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Saturn 5
Lv 4
Saturn 5 asked in Computers & InternetSoftware · 1 decade ago

Will you Please help DIFFERENTIATE between HARDWARE vs. SOFTWARE problems with a DVD CD RW Drive?

The drive appears to be working as evidenced by the usual clicking and whirring sounds. Then, as I usually do, from the START MENU, I open >> Computer >> DVD RW DRIVE (E) , and nothing happens for awhile, and finally a message appears saying "Windows Explorer is not responding".

Note: In the "AUTO PLAY" menu in CONTROL PANEL, I have selected "Take no action" which has been my preference consistently since this computer was new.

So, then I looked in CONTROL PANEL >> DEVICE MANAGER >> DVD CD ROM DRIVES >> Optiarc DVD RW AD-7561S ATA Device, and under the "GENERAL" TAB, It tells me "This device is working properly." (This is kind of vexing, because obviously something is not working properly)

My computer is a 5 month old HP Laptop Pavilion dv6-1230us, OS is Vista, and the drive was OEM factory installed.

Any troubleshooting help, or related advice you offer will be greatly appreciated. THANK YOU.

Update:

Thanks, jimbot, for your reasoned answer.

I agree, disc drives have always been a pain.

It does this with all disks, and I always treat my disks with extreme care, and they are all pristeen.

Also, I have already inspected the head with my Sunday's Best eye loupe, and it looks perfect, and clean. (Very very little used)

I have no boot disk with this machine, and it carried only 90 days warranty from HP, as a refurb. Its a nice machine and everything else is OK.

Do you (or anyone) know if it would be easy to add an external drive through its SATA port? I sure do not relish the idea of opening this beast up and replacing the drive, even though I do have much tech experience.

Thanks.

1 Answer

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  • jimbot
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago
    Favorite Answer

    DVD drive problems are annoying.

    Does it happen with all discs, some discs, only discs that you have burned yourself? If "some discs" are they scratched or dirty?

    The laser lens/mirror could be dirty (not likely if your machine is 5 months old). Another thing that can cause weird stuff to happen is that the drive's laser mechanism rails are dirty or unlubricated.

    Can you boot from a cd or dvd? If you have no problems doing that then there might be a software problem, but not likely otherwise. All of my cd/dvd drive problems have been dirty discs, dirty lenses and dirty rails.

    Your best bet is to convince HP that your drive is faulty and needs replacing.

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