E1705 DVD-R/RW drive

Hi all,

The DVD-RW in my new E1705 makes more noise than I am used to from a drive and I was hoping that some of you out there could tell me if it's normal or if I have a problem. I'll try to describe what I think is happening but I'll also try to type the noises, so I hope you can forgive the excessive use of onomatopoeia.

When I first put a disk in, it makes the usual run-up noises

beep... skiz... beep... dunk dunk whirrrr...

Then it begins to read the disk, with the loud seeking noises

whirrr... shirk shirk... whirrr... shirk shirk...

But then, and this is the part that concerns me, while it is performing a sustained read or running down it goes

click click click buzz... click click click buzz...

It's a fairly soft noise, but it almost sounds as if the disc is rubbing on the inside of the drive. I don't know a lot about these drives, but I suppose it could be just minor seeking motions of the optics. Either way, I figured someone here would know, or at least be able to tell me if their laptop makes the same noises.

Thanks

 

Can you see any marks on the disc? If you think it is defective, call Dell and they will send you a new one.

 

If it sounds like it is scratching, open the tray and try spinning the disc with your finger to make sure it is put in properly and isn't touching the drive's mechanisms.
I also have a noisy drive but I kind of got used to it. I think that making the disc spin with your finger before you close the tray also leads it into making less noise.