Think my CD/DVD drive just died

A couple of days ago I tried to put a CD into my drive and it wouldn't read (worked previously), instead it started to make a light clicking sound. I already tried re-enabling all my stopped services to see if it was that, nothing. Then I tried just opening and closing it, nothing. Then it was cleaning the lens with rubbing alcohol, that didn't work. Then I booted into Linux to see if it was just a Windows issue, nope, still that same clicking sound. Can anyone else think of what would have happened or is my drive shot? Hooray for 3 days 7zipping everything I have to save as much space as I can.

 

Probably dead. I have a busted laptop drive that does the same thing.

These laptop drives just don't like to last very long -_-

 

But it's only been less than 2 months....
It didn't even go slowly, it was just that day it decided not to work.

 

Computer hardware sometimes just goes without warning. Try booting into a Linux LiveCD to make sure it isn't a OS issue but if it has an issue booting into the LiveCD then you probably got a bad drive. You say you cleaned it with rubbing alcohol, did you try those disc's made for cleaning lenses?

 

But I tried booting into Ubuntu and running the disk, that didn't work so I would say its safe to assume it's not an OS issue. I hadn't tried those drive cleaning disks but I would assume anything that those would do would be reproduceable with a q-tip and RA. I forgot to note, the clicking sounds (to me) like the turner? isn't working, like the mechanism to spin it is slipping off or something.

 

1. Try a different disk.

2. Remove and reinsert the drive.

 

Ya that sounds pretty bad. I just like the finality of a LiveCD when your testing the CD-ROM cause its completely dependent on your CD working. Either way it didn't seem to be an OS thing. Those disc's can help clean but if the motor is having issues and you don't already have a cleaning disc its not worth your money. I would say its dead.

 

1. It first happened when I tried to insert my MaximumPC disk a couple of days ago, now I tried it with another.

2. It's built in and I don't want to void the warranty . I'll see if I can get hold of Toshiba tomorrow and see I'd be allowed to open it up (always wanted to dig, carefully, into a laptop) and take a look. If not, well, I'm compressing all my files now, they'll be done tomorrow about this time .

 

Removing the CD-ROM is on most laptops very easy and basically requires pushing a tab in or unscrewing 1 screw thats easy to access. Either way if its making noises and not spinning properly I think you should talk to Toshiba about replacement.

 

I'll take a look on the website for a manual but I'll check with them before I do anything.