CD/DVD Drive cannot read DVD-s

Question

Hi,   I have a Dimension 4600C since 2004. The CD/DVD drive has been working perfectly until yesterday, when suddenly stopped reading DVD-s. I am not experiencing any problems reading CD-s at all.   Please note that DVD-s that I am using are new from Microsoft (Vista, VS.NET 2008 etc.). Since yesterday I tried to read many DVD-s (all new), that have worked perfectly fine in the past, but no luck. As a matter of fact it tries to read the DVD, the activity LED lights up...   Drive type: _NEC DVD + RW ND-6100A ATA Service Tag: avalable in my profile.   Any ideas?   Thanks in advance!   Zen Message Edited by Shkelzen on 12-23-2007 09:59 AM

Predator · Answer

Hi Zen,Use Window restore feature, roll the system back to a Restore Piont before the problem started and see if this might help.If not and since the issue seems to be relate to DVD`s, reinstall your decoding software, could be PowerDVD or Sonic Cineplayer if you are using one factory installed bye Dell.Merry Christmas ! Jeff CD/RW Link

Shkelzen · Answer

Hey Jeff,

Marry Christmas to you too!

Thank you very much for your prompt reply.

I rolled back and installed Sonic MyDVD and Sonic RecordNow! which came with my Dell machine. Unfortunately none of this actions helped.

For a moment I thought that it may be hardware related. But again I am not experiencing any problems accessing CD-s.

If you can think of any other way to fix this please let me know.

Thanks!

Zen

Message Edited by Shkelzen on 12-23-2007 04:49 PM

Predator · Answer

Hi Zen,Just to test the drive, click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 7-5, article 15. Try either the VLC program or the K-Lite codec and see if the drive will work now.Both of those are free and work well with Windows.Merry Christmas ! Jeff CD/RW Link

Predator · Answer

Hi Zen,You are not a bother my friend, I just wish I was doing a better job of helping.Your Profile does not mention what Operating System you are using, however both Vista and XP should be able to read the UDF file.dell does not seem to have a firmware update for this drive so if you have not done so; click on the FAQ at the top of this page and scroll down to Standard Troubleshooting steps for CD/DVD drives and run those.If none of them helps, please do run the Dell diagnostic and let us know if you receive any error codes.Merry Christmas ! Jeff CD/RW Link

Shkelzen · Answer

Hey Jeff,   I apologize for bothering you with this again.   After I installed the VLC program, I was able to browse the DVD. However the content pane of Windows Explorer would show only a readme file, although the DVD is actually a Visual Studio 2008 .NET installation DVD.   Readme.txt content:   This disc contains a 'UDF' file system and requires an operating system that supports the ISO-13346 'UDF' file system specification.   What does this mean?     Cheers,   Zen

Shkelzen · Answer

Hi Jeff,   I forgot to mention that I have a dual boot system Windows XP SP2 / Windows Vista Business Edition.   I ran the Dell Diagnostic and all tests passed. No errors at all. I did also follow the Standard Troubleshooting steps. But that did not help either.   I also forgot to mention the fact that when I boot the system with a bootable DVD (Vista Installation DVD) the DVD is not recognized.   Could this be a hardware issue? Is this a common issue?     Thank you very much!   Zen

Predator · Answer

Hi Zen,No this is not a common issue and yes it still could be a hardware issue. Drive can still read CD media but fail to read DVD media, he had one at work do this.Run the Dell Diagnostic once more, instead of using a data CD, this time use a DVD movie disc.The dreaded GWA-4164B drive classic problem was that it would burn to DVD media but not to CD media. It would past the test with DVD media but fail it with data CD, yours may be just the opposite.Merry Christmas ! Jeff CD/RW Link

Shkelzen · Answer

Hey Jeff,   Follwing you instructions I ran the Dell Diagnostics Procedures one more time. This time around though with a DVD in the CD/DVD Drive.   The confidence test returned this error message:   Error Code 0F00 : 131B Msg. Block 0: Flaw in the medium or an error in recorded data. If this is a removable media device, try different media.   It continues with info as to how to contact Dell Support...   Two DVD-s I tried to test are new and work on any other computer.     Thanks!   Zen

Predator · Answer

Hi Zen,If you happen to still be under warranty, please contact Dell and give this error code. The Tech will recommend the drive to be replaced.If out of warrny, time to replace her my friend.Merry Christmas ! Jeff CD/RW Link

Shkelzen · Answer

Hey Jeff,   Thanks for all your help.   Zen

Shkelzen · Answer

Thanks for all your help.     Zen

JRosenfeld · Answer

Befiore replacing the drive, you have nothing to lose by trying a DVD drive cleaner, such as CleanDr or Alsop multimedia laser lens cleaner. If the problem is caused by accumulated dirt or dust on the laser lens (different one for DVDs than for CDs), they may just clear it.

Storage, Drives & Media

Was this post helpful?