Try uninstalling all DVD player software from the system, reboot and then reinstall the software one at a time (I would start with the PowerDVD) and test to see if you are able to play a DVD (and after each program is installed).
Hi CJ, Check and make sure DMA is still enabled for the drive. In case of driver issue, click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 1 and then Section 11, article 2. Some Members have had to un-install both PowerDVD and Media Player in order to correct the problem. Finally, Dell I believe has a firmware update for this drive, whether this will correct the issue I cannot say.
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 the difference.
1. I can uninstall Power DVD; however, Windows Media Player's shortcut is all that is listed under add/remove Windows components. It is, however, found in Program files, but I've beed told not to remove programs by deleting directories.
2. I did clear the NVRAM and did uninstall the NEC DVD drive and did uninstall PowerDVD and then rebooted and reinstalled PowerDVD to no avail.
3. I could find no update for the NEC drive on Dell's site.
Hi CJ, Click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 75, there you`ll find the instructions from Dell-Karell.
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 the difference.
Thanks again to Jeff for replying, but, alas, nothing worked. I did uninstall both Win Media Player and Power DVD. I did then reboot. I then reinstalled Win Media and Power DVD. I still get the message from Microsoft saying a problem has occurred--No Kidding! It would be nice to know exactly what the problem is. This is particularly mystifying since the DVD drive played movies fine with either PowerDVD or Win Media and now still plays audio CDs with Win Media.
I would appreciate any more suggestions. I wonder if this is happening because today is Bill Gates 48th birthday and because it reflects Microsoft's sense of computer humor.
Remove the secondary IDE controller from Device Manager and let Windows reload during reboot. I've seen similar optical driver issues with a Microsoft critical security update.
Did you recently installed new DVD player software? Did you clean the lens inside the player? You may have a defective DVD player. Try another unit.
For instructions on the IDE controller submitted by F, click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 20, article 3, basically the same for XP, just use Uninsall instead of remove. From reading your post it is the same software, nothing new, cleaning the drive is a given. Section 12, article 3 from Dell-Stephen may help with deciding on whether to contact Dell about a defective unit, consider giving it a try and you may wish to trouble shoot this issue with them. Sometimes we have seen the Secondary controller stuck in PIO mode, Un-installing and re-installing the controller may indeed set the DMA correctly, you may wish to consider Dell`s article in Section 15, article 13, submitted by Ron ~ The_NameK, one of our more respected Regulars.
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 the difference.
Go to www.bootitng.com and download this program. This program will allow you to create an image file of your HD and burn the image file to DVD disc for later restoration. The image file will restore your PC to the exact state when you created the image file. You can try this program for 30 days.
Once you have an image file of your HD on DVD discs, then you can wipe the data in the HD and reload Windows. This will take care of any software conflict. If you can't get the DVD to work after a clean install of Windows, then you probably have a bad drive. Also replace the IDE cable.
Use the image file to restore your PC to the old configuration. Replace the DVD drive.
Hi CJ, If you happened to have a friend, relative, etc. that might allow you to test the unit in their PC, this should give you idea on whether the unit is working or not. We have a "test" system at work we use for such things.
I did a little more searching, Firmware Forum naturaly says to update the firmware but there were a couple dealing with the ASPI layer that caught my attention. Members with similar problems stated installing Nero`s Demo and / or Roxio`s ASPI layer from their web site, corrected their problem. However you may wish to simply contact Dell by phone and trouble shoot this issue with them, rather than waste anymore time here. My apologies. Best Regards
Edit: I recall a couple of our Regulars, Rob (Arcorob) and Mike (Skybird) or maybe Don (Starter) using the ASPI layer to correct their DVD playing. I found this as well http://radified.com/ASPI/forceaspi.htm
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 the difference.
There are many ways to store the image file. A CD writer will also work. Or you can use BOOTITNG to create an extended logical partition in your HDD, and dump the image file there for safe keeping. Yes, Bootitng can also non-destructively partition the HDD. The software is free for 30 days. It doesn't cost you any $ and the best part is that you will know if this is a software or hardware issue. If this is a hardware problem, then you can use the stored image file to restore the PC, without loosing your data.
I keep an as-loaded image file of the OS for trouble shooting. When I suspect a hardware problem, then I restore this image file and retest the system. If the device works, then it's a software issue.
F.
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 05:08 PM
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 07:38 PM
Hi CJ, You might consider Dell`s article #2 in Section 12 of the CD/RW link and various articles listed in Section 6-3. Some Members stated fairly good reports performing a Windows XP repair, others prefer the "Clean" install. Dell may ask you to re-install the OS if you call, so be prepared.
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 the difference.
Thanks again to you folks for taking the time to try to help. I ran the check utility and discovered that there were no ASPI files, so I installed the ASPI layer using the forceaspi utility. The DVD drive would still not play movies. So, I guess I'll buy one at Circuit City or on the WEB. Anyone have a "best" internal DVD drive to recommend or any cautions regarding my attempting to install it?
DELL-Stephen S
2 Intern
•
1.4K Posts
0
October 27th, 2003 21:00
C.J.,
Thank you for visiting the Dell Community Forum.
Try uninstalling all DVD player software from the system, reboot and then reinstall the software one at a time (I would start with the PowerDVD) and test to see if you are able to play a DVD (and after each program is installed).
cjmoore
12 Posts
0
October 27th, 2003 23:00
Predator
2 Intern
•
15.3K Posts
0
October 28th, 2003 07:00
Hi CJ,
Check and make sure DMA is still enabled for the drive. In case of driver issue, click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 1 and then Section 11, article 2.
Some Members have had to un-install both PowerDVD and Media Player in order to correct the problem. Finally, Dell I believe has a firmware update for this drive, whether this will correct the issue I cannot say.
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 the
difference.
cjmoore
12 Posts
0
October 28th, 2003 15:00
Well, here goes:
1. I can uninstall Power DVD; however, Windows Media Player's shortcut is all that is listed under add/remove Windows components. It is, however, found in Program files, but I've beed told not to remove programs by deleting directories.
2. I did clear the NVRAM and did uninstall the NEC DVD drive and did uninstall PowerDVD and then rebooted and reinstalled PowerDVD to no avail.
3. I could find no update for the NEC drive on Dell's site.
So, if I must also remove WinMedia Player--how?
Jeff, thanks for taking the time to reply.
Predator
2 Intern
•
15.3K Posts
0
October 28th, 2003 19:00
Hi CJ,
Click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 75, there you`ll find the instructions from Dell-Karell.
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 the
difference.
cjmoore
12 Posts
0
October 28th, 2003 23:00
Thanks again to Jeff for replying, but, alas, nothing worked. I did uninstall both Win Media Player and Power DVD. I did then reboot. I then reinstalled Win Media and Power DVD. I still get the message from Microsoft saying a problem has occurred--No Kidding! It would be nice to know exactly what the problem is. This is particularly mystifying since the DVD drive played movies fine with either PowerDVD or Win Media and now still plays audio CDs with Win Media.
I would appreciate any more suggestions. I wonder if this is happening because today is Bill Gates 48th birthday and because it reflects Microsoft's sense of computer humor.
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
October 29th, 2003 01:00
Remove the secondary IDE controller from Device Manager and let Windows reload during reboot. I've seen similar optical driver issues with a Microsoft critical security update.
Did you recently installed new DVD player software? Did you clean the lens inside the player? You may have a defective DVD player. Try another unit.
F.
Predator
2 Intern
•
15.3K Posts
0
October 29th, 2003 09:00
Hi CJ,
For instructions on the IDE controller submitted by F, click on the CD/RW gif in my post and scroll to Section 20, article 3, basically the same for XP, just use Uninsall instead of remove. From reading your post it is the same software, nothing new, cleaning the drive is a given. Section 12, article 3 from Dell-Stephen may help with deciding on whether to contact Dell about a defective unit, consider giving it a try and you may wish to trouble shoot this issue with them. Sometimes we have seen the Secondary controller stuck in PIO mode, Un-installing and re-installing the controller may indeed set the DMA correctly, you may wish to consider Dell`s article in Section 15, article 13, submitted by Ron ~ The_NameK, one of our more respected Regulars.
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 the
difference.
Message Edited by Predator on 10-29-2003 07:31 AM
cjmoore
12 Posts
0
October 30th, 2003 13:00
Thanks again to Jeff and now also to Francis for trying to help. I did the following:
1. I cleaned the lens.
2. Checked to make sure the DVD drive could read the files on a DVD--it can. It can read and play the files on an audio CD.
3. Uninstalled the secondary IDE ; then rebooted and XP reinstalled.
4. Though the deivice manager showed the DMA was to be used when available, I still downloaded and ran the utility PIOtoDMA.
All of this resulted in the same! Hate to keep bothering you, but are there any more ideas to try? Thaks again.
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 16:00
Go to www.bootitng.com and download this program. This program will allow you to create an image file of your HD and burn the image file to DVD disc for later restoration. The image file will restore your PC to the exact state when you created the image file. You can try this program for 30 days.
Once you have an image file of your HD on DVD discs, then you can wipe the data in the HD and reload Windows. This will take care of any software conflict. If you can't get the DVD to work after a clean install of Windows, then you probably have a bad drive. Also replace the IDE cable.
Use the image file to restore your PC to the old configuration. Replace the DVD drive.
F.
Predator
2 Intern
•
15.3K Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 19:00
Hi CJ,
If you happened to have a friend, relative, etc. that might allow you to test the unit in their PC, this should give you idea on whether the unit is working or not. We have a "test" system at work we use for such things.
I did a little more searching, Firmware Forum naturaly says to update the firmware but there were a couple dealing with the ASPI layer that caught my attention. Members with similar problems stated installing Nero`s Demo and / or Roxio`s ASPI layer from their web site, corrected their problem.
However you may wish to simply contact Dell by phone and trouble shoot this issue with them, rather than waste anymore time here. My apologies.
Best Regards
Edit: I recall a couple of our Regulars, Rob (Arcorob) and Mike (Skybird) or maybe Don (Starter) using the ASPI layer to correct their DVD playing.
I found this as well http://radified.com/ASPI/forceaspi.htm
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 the
difference.
Message Edited by Predator on 10-31-2003 10:08 PM
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 20:00
There are many ways to store the image file. A CD writer will also work. Or you can use BOOTITNG to create an extended logical partition in your HDD, and dump the image file there for safe keeping. Yes, Bootitng can also non-destructively partition the HDD. The software is free for 30 days. It doesn't cost you any $ and the best part is that you will know if this is a software or hardware issue. If this is a hardware problem, then you can use the stored image file to restore the PC, without loosing your data.
I keep an as-loaded image file of the OS for trouble shooting. When I suspect a hardware problem, then I restore this image file and retest the system. If the device works, then it's a software issue.
F.
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 05:08 PM
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 07:38 PM
Predator
2 Intern
•
15.3K Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 21:00
Hi CJ,
You might consider Dell`s article #2 in Section 12 of the CD/RW link and various articles listed in Section 6-3. Some Members stated fairly good reports performing a Windows XP repair, others prefer the "Clean" install. Dell may ask you to re-install the OS if you call, so be prepared.
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 the
difference.
Message Edited by Predator on 10-31-2003 10:27 PM
Francis Nguyen
953 Posts
0
October 31st, 2003 21:00
By creating an image file, the user can reload Windows and retest the optical drive without destroying his/her OLD DATA.
F.
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 03:43 PM
Message Edited by Francis Nguyen on 10-31-2003 07:39 PM
cjmoore
12 Posts
0
November 2nd, 2003 23:00
Thanks again to you folks for taking the time to try to help. I ran the check utility and discovered that there were no ASPI files, so I installed the ASPI layer using the forceaspi utility. The DVD drive would still not play movies. So, I guess I'll buy one at Circuit City or on the WEB. Anyone have a "best" internal DVD drive to recommend or any cautions regarding my attempting to install it?
Thanks again.