is my cd drive toast?

Toshiba Satellite A100-OFH

Got an exchange on one that was less than 2 weeks old due to major freezing/programs not responding errors...I could have formatted and rebuilt to rule out software, but I didn't have the time and thought a straight exchange would be easier.

Anyways, after only 2 days with the new one, my cd/dvd rom drive doesn't read any of my burned cd's or dvd's. Coincidentally, like the first one, this occurred AFTER trying to install Bell Sympatico software (which I didn't even need to do but didn't know at the time). So basically, it "tried" to read the sympatico cd halfway through install and then stopped, tried, stopped, etc. until I couldn't wait any longer so I canceled it. Ever since, all cds/dvd's can be read if they are original....but none of my dvd's/cd's can be read anymore (which were ALL working previous). For some reason though, a cdrw can be read, but a dvdrw cannot. I basically just get d: is not accessable and incorrect function error.

I tried disabling and enabling the device...tried driver stuff etc. and nothing worked. Tech support was no help either and I can't even rebuild/format because it won't read my xp disc (not an original).

So is it basically the hardware? Or is there hope that I don't have to return ANOTHER god **** toshiba satellite?

 

Many times, burned CD/DVDs that are not closed (also known as finalised) cannot be read on certain drives. Make sure that your media is basically "finished" after burning.

Try all kinds of commercial CDs/DVDs, and if it doesn't work, then your drive is kaput.

 

fixed...software problem...I just uninstalled EVERYTHING and reinstalled the dvd-ram driver...problem solved.