TSST TS-L632D No DVD Function

This is a Dell Forum, thus knowledge of Compaq systems
may be slim.  Because the drive will read and write CD
media, but will not for DVD media, it may be that the
DVD laser has failed while the CD laser is still functioning.

To verify this on a Dell system, we run the Dell Diagnostics
on the drive.  If Compaq included such diagnostics, run it
to see the drive status.

Hi  I'm I have the same problem with my brand new Inspiron 1525 Laptop.  It will play CDs but just makes a lot of clicking/whirring sounds when I load a DVD movie. I tried the recommended troubleshooting ie Updating drivers and trying different DVDs but to no avail.  I wonder if it might be a mechanical fault.

Any more suggestions before I invoke the warrenty.

Thanks

PS I am a computer illiterate so please couch any response in layman's language.

Thanks

oh2beuger,

Run the Dell Diagnostics on the drive if it is on your hard drive.
Press F12 at startup while the blue Dell shows on the screen.  This
will enter the boot menu.  Choose Utility Partition or Diagnostics.
Run the Custom Test on the drive and have a data DVD (not movie CD)
ready for the test.

Thanks for the info.  I have now run a diagnostic as you suggested and all systems are reporting as passed.  The DVD drive will read a data DVD but when I try to play a movie on Dell Media Direct I get a message saying "Unable to detect DVD or DVD device on your computer"  Also Windows explorer "My Computer" does not find the DVD in the tray. The disc sounds to be spinning in the tray and it is clicking.

Have you any other ideas please.  I really don't want to go to the hassle of sending it back if it can be avoided.

Thanks

BJBeck's problem was the drive will read any DVD at all.
You just wrote that your drive will read a data DVD. 
You have a different problem.  From what you wrote, I
gather that the problem with your drive is it will not
play a DVD movie?

Install VLC Media Player and see if that makes a difference.

http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Hello again Skybird

Well before I read your l;ast post I just left the movie DVD in the drive to go on whirring and clicking for about 5 minutes while I was working on something else.  When I went back to see what was happening there was a pop up from Dell Media Direct movie player saying that the either the DVD or the DVD player was the wrong region and asked did I want to change the player. (I was told I could only make this change 5 times)

As all my movie DVDs are region 2, I followed this up as directed and although it showed the player as "Free" region, I clicked the option to change it to play region 2.  Lo and behold! it now works fine.

I am really relieved that it now seems to be sorted and many thanks for all your help Skybird.  I'm a bit disappointed in Dell though that this problem should have arisen in the first place. However this is my 3rd Dell and the first time I've had any problems at all.

Once again - many thanks .

PS this is the first time I've used MS Vista which came with the new Dell- can't say I like it at all - What a lot of extraneous rubbish there seems to be on it, - Yiou have to go a looong way round to get anywhere. If I had more confidence in my computing skills I'd delete it and have a go with Linux which everyone says is much better.