HELP!! DVD Drive Issue

[XL]

My DVD drive won't recognise DVDs at all. CDs are fine though.

[Bad Company]

buy a new one.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

One thing you can try is uninstalling the drive in device manager and the reboot to let the computer reinstall the drivers. Quick fix, but the problem may come back.

If you have access to another computer, you should try using that drive in another computer. If it's the same problem, you probably need a new drive.

[XL]

I just tried the first option. There was no mention of reinstalling when I rebooted though. The drivers were just back in the list. Is that right?

buy a new one.
Nice option. If I could afford it.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B314060&x=12&y=13#

Try this. Don't forget to back up the registry first, though.

[XL]

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B314060&x=12&y=13#

Try this. Don't forget to back up the registry first, though.
At the risk of sounding dumb...how do I do that?

[XL]

Ignore that. I realised you mean create a restore point.

[Bad Company]

Is it a laptop or a desktop? What's the model of DVD Drive?

[Vietnamese Crippler]

Ignore that. I realised you mean create a restore point.

You can do that or one of these other ways: http://windowsxp.mvps.org/registry.htm

[XL]

Is it a laptop or a desktop? What's the model of DVD Drive?
It's a desktop.

This is what it says in Device Manager:

_NEC DVD_RW ND-2500A (<-- Would that be the model?)

Driver:
H + H DVD-ROM DVD-41SD SCSI CdRom Device

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=k...060&x=12&y=13# (http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=k...060&x=12&y=13#)

Try this. Don't forget to back up the registry first, though.

Tried that. No dice!

[Vietnamese Crippler]

Install in another computer and test.

If that doesn't work, do what BC said and save up $30 for a new.

[XL]

I'm not one for taking things apart. Plus, I don't think I know anyone that would be comfortable with me removing their drive to test mine.

I'll have a scout about the net, see if I can find a decent deal.

Just out of interest though, why would it stop recognising DVDs but still recognise CDs?

[Vietnamese Crippler]

The laser that reads DVDs could have died, whereas the laser for read CDs is fine.

The drive could also be in need of a good cleaning, but I doubt that's your problem.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

And honestly, ANYONE under the age of 45 should be able to do a CD/DVD drive install/removal.

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[G]

Yeah, come on. I installed my first drive at like 12.

[XL]

TBF I'm sure I could do it. I just wanted to make sure that that was the absolute last option. Rather than Bad Company's initial advice "Just buy a new one". Seems a bit needless if the one I have can be fixed!
Yeah, come on. I installed my first drive at like 12.

Whilst I was probably outdoors playing football (soccer) with actual friends :p

Thanks for all the help though guys. I'll be back here for advice on whether or not to go for a Blu-Ray/HD DVD drive soon!

[G]

Whilst I was probably outdoors playing football (soccer) with actual friends :p


I played 14 seasons of soccer during that period.

...with actual friends.


All I am saying, it is cake to install a cd drive.

[RoXer]

Football (soccer) is for fags.

So you all lose.

[Triple A]

DVD drives are like $20

[Triple A]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&SubCategory=55&N=2000100055&SpeTabStoreType=0

[Bad Company]

And they are VERY easy to install.

[Triple A]

DVD burners are even only like $25:

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=5&name=CD-DVD-Burners

[XL]

Y'know I never even considered the fact that I'd need a burner!

Thanks for the links but I'm guessing they're US sites. I'm in England.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/126226

Or if you wanna go blu-ray

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/139985

Or if you wanna BURN Blu-Rays (also reads HD-DVD)

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/136317

I've got that, tis awesome

[XL]

If I went with the HD option I'd need a HD graphics card, right? How much would that set me back (in £ if possible)?

[G]

You'd also need a monitor that supports HD.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

If I went with the HD option I'd need a HD graphics card, right? How much would that set me back (in £ if possible)?

Depends, if you're using VGA, you're cool, everything will play fine

If you're using DVI, you could buy a GFX card with the protection needed for DVI (or HDMI, for that matter) from about £20. Probably only a good ide if you never want to play the latest games though, obviously.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/145831

Either that or you can download a copy of AnyDVD HD which will remove the need for a HDCP compliant GFX card. All monitors are HD though so unless you're hooking it up to a TV to watch HD films, you may not need a new GFX card

[G]

All monitors are HD though

What :wtf:

[XL]

Gotta admit, a lot of what Hasney just said was gobbledy gook to me.

FTR, my PC is hooked up to a HD TV, I do not play games on my PC and I would also like to run 2 monitors if that makes a difference!?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

What :wtf:

If you have a monitor capable of 1280x720 then it's capable of at least 720p. If you can show me a monitor that doesn't do that I'd be shocked

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Gotta admit, a lot of what Hasney just said was gobbledy gook to me.

FTR, my PC is hooked up to a HD TV, I do not play games on my PC and I would also like to run 2 monitors if that makes a difference!?

To hook up to your HDTV do you use this type of cable:

http://auctioninvestor.com/shop/images/dvi_cable.jpg

This type of cable:

http://www.dcelectronics.com.au/store/images/vga%20cable.jpg

Or this type:

http://www.k1cable.com/images/hdmi_000.jpg

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Oh yeah, try this program, it will tell you if your PC is capable of playing Blu-Ray/HD-DVD

http://docs.cyberlink.com/multi/support/bdhd_support/diagnosis.jsp

[XL]

I currently use the second option. I have a DVD upscaler hooked up through the HDMI input, but obviously I wouldn't really need that if I had a HD-DVD/Blu Ray player in my PC.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Yeah, as long as that program I posted says your PC specs are alright then you won't need to use a new GFX card for HD stuff.

[XL]

So, seems my PC isn't in the slightest bit setup for HD.

And now it's time for another question that an average 12 year old could answer...

How do I know whether my PC is SATA or PATA compatible? Preferably without taking the thing apart.

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Without taking the side off (which is all you'd need to do) you'd have to look at device manager and have a look under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" and see if there are drivers that say Serial ATA.

[XL]

Listed under "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" I have:

Primary IDE Channel
Secondary IDE Channel
SiS PCI IDE Controller

Seems to be no mention of Parallel ATA or Serial ATA!?

[#BROKEN Hasney]

Well, get the first link I posted then, the cheapo DVD drive as it's IDE. Then, when it comes to getting a new PC, go for the works and get it all HD ready.

[XL]

Right, I'm all sorted now. Thanks for the help. A round of reps on me.

[G]

What did you do? Drive fix itself?

[XL]

I went out and bought a new drive. In fact I'd forgotten about the whole SATA/PATA thing until I got there. My PC is about 6 or so years old, so could be either (based on what the guy at the shop said). Chanced it with the PATA and luckily I was right.

Like you guys said, it was cake to install the drive itself.

Cheers.

[Bad Company]

Nice work.

[Vietnamese Crippler]

Now you're only steps away from building your own computer :y: