Hey all

I need some help and advice, Lately my DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive has been seeming up:

I put in a CD, Works fine.
I Put in a DVD and the drive spins and the light comes on, but nothing happens, i go my computer and it shows the drive is empty.

Is it dieing on me or what is going on?

This post has been edited by microscopic^earthling: Oct 23 2005, 12:14 PM

Well, Pat, it depends on many factors, really. For example, you haven't told us which formats does your DVD-ROM support (e.g. DVD-R, DVD+R). I admit this shouldn't make a difference, when I deal with a problem, I like to know all about it.

Also, have you tried different DVDs, ones that had been working before? Did you install some new software after which your DVD-ROM started acting up? Just try to supply us with as much information as you can.

I don't think your drive is dying on you. You said it played a regular CD just fine, didn't you? This greatly reduces the chances of drive failure; although this may have to do with the laser beam itself. But I really can't tell you anything for sure without more information.

So I'll be around and hopefully I might be able to help.

Well i tried dvds that work before but they will not work either, it just stoped working a while ago, And yes it is running cds and burning cds just fine, and i do not really know what you mean by dvd-r, dvd+r.

Simply put, DVD-R, DVD+R, and the like are different DVD formats. Think of it as the PAL, Secam, and NTSC of DVDs . If that doesn't ring any bells, either, then never mind. It's no big deal anyway.

As to your problem, unfortunately I don't think I can be of much help, since I still don't have enough information. So my best advice to you is, wait a couple of days, maybe someone in here knows what to do and will tell you about a solution. If nobody answers, then maybe you should just get your DVD to a repair shop. I don't think it'd cost too much, since I don't believe it's a big problem in the first place, and secondly because DVDs have become so cheap these days, so how expensive could fixing one get??!!

Good luck, man.

well i might take in to have looked at, or i am jut going to break down and go out and just buy a new one when i get payed.

I can tell you most likely, from what you have said that yes
your drive is dieing. In the majority of the cases of drive failure
in combo drives, one side will go out first.

Personally I would replace it. Multi Format DVD burners are dirt
cheap now. At my shop we sell Dual layered Multi (read ALL) format
DVD burners (which will burn cd's as well) for 79 bucks. So I am sure
a PC shop near you will sell you one for similar.

ViriiGuy

P.S. I find LG's Dual Layer DVD burners to be the best bang for the
buck. I can burn a dual layered DVD in under 30 mins.

Okay i just finished installing the new combo drive i got, and it is working great now, thanks for the advance guys.

I know what is going on with your DVD/CD-RW Combo Drive. This also has happen to me early this year. I tried so many way but the computer still cannot read my DVDs.

I'm sorry to tell you that the problem lies in your Windows OS, not your combo drive. Your Windows OS might be corrupted maybe through internet virus. I'm telling you personally to reformat your computer and your combo drive will be as new as the first time you bought it

Too late, pat23 just bought his new drive.
By the way, I had exactly the same problem last year, my DVD device stopped reading DVD's, I bought a new one and everything works fine now.
The only real answer would have been to put the faulty drive in another computer : if a drive works bad on two comuputes, it's probably due to a drive failure. And if a new drive works in pat23's computer, this means the Windows OS was not faulty.

Hello, I have a similar problem but I changed for a new drive and continues to have the same problem, although some improvements with new drive in that it now reads a dvd I have purchased, but anything that has been written by me or someone else it does not recognize, I think it must be software but does anyone have any advice what specifically it would be and where to start, thanks..