DVD's won't play

I have a friend that purchased a computer with Windows XP Home and it does not seem to recognize the DVD player. I use XP Pro and just put a CD into the tower and it starts playing automatically.

I need help trying to get hers working for her.

Thanks,
Reid

 

Hi,
You may need to be a little clearer.

Are you saying CD's will work on her computer, but not DVD's? Why do you reference your computer/system?

Matt

 

I'm sorry, I was in a hurry getting to a Valentine party at my church and did not take time to explain well.

I've never had a problem putting a DVD into my computer and it opening up perfectly. My friends are in their upper 70's and bought their first computer, in the last 2 months. Their system runs Windows XP Home and I run Windows XP Pro, I really don't know what the differences between the two would be.

I put a DVD into their tower and it does absolutely nothing, I went into "my computer" and tried to open but it seemed like there was no communication, that the computer did not recognize the DVD player. I've not seen this problem before and really don't know if it is a driver problem or something else. I took the DVD which would not play in her computer home, put it in mine and it worked perfectly.

I appreciate you being interested enough that you are attempting to help me solve their problem.

Thanks,
Reid

 

During a cold startup (not a restart), watch if the LED on the drive flashes. If not, it will not be getting recognized by the computer. You can try starting with a bootable CD in the drive and see if it will boot to that (say, the Windows setup CD).

Does it appear as a drive in My Computer? If so, go to Device Manager, highlight the drive (any drives listed under CD/DVD) and uninstall it. It will be automatically reinstalled when you reboot. Is the drive listed in Device Manger with a specific model number?

It happens with any disks, both DVD and CD?

There are some other "resets" we could try, but check those things first.

If you don't have any success, make a note of the computer's model number. If it is, say, a HP or a Dell it will have a label with model details (if it is a Dell, get the Service Tag number).

Matt

 

If this is a NEW computer, you may need to install a program which provides codecs which can play DVD's. A free program suggestion to provide reading DVD's, VCL media player.

 

I had her check while I talked her through it over the phone and she does not have a DVD drive (F) as I have in mine listed. Why would her computer not come with a DVD player drive and what can I do to resolve her problem.

Thanks for the help!

 

Hi, Reid.

Along the lines of mattman's suggestions and questions which we're still waiting to hear from you about...

Can she play audio CD's with the computer?

Can she access a data CD with the computer?

What brand and model number is her computer?

 

This is what was listed as existing in her device manager, "DVD/CD-ROM drives ", "LG CD-RW CED-8120B. She only has one listing, where I have two.

I have "HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8400B" and also "JLMS DVD-ROM LTD-1665 ".

I put a printer sofware disc in and loaded a HP printer with no problem but have not tried a sound only DVD.

 

That is the conclusion I arrived at, but never had to deal with. I've never had to do this how do you go about getting one and installing it?


Thanks,

Reid

 

Thanks, that is a very specific illustration and very simple. What should I tell her the price to purchase a good one would be, and what brand do you suggest?

Yes, it is a desk top but I am not sure what make.

 

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