Can't play PC DVD ROM cds

Question

Hello everyone,   Any help that can be given would be very gratefully accepted as my son's birthday present isn't working and I don't think I am parent of the year in his eyes at the moment.   Here's the details;   I am trying to get my son's game to play 'Civilisation 4' however, this is a PC DVD-ROM (the first we have tried) and it didn't work, nor have subsequent PC DVD-ROMs. Here's the full details    have 2 drives DVD Drive (D CD-RW Drive (E I have 2 cd types I want to play PC DVD ROM PC CD ROM My issue in summary is that I can't play the PC DVD ROM cds. When we try and play PC DVD-ROM cds in drive D it doesn't play or show up. When exploring it is completely blank. I click on drive D and it asks me to insert a disk. The same thing happens in drive D for normal PC CD ROM cds. To finish off, in drive E, normal cds work but PC DVD ROM don't. - I think that is to be expected though. I'm left as to not knowing if it is PC DVD ROM that don't work or if my DVD drive doesn't work. I would think the latter.   Perhaps I need an upgrade. My PC is a Dimension 2400.     Many thanks, Tony

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, let's clarify things for you. Your CD-RW can read and write to CD discs, but it cannot read DVD discs, only CDs. So it appears that drive is reading properly, right?

Your DVD-ROM drive can read both CD and DVD discs (but cannot write to any media). However, it appears your drive is not reading anything. Correct?

Please confirm I am describing your problem accurately. Also, please locate and post the model numers of your two drives. You'll find them in Device Manager (Right click My Computer, Properties, Hardware tab, Device manager) under CD/DVD drives. When you open Device Manager, please see if there are any yellow exclamation points in front of your drives.

Predator · Answer

Hi Tony,If per chance you happen to have Sonic`s DLA program installed, consider disabling it.Click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 13-0, article 12.This might be a driver issue, same CD/RW link Section 15, article 1; Section 20, article 3.Section 15, article 10 & Section 12, article 3 are standard trouble shooting steps.Best Regards God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway, the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Morris Dancer · Answer

Hi Osprey4,   Many thanks for replying.   To clarify CD-RW does appear to be working properly.   The DVD-ROM drive doesn't appear to be reading either CD or DVD discs. For instance I put in a normal CD into the DVD and the same issue occurs, it doesn't recognise a CD and says to insert a disk.     The model numbers of my 2 drives are; JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD166 SAMSUNG CD-R/RW SW-252S   There aren't any exclamation marks.     Many thanks for your time on this, it's greatly appreciated.   Tony

Morris Dancer · Answer

I think I messed up, instead of disabling the Sonic DLA I deleted it. Now when I go into properties there is no DLA tab.

Apologies for that I was a little too trigger happy with the change/remove option before I went to your link.

Tony

Predator · Answer

Tony,

Most people will say you have not lost anything when deleting DLA, the Packet Writing program is not well received, however it can b re-installed if you have the software disc. If you do not, then you will need to contact Dell and request it.

Did you have the chance to try the driver re-install steps? Some have stated McAffee or Norton has caused problems with the "insert disc" message and/or possible virus / spyware issues.

Lastly, I believe Dell may have a firmware update for the 166, something to consider.

Best Regards,
Jeff

Message Edited by Predator on 03-07-2006 08:30 AM

Morris Dancer · Answer

Hi,

I will try the driver reinstall as you mention and advise on the results. In the meantime Dell support came back and asked me to load the following

'LiteOn JLMS XJ-HD166 HH 16X DVD' A01-1 firmware update

It didn't work unfortunately.

Regards,

Tony

Morris Dancer · Answer

Sorry, also, yes the firmware did update, but it didn't have any affect.

Morris Dancer · Answer

Hi,

What I mean is, is that it didn't have any affect on the problem, my DVD drive still doesn't accept PC DVD-ROM cds, when I put one in it still asks me to insert a disk.

I did an express test and the error message came up as OF00:133D Msg: IDE device failed, incompatible CD for testing. (at the time, a PC DVD-ROM cd was in the DVD drive, if that means anything to the message).

Regards,

Tony

osprey4 · Answer

Tony: Please clarify, 'It didn't work.' Was the firmware update not successful, or were you able to update the firmware but the update has not improved matters?

Morris Dancer · Answer

That should read OF00:133D

Morris Dancer · Answer

I'm getting a little out of my depth, but am trying to work through your articles on this. (totally my fault, not the articles).   I should mention, I ran an express test and it came back with OF)):133 D Msg IDE device failed, incompatible CD for testing.   Does this narrow the issue down at all?   Many thanks once again.   Cheers, Tony

osprey4 · Answer

That message may only indicate the drive does not have a disc in it that can be used for testing.

What else have you tried? Have you deleted the drive and IDE channel from device manager? At this point, you should contact Dell about getting a replacement. I suggest e-mail. They'll have you go through some troubleshooting steps, possibly things you've already done.

Storage, Drives & Media

Can't play PC DVD ROM cds

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