Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R

armitageshanks · 11-03-2009, 02:55 AM

Hi,

I have purchased an old laptop just to enable me to surf the internet wirelessly and watch movies etc.
However the standard Sony NEC AD-5540A DVD drive that came with it will not read DVD-R's (I haven't tried any other media type), but will read standard DVD's.
Can I fix this or should I be looking for a new drive?

Thanks in advance.

**TriggerFinger** · 11-03-2009, 07:34 PM

I do not exactly know what you mean by 'standard DVDs' but if it plays original DVD movies then the problem could be on the copies. Does it read DVD +R media?

armitageshanks · 11-04-2009, 01:40 AM

Hi,

Thanks for the reply.
Yes by standard DVD's I mean movies and games. Its the DVD-R and +r (as well as the RW) media that is not read. The disc spins, clunks, spins and so on. But no read.

**TriggerFinger** · 11-04-2009, 03:59 PM

Interesting problem you got there. I hope it is not in any way related to how Windows manages copies especially if they are music or movies. Anyhow, can it read a CD-R or a CDRW? Also, try getting a linux live CD (ex. Ubuntu or Knoppix) and boot from it. That way you will know if it is caused by your hardware (ex. CD/DVD drive) or by Windows.

joeten · 11-04-2009, 05:26 PM

Hi once you have done what TriggerFinger has advised you might try this http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_ problems it might help

11-03-2009, 02:55 AM	#1 (permalink)
armitageshanks Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R Hi, I have purchased an old laptop just to enable me to surf the internet wirelessly and watch movies etc. However the standard Sony NEC AD-5540A DVD drive that came with it will not read DVD-R's (I haven't tried any other media type), but will read standard DVD's. Can I fix this or should I be looking for a new drive? Thanks in advance.

11-03-2009, 07:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R I do not exactly know what you mean by 'standard DVDs' but if it plays original DVD movies then the problem could be on the copies. Does it read DVD +R media? __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

11-04-2009, 01:40 AM	#3 (permalink)
armitageshanks Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 2 OS: XP	Re: Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R Hi, Thanks for the reply. Yes by standard DVD's I mean movies and games. Its the DVD-R and +r (as well as the RW) media that is not read. The disc spins, clunks, spins and so on. But no read.

11-04-2009, 03:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
TriggerFinger Moderator Hardware Team Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: USA Posts: 11,851 OS: Vista SP1, XP SP3, PCLinuxOS2007	Re: Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R Interesting problem you got there. I hope it is not in any way related to how Windows manages copies especially if they are music or movies. Anyhow, can it read a CD-R or a CDRW? Also, try getting a linux live CD (ex. Ubuntu or Knoppix) and boot from it. That way you will know if it is caused by your hardware (ex. CD/DVD drive) or by Windows. __________________ DBAN - Memtest86+ - BartPE - Linux LiveCD - ImgBurn - HDD Diags - Disk Copy HOW TO BURN AN ISO FILE

11-04-2009, 05:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
joeten Tech Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Posts: 3,220 OS: vista	Re: Inspiron 6000 drive not reading DVD-R Hi once you have done what TriggerFinger has advised you might try this http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_ problems it might help __________________