Just a few issues (A8Js)

Well, I've had my A8Js for nearly two weeks now (thanks to these forums; probably would never have known about it otherwise), and have been loving it all the way. However, I've been having two issues, the first seems to be a hardware one, and the second is a minor Vista nag.

If I insert a disk into the DVD-RW drive, and use it immediately*, it makes a really loud noise, and vibrates severely. The entire tray cover visibly shakes, and the noise is unbearable. However, this only occurs with some disks, and if I insert those disks and wait a minute or two (so the drive stops spinning after initial autoplay), the drive doesn't vibrate, and there is no noise produced.

*By use immediately, I mean do something like install a program off it. The disk that caused this issue was the X3: Reunion DVD, but it also happened with my Ghost Recon disk.

Should I be looking into this further, or should I just exercise a bit of patience and wait before using the drive? (I can easily bring the system to the local service centre if needed.)


My second issue is a Vista thing, which is very minor; items seem to be disappearing off my All Programs list.

For instance, I had SyncToy and Internet Explorer (although my default browser is set as Firefox) on the list, and using Instant Search, could easily access both of them. However, first I noticed that IE didn't come up when I searched for it, but the "No Addons" one did. Then later on the same day, when I tried to access SyncToy through Instant Search (which I had done a few hours early), nothing came up except the directory "SyncToyData" in my User folder.

Checking All Programs revealed that both these entries had disappeared. I managed to restore SyncToy by just creating a shortcut, and putting that in there, and now Instant Search finds it with no issues.

I'm just curious if anyone else has this odd occurance.

 

About the DVD thing: are the DVD's labeled? I had a WinXP installation CD that was labeled with an odd-shaped label which was causing the mass distribution of the CD to change and the drive was vibrating wildly due to that.

If it happens with say 7 DVDs out of 10, and with blank DVDs (which cannot be unbalanced in that way), I'd say RMA the drive (or rather the notebook since you're not allowed to take it out yourself, unless it's hotswappable).

 

Hmm... That's an interesting thought, I did notice the label on the X3 disk was a bit off. Will have to investigate further, since it worked without any issues if I let it be. EDIT: That is, if I let it stop spinning after the initial insertion, then access it.

Windows Media Player also just disappeared from the start menu... Am going to run a Virus Scan just in case, but I doubt I got a virus somehow.

EDIT: Just checked with a CD, and no issues with vibration/sound (it still makes some sound, but nothing out of the ordinary; old Dell made the same amount of noise.)

 

I have one CD that makes noise on my PC, Office 2003. Everything else works fine, burned CD/DVDs, music, everything else.

 

Printed labels for CD/DVDs are notorious for introducing dynamic imbalance issues... I've had several discs that have flat-out refused to work at all until the offending label was removed.