Please Help: CD/DCD Problem

Ranulph

Hi

I have 2 CD/DVD drives in my PC, which both suddenly stopped working at the same time. A friend lent me an external USB CD/DVD drive, and that had the same problem.

The problem is the drive appears in Windows Explorer and in Device Manager (in device manager is says the device is working ok), and all appears fine , but if you click on it in Explorer it just brings up a message saying "Insert Disc" and opens the draw.

I have tried the following with no success, and ideas?

Start - type in Search box - CMD find at top of list - RIGHT CLICK - RUN AS ADMIN

sfc /scannow

How to Repair Windows 7 System Files with System File Checker
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...e-checker.html

Then run checkdisk (chkdsk).

How to Run Disk Check in Windows 7
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials...isk-check.html
==========================================================

After the above : (and you may need to run through these more than once)

References to Vista also apply to Windows 7.
Stage 1 : Please do all the below even if you have done some before as it is often the total
process which solves the issue.

Try this - Control Panel - Device Manager - CD/DVD - double click the device - Driver's Tab -
click Update Drivers (this will likely do nothing) - then RIGHT CLICK the drive - UNINSTALL -
REBOOT this will refresh the default driver stack. Even if drive is not shown continue
below.

Then work your way through these - remember the drive could be bad, could have a loose
cable or slight corrosion on the contacts (usually for a laptop) and other issues.

Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060 - a Mr Fixit
Manually try this fix if the 314060 Fixit did not work
http://www.pchell.com/hardware/cd_dr..._code_39.shtml
Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing or is not recognized by Windows or other programs -
a Mr Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116
The DVD drive does not function after you install Windows 7
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/975270/

The CD drive or the DVD drive does not work as expected on a computer that you upgraded to
Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/929461

When you insert a CD or a DVD, Windows Vista may not recognize the disc
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052

Your CD or DVD drive cannot read or write media - A Mr Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems

CD/DVD drive does not appear in Windows Vista, or you receive this error during Windows Vista
setup after booting from the DVD (AHCI)
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/952951

CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316529/

Hardware devices not detected or not working - A Mr Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/hard...evice_problems

Another possibility is that the cables are loose. Remove ALL power, then check cables in both
ends. Remove and replace, do not just snug. For laptops you can often clean the power and
data contacts with a pencil eraser.

Some DVD drives do not use the Windows default drivers so check with the System maker and
device maker to see if there is firmware or drivers for you drive if needed.

===============================

Stage 2 : You could have drive issues as the CD/DVD is actually 4 drives in 1 case ( CD & DVD
burn and CD and DVD read). So it is not unusual for 1 or 2 parts to not function while the others
do so properly.

Did you complete the troubleshooter for the drive that still does not work? There are some
registry entries that the troubleshooter does not fix and those "might" be the cause.

Check with your System Maker and Device maker for both possible firmware updates and the
correct Registry entries for your drive.

These are the keys I think are the ones in question - for the CD/DVD drive sub-keys of course
as there will other sub-keys in these keys. Be sure to ask for specific keys involved as well as
the settings.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Hardware Profiles\0001\System\CurrentControlSet\Enum\IDE

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Kerry56

Do you have iTunes for Windows installed? http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2308

From your wall of text above, I take it you have tried to remove the upper and lower filters from the registry already?
That would be this link in the list: http://www.pchell.com/hardware/cd_dr..._code_39.shtml

__________________
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Ranulph

Hi Kerry

I have removed the upper and lower filters, that was one of the 1st things I tried.

I have i-tunes installed, and that was one of the things I was thinking about so I uninstalled it. It did make any difference so I re-installed it, but will check the link you sent.

Thanks for your reply!

P.S Kerry is my name as well but when I tried it as a user name is was taken so I used my hero's name, Sir Ranulph Fiennes

_chef_

Try to boot from the drives with a bootable CD or DVD!

That should reveal some info!!!

Also, boot up in SAFE MODE and try to use the drives....

__________________
Enable DMA with micrAp$0ft Enable DMA free at your will busTRACE => Upper/Lower Filters Util
DevCon ***HOW TO ... Delete the Upper & Lower Filters!***

If you expect help then please use the powerful SEARCH. Try ThreatFire
I am looking for DVD-R for Authoring & HD DVD media. Please PM me if you can help me.

Vamos Tribbles! V-a-m-o-s!!

cholla

This will not fix the problem but see if IsoBuster (has a free trial) will veiw what's on the some discs . If it does you know the hardware is OK & the problem is with Windows.
_chef_'s two suggestions are also good for diagnosing .

__________________
cholla pronounced ˈchȯi-yə click on cholla to hear

mciahel

From the description, this is most likely a software problem. Booting the system from a Linux Live disc (Ubuntu for example) should help verifying that.

I would also like to see a log created with ImgBurn. Perhaps there is some malware installed that interferes with optical drives.

Michael

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How to attach disc quality scans

Ranulph

Gents

Thanks for the replies and excellent ideas.

I tried to boot from the CD/DVD drive, but it wouldn't read anything. I have tried the external USB drive, and that won't work either, so I can't try booting anything from CD/DVD drives.

I tried ISOFIX as Cholla suggested, but it can't read the drives either. I am at my wits end with it

Kerry56

Is the boot order set in the bios to look for optical drives first, rather than the hard drive?

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BD Rebuilder Guide for MP4 or MKV conversion

AVStoDVD Guide

Ranulph

Hi Kerry

I changed it from the hard drive to the optical drive to see if it would boot, but it wouldn't read the media.

As it is happening on more than 1 optical drive I'm convinced it's software, but quite what I don't know?

cholla

Try what mciahel suggested & boot from a linux live disc.
The reason for that is it should boot from a linux disc even if Windows any version wasn't installed.
Did you ever try booting into safe mode ?

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Ranulph

Hi Cholla

What is the button for safemode? Is the Linux live disc available as a download?

Thanks

Kerry56

Press F8 to go into Safe Mode.

Here is the download page for Ubuntu. It is a live cd, which will run in memory and not affect your Windows installation. It gives you the option to install or just try it out from the disc. http://www.ubuntu.com/download/desktop

But basically all you want to do is see if it will boot into it. That means the hardware is working properly.

__________________
Basic Guide for BD Rebuilder

BD Rebuilder Guide for MP4 or MKV conversion

AVStoDVD Guide

Ranulph

Hi Kerry

Just started the download, so will give it a try in the morning. Will also give safemode a go as well.

Thanks for the help!

cholla

I was off looking for some infromation on something I'm doing .
A little slow on giving an anwser . Kerry had it covered & I couldn't have done better.

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Ranulph

All

i downloaded Unbuntu and it seemed to indicate it could be put onto a USB stick, but when I try to run it it wants to burn a CD.

As the CD is the problem, that makes it a little difficult...

Any thoughts of how to get it onto a USB stick?

Thanks

Ranulph

All

I went back to the Unbuntu site and found a Windows downloader which I tried. Sadly when it booted it couldn't find various files, so didn't work, so I'm back to trying to get it on a USB stick if possible?

I also tried Safe Mode, but that has exactly the same problem with my fixed and USB optical drives.

I have tested my USB optical drive on my laptop, and it works perfectly.

Any more thoughts?

Thanks

Ranulph

Right

I have fixed the Unbuntu install, and booted into it. It could not find either the fixed or USB optical drives.

Isofix could not read the media (running in Win 7) on the fixed drive.

Safe Mode would not work either fixed or USB optical drives.

When you plug the USB drive in, it will not stop reading the disc, even when re-booting the system, and in Unbuntu as well. It drive just keeps "hunting"

Any ideas?

_chef_

Yeah, check the IDE/ATA or SATA controller settings in the BIOS for these connected optical drives.

__________________
Enable DMA with micrAp$0ft Enable DMA free at your will busTRACE => Upper/Lower Filters Util
DevCon ***HOW TO ... Delete the Upper & Lower Filters!***

If you expect help then please use the powerful SEARCH. Try ThreatFire
I am looking for DVD-R for Authoring & HD DVD media. Please PM me if you can help me.

Vamos Tribbles! V-a-m-o-s!!

Ranulph

The BIOS recognises both the SATA and IDE drives, so I'm not sure what to look for?

The USB optical drive won't work either. It just seems to have a problem with optical drive, but it SATA, IDE, or USB.

I have booted into Unbuntu and it doesn't see any of the 3 optical drives.

What do I need to look for in the BIOS?

cholla

Ranulph , Were you able to create a cd or DVD to boot from with the linux(ubuntu) ?
If not if you can get a friend to do this for you that is what you need to do the test.

If I understand this correctly . You should be able to burn the ubuntu disc with that.
You need to do the test with a CD or DVD.

One other thing you keep posting about Isofix . If by that you mean IsoBuster please post it that way so it is not confusing. I have one certain
type of write(burn) that Windows Explorer sees as a blank disc on my Vista OS. ISOBuster reads the data on this disc. So I thought it might be able to read discs on your OS.

The reason for testing to see if Safe mode would work is it loads the least amount if drivers & most basic Windows drivers .

__________________
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Ranulph

Hi Cholla

Sorry, I meant Isobuster. It didn't read any media in the fixed drives

I can try and burn a disc on my work laptop and see if that works, but I have installed Ubuntu and booted into that from a dual boot and it won't recognise any of the 3 drives.

Will booting into Ubuntu from a disc be different from a dual boot?

Safemode was exactly the same as normal mode, it just said "insert a disc".

All the drives appear in the BIOS, and I have set all the options in the BIOS for the drives (SATA and IDE) to default (all set to auto) and still no different.

Any thoughts.

cholla

You need to burn the Ubuntu to a CD or DVD .
You might even want to uninstall it to make sure that it is booting from a disc.
The reason you are using the Ubuntu disc is to see if your DVD drives are capable of booting from the Ubuntu disc.
This is not to see if Ubuntu can see the drives .
Myself I use a version from TRK as it has other purposes but here for a test it would work the same.
I was thinking maybe the cable contacts need to be checked & maybe cleaned or the cable replaced . But if your BIOS is recognizing the drives the cable should be OK. If you have another cable you might test with it anyway.

__________________
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Ranulph

Hi Cholla

I have spent all evening on it as have done:

1. Tried to boot Ubuntu from a fixed SATA drive. No good.
2. Tried to boot Ubuntu from a USB drive. No good.
3. Tried to boot from a genuine Win 7 disc from both drives. No good.
4. Tried different SATA leads. No good.
5. Downloaded drive testing software. Same as Isobuster, said there was no media in drive.

In Win 7 Windows Explorer if I right click on the fixed drives and select properties, it says there is no file system. I don't know if this is part of the problem as no software will read the discs?

The USB drive will not stop "hunting" when there is a disc in it. It just keeps trying to load or run, but nothing happens. It also keeps assigning a drive letter in Explorer, then disappearing, assigning a letter, disappearing...

Any thoughts?

cholla

Just to make sure when you are attempting to boot from each of these drives .
You have selected them as the first drive in the "Start up " order in your BIOS ?

Edit adding something else to try . A bit old school .
Put in a burned DVD
Open a Command Prompt .
Cd\ to just C:
Then D: if that is your drive letter .
then dir .
Does it show anything ?
It should look something like this:
COMMAND01.jpg

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Ranulph

Hi Cholla

No joy mate. I tried to do a screen print, but it doesn't want to work, but it is saying "The device is not ready"