CD Works, DVD Doesn't

You can give this Firmware a try ..............

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R92760&SystemID=DIM_P4_4700&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=6401&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=32&fileid=120824

If that does not help, run the Dell Diagnostics on the drive.  For the read test,
use a Data DVD.

Brad224,

When you ran the Dell Diagnostics, did you use a data DVD?  There are two lasers
in the drive; one for CDs and one for DVDs.  It may pass the CD read test but that
does not test the DVD laser.

Same problem, except I have an older Dimension 4550, NEC ND-1100A DVD+R and it sees/reads audio CDs and data cds fine, but does not recognize DVD movies - it acts like there is nothing there. I've ran the Dell diagnostics, following the instructions found here, and it reads the data cd just fine, comes back saying it passed all the tests, but still no DVDs.

What's the next step?

I tried it again to be sure, but I don't see any references to "data DVD" anywhere when running the diagnostics. I see my 2 cd drives, and select the ND 1100a, but in the tests it shows, there are no data dvds anywhere. I also went around in the rest of the tests (i.e., extended tests) trying to find some reference to this, but don't see it anywhere.

Is there something I'm missing? (btw - when I ran the complete custom CD\DVD tests for my ND 1100a again, everything passed again).

Duh - it just dawned on me what you meant by data DVD - sorry. I don't think I have any at home, but I will check at work on monday and run the diagnostic test again and respond back then.

Thanks for your help.

I'm not a computer guy, so how do I run diagnostics, what is a data DVD, and where do I get one?  Thanks!

Ok, so I brought a data DVD home and ran the diagnostic test again and the message back this time was to the effect "CD inserted does not contain any digital data. Please insert....."

So since it reads the audio CDs just fine but can't read the DVDs does this mean this particular laser is "out" and I need to replace the drive?

It is hard to say.  If the DVD laser has failed, it will usually tell you to insert
a DVD disc, which you will have done.  This message is telling you you are not using
a suitable DVD data disc.  What is the disc you are trying to use?  I usually use
a Windows installation DVD disc.

Apple iTunes is always a problem.  There was a Firmware issue that you may want to try here ............

http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R92760&formatcnt=1&libid=0&fileid=120824

Ok, finally got ahold of a data dvd and ran the diagnostics - everything passed just fine. AND this dvd works normally on my PC as well.

Yes, I've tried several different dvds previously, but none of them were (obviously) straight data dvds - they were movies and software.

Since it passed those tests, what's my next step? I guess I'm not sure exactly when the dvd went out as I haven't used it in awhile - I don't watch movies on my PC much anymore, but I've uninstalled every new piece of software for the last several months, and don't install much anyway, except constant updates from windows and apple itunes (any possibility any of these could be the problem?)

Sorry, I posted the wrong Firmware.  That is because this thread is mixed.  I was

looking at the original post.  NEC-1100 is here ..............

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&releaseid=R59801&SystemID=DIM_PNT_P4_4550&servicetag=&os=WW1&osl=en&deviceid=3532&devlib=0&typecnt=0&vercnt=1&catid=-1&impid=-1&formatcnt=1&libid=32&fileid=73793