boot is at fault, can you browse the DVD at all after explorer refreshed itself. "Right click and open in new window"
 
The DVD itself works on my laptop.
I can't see the contents of the DVD on my home PC at all. I have many times tried your suggestion. At that point it kicks it out and/or see the DVD disk as empty and/or trying to format it.

My installer I don't think is at fault as it does work when I plug in my USB modem with install software on it. I also installed Nero (another attempt to try sort out reading DVD) from the DVD writer, so it works.
 
The DVD itself works on my laptop.
I can't see the contents of the DVD on my home PC at all. I have many times tried your suggestion. At that point it kicks it out and/or see the DVD disk as empty and/or trying to format it.

My installer I don't think is at fault as it does work when I plug in my USB modem with install software on it. I also installed Nero (another attempt to try sort out reading DVD) from the DVD writer, so it works.

Share your laptop's DVD Writer and Map it as a network Drive on the Windows 7 RC PC. Copy the whole contents of the DVD across to the Windows 7 PC in the C: drive and start the setup ;)
 
I have managed to copy DVD on my laptop and made a bootable USB drive.
Busy installing it that way now.
 
i wanted u to copy the DVD and boot off a copied one. or did u do that? to rule out physical errors vs logical ones the firmware cant read.
 
Made a copy of Windows 7 DVD - still not working in that drive.
Copied Windows 7 DVD to USB - managed to install Windows 7.
As we speak, I'm busy installing CS3 (on DVD) from that DVD writer and that is working.
 
ok. so that leaves the logical layout the disk as the probable cause?
 
had an oem gigabyte dvd/cd writer combo drive a few years back. absolute junk.
read some discs and not others. flashed firmware as suggested and the drive was FUBAR.
 
The disk is working on my laptop. So that does not explain the oddity.
 
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