Don't know if I have a dvd disk drive

Question

I have a Dell Inspiron 1520 laptop Model PP22L.  I bought it in April 2008, so it is 4 years old. I need help and I don't speak techie.  I bought a great book that has a downloadable DVD program to view photoshop tutorials.  I was able to download the practice photos and tutorials off the disk, but the tutorials don't play.  Everything seems to be there, but the play option is disabled.  With the DVD in the disk drive, when I click on a tutorial, I get a message, something about my computer is not configured, etc.  If the disk is not in the drive and I go to 'My documents' where I filed it (following directions in book), it is still all there, but just nothing happens when I click on a tutorial.  It may be that I need to re-configure something (that's a separate issue), but after looking at my computer's 'help and support' section and my Dell owner's manual I think maybe what I have is a CD disk drive, not a CD plus DVD disk drive.  In that case, it will never work. Can anyone tell me, does my laptop have DVD capabability, and if not, can you purchase separately a plug in DVD drive.  I don't want to buy a new laptop at this time.  If you know the answer, would you be kind enough to send me an e-mail at <ADMIN NOTE : Email id removed per Privacy policy>

Skybird · Answer

What version of Windows are you using? If XP, then look in the Device Manager .........

Start | Control Panel | System in classic view | Hardware tab | Device Manager

Click on the (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives. This will reveal the Brand and Model of

drive. Please post that.

summerskies · Answer

I have Windows XP. The path you gave didn't exactly take me to the right place, but I think I found the info. I copied everything I found. This is it:

WDC WD2500BEVS-75USTO

PROPERTIES: Device type: Disk drives, manufacturer: Standard disk drives, Location: 0(0) (box: this device is working properly).

DRIVER: Driver provider, Driver date 7/1/2001, Driver version: 5.1.2535.0, Digital signer: Microsoft Windows Publisher.

Skybird · Answer

That is the hard drive.  Click on the (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives, not Disk Drives.

summerskies · Answer

OK, I think I found it.  Your path was right, it can just be a little confusing.  I think it is SONY CDRWDVD CRX880A.  Does that sound right?

Skybird · Answer

The Sony CRX880A is capable of reading DVD media.  Insert the DVD into the drive and in My Computer, right-click the drive and select Explore.  Do you see the contents of the disc?

summerskies · Answer

Yes, this is what I have been seeing.  There are 2 folder icons and one notepad icon.  The first is labeled LESSONS.  Under properties it says 482 MB 142 files 3 folders.  (The LESSONS folder is practice photos and they do open).  The second is labeled VIDEOS and has under properties 346 MB 101 files 25 folders.  The third is labeled README and under properties says size 2.03 KB size on disk 4.00 KB.  By the way, I have a lot of free space on my computer, if that makes any difference.  After I defrag I have 88% free space, and that is after downloading the tutorial program.

Skybird · Answer

Your DVD drive is good so that is eliminated as a problem.  When you look are the DVD contents, do you see a file that ends in .exe?  If yes, double-click that file.

summerskies · Answer

Sorry I didn't follow out all your instructions.  When I double click VIDEOS, there are 3 folders, labeled ASSETS, PSE9_videos.app 18.5 MB, folder:  contents, and PSE9 videos Adobe flash player 10.1., r52.

summerskies · Answer

Yes, if I am looking at the right place.  When I drag my cursor over the VIDEOS icon, the little box says SIZE: 346 MB, FOLDERS:  Assets, PSE9_Videos.app, FILES:  PSE9_Videos.exe.

summerskies · Answer

Yes, I have done this before.  OK, I'm feeling kind of embarrassed now.  When I did this before, nothing happened.  Now the video is playing and the volumn is fine.  Maybe I did something different.  But I think my problem is solved.  Maybe it was a miracle.  Whatever happened, thank you so much for your help.

Skybird · Answer

You are welcome.  Best regards.

Skybird · Answer

Did you double-click the file PSE9_Videos.exe?  Try that.

Storage, Drives & Media

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