no disc in drive, drive does not support format of inserted disk

Hi Ctmom05,

It is possible for CD/DVD drives to lose the ability to read one type of disc and not the other if one of the lasers fails. The way to test the drive is to run the Dell diagnostics. Go to the CD/DVD FAQ (link below) for instructions. You need to perform the READ test with a data DVD disc in the drive.

Remember, this is a test, not a fix. If indeed the laser has failed, it cannot be fixed. The drive must be replaced.

DVD movies can't be read, but data discs actually can be read.

By going into the device manager I can see that the device is working porperly. The DVD region is correctly selected, the latest driver is already installed., and there is no info listed in te volumes section.

Is there anything else I can do to help with this problem, besides replace te drive?

So when you ran the diagnostics, the read test passed for a data DVD? When you said in your first post, "Data discs don't work either", were you referring to CD or DVD data discs?

Need some help,, pulled out my DVD drive and now it wont work. Ive tryd to install it but I get this message.

Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

Osprey,

My tech skills are so very weak; I'm afraid that I don't know how to tell the difference between a CD data disc and a dvd data disc.  I'm a mid-fifties gal who definately did not grow up in the age of computers.

I'd like to share some info that came up on a Norton diagnostic report; I'm wondering if anything in 2 particular sections is pertinent to the issue I am experiencing in not being able to read DVDs.

The Norton Security Suite Diagnostic Report ardware Devices

Problem:  Norton Security Suite has detected inoperable hardware devices.

Recommendation:  You may want to configure these hardware devices. Run Device Manager to properly configure hardware devices.Take Action:  Run Device Manager  

This section lists any hardware devices that are not working.

This section checks your system for its network connection status.

ctmom05,

Try the "Fix it" in this Microsoft Article ........

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116


Wilhelmet,

You also may want to give it a try.

Skybird,

The MIcrosoft Fix-It was actually one of the first resources I found and tried, mainly because it was so simple to use.   The tool was not able to apply any fixes.  Going onto to the article, modifying a registry is probably beyond my knowledge level - especially since doing it incorrectly can have serious consequences.

Here is a different Filters removal instruction ......

http://www.tacktech.com/display.cfm?ttid=106

It has a picture of the subkey and to the right of it is the Upperfilters
and Lowerfilters that the Microsoft Article refers to for deletion.  If you
choose to proceed, it is easy. Proceed slowly using the picture as a guide.  
It is possible one of the Filters may be missing, if so, just delete the other
one.

Upon reboot of the system, both should be written correctly by Windows.

Sky   ..   ..   ..   I'm  a little reluctant to get into editing a registry, altho the article explains the process quite well.  I am not familiar with the technical part of how removing a filter will help the problem I am having.

Can you explain, please?

Hi CTmom05,

It might be worth the effort to bring your system to Best Buy or another local computer shop and have them do this for you. It's a simple operation that someone who is familiar with editing the registry can do easily.

You're probably right about letting the pro's handle this entire problem, it would be fixed by now    ..   ..   ..   we have a great shop right here in town!  Personal finances are what's pushing me to the DIY notion.

This is a very easy fix and should not cost much to fix. Editing the registry will take 5 minutes.

Can you tell, by the pieces of the diagnostic report I posted that editing the registry will fix the problem?

No, I can't tell. Let me know if your local geeks can figure it out.