Crisis issue: DVD/CD RW drive will not read or write CDs

Dell XPS M1710. Phillips SDVD8820 DVD/CD RW Drive. Shows up in hardware manager, but all of a sudden, after writing a few discs in the morning, the drive just stopped being able to either read or write a CD. It can read DVDs no problem.

I've tried reading both commercial audio CDs as well as audio CDs I've written on the system, and it just behaves as if there is no CD in the drive. Using iTunes, WMP, Media Monkey, and Nero 9. When I stick a DVD in the drive and let Nero 9 check the drive out, it recognizes what type of drive it is, etc. But if I ask any of those apps to read or play a CD, they all say no CD is in the drive.

I tried the traditional MS solution of deleting the class upper and lower limit keys in the registry, no help. I uninstalled iTunes and everything else that reads the CD drive (almost everything - did not uninstall WMP) and then reinstalled Nero, and that didn't work. Did the uninstall in the hardware manager and let it reinstall on reboot. No help.

Reinstalled the latest firmware for the drive from Dell. No help/

I am really desperate - I cannot install software, I cannot run software that requires reading the disc, I cannot write CDs, etc.

Help!!!!

 

Did you try unplugging it and replugging the optical drive?

 

Yep, sure did. Thought that might do it, but no joy.

Odd - the system sees the drive, it's in My Computer, I can look at its properties, etc. And it will read DVDs with no problem. It just will not read or write CDs - programs will ask me to insert a CD, or tell me no CD is present.

 

My M1530 had a problem where it would read and burn any disc just fine, unless I was trying to rip data or music from a disc. When I did that it would start making a horrible noise.

Quick call to Dell and they sent out a Tech to me next working day who replaced the drive in about 10 minutes free under the warranty.

If you have any warranty left I suggest just giving them a call. The premium XPS warranty is great. Very quick on the phone and next day service, what more could you ask for (except for not having a problem in the first place).

Have you gone into the Windows Event viewer when trying to read/write a CD and see what error it reports? It should tell you if it's down to faulty hardware.