Can't read some CDs

For some reason, i can't read some discs on my G73 while my N50 can read them fine. I've tried discs that worked fine in my G73 in the past and everything is working as it should so i don't think it's a problem with the ODD itself other than maybe the firmware. Anyone more versed in hardware than me has an idea?

First time it happens and i can't remember if i put a disc inside it after repasting and updating the chipset drivers and installing intel RST.

I've looked a bit on google but i haven't found anything useful yet, i'll keep looking anyways.

EDIT: already tried removing it and reinserting it in case it was badly seated into the SATA connector.

G73 is running 7 home premium 64-bit, N50 is running 7 pro-64

EDIT2: Now it's working (after swapping different discs into the drive at least 10 times), go figure, still i'm curious as to why it wasn't working before when other discs worked fine. Oh the disc is a music CD, probably an import from Europe.

Well, that CD works on and off, i've tried a bunch of other import CDs i had on hand and they all work flawlessly.

 

Most of the time it's the ODD itself.

ODDs have the highest failure rate for a piece of hardware I've experienced.

 

I would have gone for ODD failure if i had problems reading other media but it's only a particular disc that doesn't work in my G73 but works in my N50 hence why i ruled out hardware failure.

 

Have you tried different types of CD before confirming that its the ODD failure, although it may not read certain discs is can be a sign the laser is on its way out especially if it is making skipping sounds as it fails the read the disc.

On the up side if its just a DVD/RW you have a reason to upgrade it to the Blu Ray drive They are a lot hardier.

 

I've tried every CD i had on hand which wasn't much since i'm in the process of moving so i used the CDs still lying somewhere in my car. I will definitely try my gparted bootable disc and such when i'm done moving. Some of my stuff is still in one house and the rest in the other...

If it gives up on me, i'd surely like to upgrade to a blu-ray. Ideally i'd like to find a slot loading ODD that fits well in the G73 but i think that's asking a bit too much given the design of the chassis. Worse comes to pass, i'll swap the ODD for the only in my N50 while i wait for the other.

EDIT: found a few DVDs i forgot to pack and they all worked flawlessly.

Anyways, is there a definitive way to know if the ODD is giving up or not?

 

people still use Cd's?????

I kid I kid

 

CD's are pretty wack and nowhere near as good quality as DVD's I have copied them on my standard drive and it worked fine but it still could be a sign of the ODD wear and tear the poorer the disc quality the harder it becomes to read.

 

Well, for now i'll pass it off but i'll check how the ODD behaves when i use it since it was only that music CD (retail not burned btw) that didn't work properly. Even a badly scratched DVD which i thought beyond reading works just fine.

 

Its scary how little external DD's are used these days god my last laptop I think I used it 2 or 3 times to install drivers and that was it lol so much is done online now and I download all my games and use Steam so I expect my DD to last forever and die when the dust levels cover the laser