DVD player problems

Question

Hi,    I have a dimension 3100 computer and I am having a difficult time with my DVD player, it will not play DVD's in any program that I have downloaded or installed. Whenever I put a DVD into the drive, I manually click a program to play the DVD but the screen comes up to play it and freezes. Then i have to take out the DVD inorder to make the computer go back to working again. I have downloaded several of the suggested downloads but none of them work, they all say that they are not compatible with my system. I have also called the technical support and spoke to someone about his issue, however I was told I would have to reformat my computer back to the way it originally was when i received it and if that did not work then a technician would be sent out. I am wondering if there might be another solution to this problem?   thanks

osprey4 · Answer

Please insert a DVD disc in the drive and try viewing the directory contents in Explorer (allow enough time for the computer to read the disc). If you can view the contents, then the problem is with your DVD decoder. If you cannot view the contents, then the problem is the drive itself.   Post back and let me know what you find.

hbbyd · Answer

Hello,   I tried what you recommended and this did not work either. Is there a way to fix the drive if that is the problem, or would I have to contact Dell?

osprey4 · Answer

hbbyd: You did not understand my post. I told you to try reading the disc, then report back to me what you discovered.

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, I see your point. Please go to drive properties, to the autoplay tab, and set the autoplay option for DVD movies to Take no action. Apply that setting and exit. Then insert a disc. Your computer should not freeze. Then open Explorer or My Computer and open the disc to see if you can read the directory.

hbbyd · Answer

I don't understand what you mean by reading the disc? My computer doesn't respond to any dvd's that I put in the drive, it just freezes until I remove the disc. It has played these DVD's before so I don't understand why there would be a problem now.    If the problem is the driver? How would the driver be fixed? By reformatting my computer?

hbbyd · Answer

Okay, how do I locate driver properties on my computer?

osprey4 · Answer

Note: To view the CD Drive (drive_letter:) Properties dialog box, click Start, click My Computer, right-click the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive that you want, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

hbbyd · Answer

Okay, I did all of this. But I am not able to view the directory or anything, it simply comes up saying that there is no disc in the drive and to insert one.

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, that indicates your drive is not reading the disc properly. Please find the drive model (also in drive properties).

hbbyd · Answer

okay, i think this is the information you asked for;   Samsung HD 160JJ/P disc drives HL-DT-ST DVD+- RW GSA-H21N  DVD/CD-ROM drives

osprey4 · Answer

Ok, there is a firmware updated (listed as critical) here. Follow the instructions and run that.

hbbyd · Answer

Hey,   Thanks for all your help, the download link you gave worked.

osprey4 · Answer

Excellent!!

Storage, Drives & Media

DVD player problems

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