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    External DVD/RW

    Discussion in 'Acer' started by kirkie, Jul 28, 2008.

  1. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I recently asked for some help due to my DVD/RW not working:

    http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=268335

    However I have since replaced this and it hasn't rectified the problem. I am now looking for a good external drive instead if anyone can recommend one please?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  2. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    What mode is the drive in....what sort of problem are you exactly facing at the moment..??
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  3. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Sorry I don't understand. You will have to excuse me as I don't know too much about technical stuff with computers.

    It will play DVD, but not data or music. It doesn't even recognise the disc for data or music.
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  4. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    I meant go into Device Manager, IDE/ATA/ATAPI controllers, check out the relevant ATA channel for your optical drive....and see in which mode it is

    ATA.jpg
    (Both vista and xp have the same UI for the device manager)
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  5. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    It says ATA Channel 0

    ATA Disk Ultra DMA Mode 5
    ATAPI Cdrom Ultra DMA Mode 2

    If that makes sense...
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  6. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    That seems to be fine, which DVD drive is it..?? Run Info Tool and upload a screenshot of the drive page..!!

    And try running the data and audio disc in safe mode or diagnostic mode....
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  7. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    How do I upload the screen shot?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  8. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Uhmm, Press Print Screen on your keyboard, go into mspaint, Paste, Save as jpeg, and upload as an attachment....
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  9. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Here we go fingers crossed
     

    Attached Files:

    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  10. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    This is the new drive you bought, right..?? where did you buy it from..??
    Does it show up in the BIOS....??
    Can you take out the optical drive and check on its label, which firmware it initially had....
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  11. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I have tried a refurbished one that didn't work. We then tried a new one and once again this didn't work so the one that is in is the original that came with the laptop.

    As for Bios how do I check that?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  12. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    You can boot into the BIOS and check on the information (1st) page if the OD shows up....
    Try running the drive and discs, in safe mode....This way you will know if any service or software is causing the problem....!!
    Have you tried to uninstall the ATA /IDE channels and let windows to redetect and install them..??

    Or if you want to use an external drive....Get a USB 2.0 to slimline adapter/cable and use this drive as an external drive..!!
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  13. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    For future reference, Alt+Prt Sc captures only the active window.

    This looks to me to be more of a software, not hardware problem. I would be tempted to try a Linux Live CD and see if that can access the optical drive properly. Did you let any software loaded with DRM near the computer?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 28, 2008
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  14. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Just to let you know I tried the Bios and saw under Boot Priority Order the following:

    1 IDE 0: Hitachi HTS41212H9ATOO
    2 IDE 1: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T1ON
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  15. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Ok, do you have any windows xp disc or any recovery disc..??
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  16. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Whats a Linux Live CD and I dont understand, Did you let any software loaded with DRM near the computer?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  17. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I'm on vista
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  18. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Check out this windows article.... KB314060
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  19. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I will try that, but will it work for Vista?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  20. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    It didn't work in safe mode either so now I might have to delete the registry
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  21. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  22. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Did that, but hasn't worked
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  23. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Linux Live CD. You have to download the file and burn it to a CD (so you will need access to another computer). The CD boots you into Linux without touching the hard disk.

    Software with DRM? I would be worried by any music management software from Apple or Sony.

    BTW, have you installed Vista SP1? (It should have installed itself by now). If not, then do so.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 28, 2008
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  24. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    What is the Linux Live CD for? I don't download music if that is what you mean? I am sure I have SP1 for Vista installed too.
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  25. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    If it is possible, do a clean install....because even a bad slimline port would not cause only data and audio discs not to work....!!
    Or get the cable, it is pretty cheap, and attach your drive externally, to see if it works properly then or not....!!
    Or maybe there is a firmware issue....but as John said, a software with DRM could also be the cause of all this....
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  26. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I will be honest and think for me to do a clean install would take a whole day and be a complete nightmare. The cable you are talking about is that something that would make my internal drive an external one or am I getting confused? As for the DRM I still don't understand that one....
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  27. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Copy all your data to your other partition and do a reinstall, it shouldn't take much time, apart from the time file move would take..!!

    The cable would allow you to connect the drive to a USB port externally, as all other external drives..!! and google DRM
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  28. ATG

    ATG 2x4 Super Moderator

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    Back to your first post.

    I bought this external DVD-RW - HP dvd1040e Lightscribe - like an year ago and so far I don't have a single problem with it.
     
    ATG, Jul 28, 2008
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  29. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Does this use the laptop to power it or external and is it quite big and bulky?
     
    kirkie, Jul 28, 2008
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  30. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    The Linux Live CD enables you to boot the computer using a different operating system. It is useful way of helping to identify whether a problem is hardware (in which case you get the same problem when running Linux) or is software (in which case Linux won't have the problem).

    Anyway, I've just found a flaw in my logic. The Linux CD needs to stay in the optical drive so you can't test a music CD while the Live Linux is running.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 28, 2008
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  31. ATG

    ATG 2x4 Super Moderator

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    Nope, it doesn't use the laptop for power, it has AC adapter, and yes it's quite big.
     
    ATG, Jul 28, 2008
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  32. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Before, buying a nice external drive as ATG mentioned :), try using your own DVD drive as an external to rule out the possibility of DRM handicapping your optical drive, because it might enforce limitations on an external drive too....You can try and connect your drive with a USB 2.0 to Slimline Cable....
     
    Andy, Jul 28, 2008
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  33. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    You could test the existing optical drive as an external on another computer.

    Also, did you try using the optical drive with Windows in safe mode?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 29, 2008
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  34. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    o problem I appreciate everyone help. I think I will just have to get an external drive..
     
    kirkie, Jul 29, 2008
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  35. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    Just be aware that if your problem is with the operating system or software then an external drive is likely to hit the same obstacle.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 29, 2008
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  36. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I will see if anyone I know has thios cable so I can test it.
     
    kirkie, Jul 29, 2008
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  37. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    I did try it in safe mode and it didn't work...
     
    kirkie, Jul 29, 2008
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  38. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    More thoughts:

    If you put in a music CD (make sure it's not one with built-in DRM) can you see any files in Explorer? (I see track01.cda etc.,).

    If you can see these files right click on the optical drive icon in Explorer with a music CD in the drive. There should be an Open AutoPlay option in the menu. What does it contain?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Jul 29, 2008
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  39. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    If you have a desktop, you can connect this drive to that computer through an IDE to Slimline adapter....this way you can confirm if the problem is with the drive or with your notebook....!!
     
    Andy, Jul 29, 2008
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  40. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Right I borrowed a USB Diskdrive and slipped mine in and it still didn't work...
     
    kirkie, Aug 1, 2008
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  41. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    When connected to your notebook or connected to another computer?

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Aug 1, 2008
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  42. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    When connected to mine.
     
    kirkie, Aug 2, 2008
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  43. kirkie

    kirkie Notebook Geek

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    Right just to let you all know I managed to do a clean install of Vista from mt DVD that it came with. The good news is that it fixed the DVD/RW not working problem, however.....

    I used Acronis Image 11 to restore my hard drive and it isn't working again....
     
    kirkie, Aug 4, 2008
    #43