Dead Sony VGN-SZ DVD drive

Apart from the heat things on my SZ have gone relatively satisfactorily since its keyboard and system board was replaced under insurance because the plastic under its keys had melted..but in the last couple of weeks...

my DVD drive occasionally blinks when I insert a DVD and then is dead to the world. It doesn't show up on Windows Control Panel System and so is basically unrecognised. I have twiddled with it/put a paperclip in the little hole to eject the tray/rebooted but now nothing happens regarding the drive - any ideas? And could this be a software problem? (I was thinking incorrect interrupts caused by new nVidia or PowerIso etc.?)

 

I have the same problem.

Just send it to Sony and they will replace your DVD Drive if its still under warranty!

 

Just curious, is your SZ a preconfigured model or CTO (where you specify the components yourself). I ask because supposedly CTOs are finalized in San Diego whereas preconfigureds are finalized at the factory in Nagano.

 

actually..it was a preconfigured model.

 

My CR won't burn. I've tried third party software, Windows, uninstalling the driver, searching for driver updates, System Restores, resetting the BIOS, etc.

I think it's safe to assume the drive is at fault.

Anyway, I'm sending it in as soon as Sony sends me the box.

 

The same thing happened to me. This is what I did to fix it. Got it from t he Sony Support site. It works fine now.

http://www.iq.sony.com/SRVS/CGI-BIN/WEBCGI.EXE/,/?St=280,E=0000000000853199595,K=6630,Sxi=0,Case=obj(501168),VARSET_OBJ=501168,VARSET_TSRC=results,UseTemplate=case.tem,VARSET_TOP=TRUE

 

that link seems dead?

 

I'll just copy and paste what's on it for you:

Follow this procedure to resolve the error if the optical drive is missing from Computer in the Microsoft® Windows Vista™ operating system.

WARNING: There is a risk of data loss. This procedure involves editing the Registry. Using the Registry editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require the operating system to be reinstalled and can result in the potential loss of data.

NOTE: A backup of the registry can be created.

1. Click the Start button, and then in the search box, type regedit.
2. Press the Enter key.

NOTE: If prompted for an administrator password or a User Account Control prompt is displayed, type the appropriate password or click Continue.
3. In the Registry Editor window, in the left pane, double-click the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder.
4. In the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE folder, double-click the System folder.
5. In the System folder, double-click the CurrentControlSet folder.
6. In the CurrentControlSet folder, double-click the Control folder.
7. In the Control folder, double-click the Class folder.
8. In the Class folder, click to select the {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} folder.
9. In the right pane, click to select the UpperFilters registry value.
10. On the menu bar, click Edit.
11. In the Edit menu, click Delete.
12. In the Confirm Value Delete dialog box, click the Yes button.
13. In the right pane, click to select the LowerFilters registry value.
14. On the menu bar, click Edit.
15. In the Edit menu, click Delete.
16. In the Confirm Value Delete dialog box, click the Yes button.

NOTE: Do not delete the UpperFiltersBak or LowerFiltersBak registry values.
17. Close the Registry Editor window.
18. Restart the computer.