The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    DVD Drive not reading anything

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by SerratedAuto, May 29, 2010.

  1. SerratedAuto

    SerratedAuto Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    This actually pertains to a desktop, but I;m not sure if it's a windows issue or a hardware issue so it may be relevant.

    Anyways, I have an HP desktop with a DVD-R/W drive in it. Up until today, it has worked no problem. Today I was making various backups of files onto DVDs. I think I had burnt a total of 20 or so discs when the drive started acting up. When I would put a blank CD or DVD in, the drive indicator light would flash for about 5 minutes, and then windows would come back and tell me there was no disc in the drive. During that time the drive never really spun up, it just kinda flashed the green light. I could simply just restart a few times and the drive would work again. However, now the drive seems to not work at all. I have the drive disconnected from the desktop, and plugged into my laptop via a SATA->USB connector. The laptop detects it, but I have the same problem: it flashes for 5 minutes and then says there is no disc in the drive.

    Is this an indication that the drive is dead?
     
    SerratedAuto, May 29, 2010
    #1
  2. goofball

    goofball Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    358
    Messages:
    1,710
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Most likely. Does it not read any discs, blank or otherwise?
     
    goofball, May 29, 2010
    #2
  3. SerratedAuto

    SerratedAuto Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    35
    Messages:
    155
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's not reading any discs, but the drive appears on windows and I can send it commands like open and close no problem.
     
    SerratedAuto, May 29, 2010
    #3
  4. Syberia

    Syberia Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    596
    Messages:
    1,611
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    56
    Might be a problem with the laser, if it opens/closes but can't read. Same failure on two different computers is a good indication that something's wrong with the drive.
     
    Syberia, May 31, 2010
    #4