It seems you correctly diagnosed this as a "picky drive". The solution is to replace the drive. Fortunately, they're not too expensive and are easy to replace.
Let me suggest you test the drive using the Dell diagnostics from the F12 utility partition. I've got a link to the instructions below. Be sure to have a DVD disc in the drive to perform this test.
I ran the tests with two different DVDs, one that has always worked with my DVD drive, and another that my computer won't recognize when it's in this drive but works fine when using my friend's external optical drive hooked up to this computer. As a side note, the eject light-button works again while in Dell Diagnostics.
The Device Quick Check and Media Eject Test tests were grayed-out, so I didn't run them with either DVD. When the DVD that worked before is in, all four tests succeed, Built In Self Test (Test All), Confidence Test, Read Test, and Seek Test. When the DVD that works in other drives but not this one is in, the Built In Self Test (Test All) succeeds, but the other three tell me there's no disk in. They all give me a prompt with:
"No disk or cannot read from the disk inserted in your drive. You must insert a disk containing data such as a software installation disk if you would like to try again. Would you like to try again?"
That's kind of what I expected. So when running the diagnostics from outside of Windows, it bypasses any driver issues, right? What about firmware and BIOS issues? I was surprised to find the eject button working again from the diagnostics utility after updating the BIOS and firmware had killed it earlier in Windows.
Since it looks like I'm buying a new drive, are there any recommendations? I've replaced a video card and added RAM before in laptops, so I have a little experience with this but could still use advice. Is everything proprietary, so I have to buy a Dell drive? And just to be clear: this is a slot-load machine. Thanks!
I bought a CleanDRx for Computers Laser Lens Cleaner by Digital Innovations, specifically meant for DVD and Blu-Ray. The disc is supposed to play automatically with instructions, but my optical drive is unable to read it properly and enters a continuous loop of trying to access the disc, essentially freezing my computer in the process. It looks like I have to buy a new drive.
osprey4
4 Operator
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34.2K Posts
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September 2nd, 2011 09:00
It seems you correctly diagnosed this as a "picky drive". The solution is to replace the drive. Fortunately, they're not too expensive and are easy to replace.
osprey4
4 Operator
•
34.2K Posts
0
September 1st, 2011 10:00
Hi elandreth,
Let me suggest you test the drive using the Dell diagnostics from the F12 utility partition. I've got a link to the instructions below. Be sure to have a DVD disc in the drive to perform this test.
elandreth
4 Posts
0
September 2nd, 2011 00:00
I ran the tests with two different DVDs, one that has always worked with my DVD drive, and another that my computer won't recognize when it's in this drive but works fine when using my friend's external optical drive hooked up to this computer. As a side note, the eject light-button works again while in Dell Diagnostics.
The Device Quick Check and Media Eject Test tests were grayed-out, so I didn't run them with either DVD. When the DVD that worked before is in, all four tests succeed, Built In Self Test (Test All), Confidence Test, Read Test, and Seek Test. When the DVD that works in other drives but not this one is in, the Built In Self Test (Test All) succeeds, but the other three tell me there's no disk in. They all give me a prompt with:
"No disk or cannot read from the disk inserted in your drive. You must insert a disk containing data such as a software installation disk if you would like to try again. Would you like to try again?"
Repeated tries do not change the result.
elandreth
4 Posts
0
September 3rd, 2011 16:00
That's kind of what I expected. So when running the diagnostics from outside of Windows, it bypasses any driver issues, right? What about firmware and BIOS issues? I was surprised to find the eject button working again from the diagnostics utility after updating the BIOS and firmware had killed it earlier in Windows.
Since it looks like I'm buying a new drive, are there any recommendations? I've replaced a video card and added RAM before in laptops, so I have a little experience with this but could still use advice. Is everything proprietary, so I have to buy a Dell drive? And just to be clear: this is a slot-load machine. Thanks!
osprey4
4 Operator
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34.2K Posts
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September 4th, 2011 13:00
Yes, the diagnostics bypass any OS involvement.
Unfortunately, with any laptop your choices will be limited. But just search your laptop model and you can find one.
thebbman
4 Posts
0
September 5th, 2011 15:00
Before you buy a new drive, try using a dvd lens cleaner disk a few times and then try and repeat your test. It could just be a dirty lens.
elandreth
4 Posts
0
September 11th, 2011 16:00
I bought a CleanDRx for Computers Laser Lens Cleaner by Digital Innovations, specifically meant for DVD and Blu-Ray. The disc is supposed to play automatically with instructions, but my optical drive is unable to read it properly and enters a continuous loop of trying to access the disc, essentially freezing my computer in the process. It looks like I have to buy a new drive.
osprey4
4 Operator
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34.2K Posts
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September 11th, 2011 17:00
Out of 100 drives that aren't working, a lens cleaner will fix maybe one or two.