Inspiron 5050 upgraded to 64 bit Windows 8 - DVD/CD does not work

Hi,

Welcome to the Community. Try booting of a windows disc or a bootable disc, press the F12 key at the Dell Logo to select boot options. Let us know how it goes.

Thank you.

No, it does not boot to a Win8, Nor Win7 boot disk. It does not read data disks, nor play videos in Media Center. Everything looks fine in device manager, except for using a generic MS driver perhaps. I get the same "insert a disk" message in safe mode.

Hi,

Try running the Microsoft Fixit using the below link.

support.microsoft.com/.../en

Thank you.

Nope.  It finds it and opens the tray, but can't read disks that my other Win8 machine can read.  Issues reported says "the drive is empty or the media format is not supported."  Again, discs work in other upgraded Win8 Dell laptop.

Does the drive recognize CDs?  DVDs?  Or neither of them?

It recognizes neither.  When selecting DVD RW Drive in file manager it prompts to insert a disk into drive D

The laptop is an Inspiron N5050.  Purchased last summer and upgraded (with the Dell coupon) to Win8 64 bit.  Just tried  to use the DVD for the first time.  The DVD is HL-DT-ST- DVD+-RW GT50N.  The current driver is Microsoft 6.2.9200.16384

Hi,

Send me a Private Message, click on my user name, click on start conversation, and send me your Full Name, Service Tag and Phone Number.

Thank you.

Hi, I also have a Dell (Inspiron 3520) with Windows 8 64-Bit and have the exact same problem.

I've tried to troubleshoot the problem, but still no success: the drive still cannot read.

I would really appreciate some help.

Hi Bruno_Antunes,

Please try booting from a windows disc or any bootable disc, press the F12 key at the Dell Logo to select boot options.

Also try the below steps and keep us posted.

1. Swipe from the right or press the Windows + C keys.
2. Tap or click the search charm, and then type device manager.
3. Tap or click device manager from the list.
4. Long press or right-click the icon that represents the device in the Device Manager window.
5. On the menu that appears, tap or click Uninstall to uninstall the device driver.
6. Tap or click Action on the Device Manager Menu bar.
7. On the Action menu, tap or click Scan for hardware changes to reinstall the device driver.

Hi again,

Tried everything you stated. Doesn´t work...

This is a pain!

Help.

Bruno Antunes

If the drive won't sense any discs and won't boot a Windows 7 or 8 install DVD, you have a hardware problem and will need to replace the drive.

According to the Microsoft site you sent us to, that fixit won't work on Windows8 64bit which is what the gentleman with the problem said he had upgraded to.  Any other suggestions.