How to Troubleshoot CD, DVD or Blu-Ray Drive Problems

Summary: This article helps you identify the type of optical drive or optical disk issue based on the symptoms and provide links to helpful troubleshooting resources.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.
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Symptoms

Are you having trouble with the CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive on your Dell computer?

See the table below to identify the type of symptom that you are noticing and click the corresponding Dell knowledge base article for additional information.

Cause

CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive or disk issues can be caused due to incompatible disks, faulty disks, corrupt registry entry, drive hardware failure, and so on.

Resolution

NOTE:
  • Before following the troubleshooting steps using the links below, ensure that multiple disks do not work in the optical drive. If only one CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disk is causing a problem, it is an issue with the disk and not the drive.

Based on the symptoms mentioned in the table below, click the corresponding link to the Dell knowledge base article for specific troubleshooting steps.

Table 1 - Identifying the symptoms and links to helpful troubleshooting resources
Symptoms Helpful resource
  • CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive is not recognized on the computer.
  • The CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive icon is missing.
  • The CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive is not appearing in any applications.
NOTE: Dell Ultrabook laptops and select Dell laptops and desktops do not have an integrated CD, DVD, or Blu-ray drive. See the original invoice to identify if the computer was shipped with a CD, DVD, or a Blu-ray drive.
  • Unable to write data to a CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disk.
  • Getting an error message when the burn process starts.
  • The disk remains blank after the burn process is complete.
  • The CD, DVD, or Blu-ray disk is not recognized on the computer.
  • After inserting the disk into the computer, the drive cannot read the disk.
  • There is no message after inserting the disk into the optical drive.
  • Cannot eject the tray of the optical drive.
  • The disk does not eject from the optical drive.
  • The slot-load drive does not accept the disk.
  • The slot-load drive does not eject the disk.
  • Pressing the eject button on the optical drive does not work.


See these Dell Knowledge Base articles for related information:

Additional Information

Helpful videos

Diagnose Hardware Issues on Your Dell Laptop or Desktop

Duration: 01:35
When available, closed caption (subtitles) language settings can be chosen using the Settings or CC icon on this video player.

Run Hardware Diagnostics using Dell SupportAssist

Duration: 02:06
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Optical drive videos playlist

Affected Products

Alienware, Dell All-in-One, Dell Pro All-in-One, Dell Pro Max Micro, Dell Pro Max Slim, Dell Pro Max Tower, Dell Pro Micro, Dell Pro Slim, Dell Pro Tower, Dell Slim, Dell Tower, Inspiron, Legacy Desktop Models, OptiPlex, Vostro, XPS, G Series , G Series, Alienware, Dell Plus, Dell Pro, Dell Pro Max, Dell Pro Plus, Dell Pro Premium, Inspiron, Latitude, Dell Pro Rugged, Vostro, XPS, Legacy Laptop Models, Fixed Workstations, Mobile Workstations, Dell Pro Max Micro XE FCM2250, Dell Pro Max Slim XE FCS1250, Dell Pro Max Tower T2 XE FCT2250, Dell Pro Max 16 XE MC16250, Dell Pro Micro Plus XE QBM1250, Dell Pro Slim Plus XE5 QBS1250, Dell Pro Tower Plus XE5 QBT1250 ...
Article Properties
Article Number: 000126039
Article Type: Solution
Last Modified: 19 Sept 2025
Version:  17
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