DVD RW drive won't recognise discs

I have an Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A ATA drive. It has worked perfectly for 6 months, I have burned many CDs and DVDs on it.

Suddenly, it does not recognise CDs (there seems to be no response from the drive when I insert one, and if I try to open it, it tells me to "insert a disc in drive D: )

When I put a DVD in, I can explore the DVD, but it is not playing the video. It is also telling me to "insert a writeable dvd" when I try to burn things.

I have uninstalled and reinstalled the (generic) drivers. I tried to update the drivers but Windows (Vista) tells me I have the most up-to-date drivers.

Any suggestions, or is the drive finished? Thanks in anticipation,

bluepeter

 

Hi B-P,

What might tell you directly is to connect it into another computer (DVD-RWs need a fairly powerful computer).

I always wince when I see "Insert a disk into (the drive) ".

Have you tried checking your old burnt disks in it?

See if it works OK in another computer (check the jumper settings, if you are not sure about them, get the drive's manual). If it does work, it will be a software problem on your computer.

Matt

 

Peter - long time no hear ....

Sorry to learn of your current dilemma. Matt is dead on the money re: fastest way to determine whether the problem is hardware or software related. Unfortunately, I think your drive could be toast or at least heading in that direction. You could try running a "Cleaner CD" in there (has little bristle-like hairs to clean dust & etc. from the lens) but it sounds like your optics are misaligned or on their way out. For the $25-35 a new DVDRW will cost you, it might be easiest just to bite the bullet and replace it.

Hope all else is well.

Regards,

 

Mattman and Rockster2U,

how are you? It's good to hear from you. You might have judged from my silence that all was well, but...

My old PC which was having the blue screen problems worked fine for a while after you (Rockster2U) figured out what was wrong. However, long term, I think the increased power wasn't helping the CPU, and the same problems crept back in. I bumped the core voltage again (to +6% from +3%). Again, this worked, but I feared it would burn out the CPU completely, so bought a new machine before that happened.

I now have a DualCore Intel Pentium D, 2.8GHz with 2GB memory. As I said, the DVD RW has worked great for months, and has suddenly stopped working. It's as if it doesn't recognise CDs (bought or burned) at all. It doesn't seem to be spinning them or anything. The drive light comes on, but that's it.

Update from this morning - it will now play a DVD, and spins a blank DVD-R when inserted, but doesn't recognise it as blank. I reset my autoplay options to "always ask" when I insert a blank disc, but get nothing. When I try to burn, it tells me to insert a writeable disc.

These are the same discs and programs I have always used.

I'll dig my old machine out of cold storage, dust off the valves ( ) and see if I can get any action. My main worry is the lack of recognition (at all) of CDs. This, I think, should give me a pointer as to the level of "toast" to which the drive has been toasted.

Oh well, stubborn as ever! Thanks again guys.

 

Peter,

As to the old machine and a re-occurance of your bluescreen problem, this probably was indicative of heat. May I suggest cleaning your CPU heatsink with canned air - you should notice a difference. I don't remember all of the particulars as its been a while, but I'm going to divert from a normally safe posture with the following comment applied to your situation only - I don't think you have anything to worry about with the +6% on your core voltage. All others should disregard this comment.

re: your DVDRW - good luck. Again, Matts suggestion is going to give you the quickest indication as to wheteher its a software issue or in fact, the drive itself. My suspicion is that your drive is headed south.

Regards,

 

Thanks Rockster and mattman,

I tried the drive in the old machine, and its the same story, so a new drive beckons.

The old machine is back in its hole where it belongs but I will one day get it out and try cleaning the heatsink. Having said that, I think the best parts of that and another machine I am soon to get my hands on might combine to form a machine for someone. Needless to say, the MB and CPU will be coming from the other machine!!

Cheers again,

bluepeter