Akalabeth

Okay, so I have DVD RW Drive that can read and write both DVDs and CDs.

One day I buy some DVDs and a PC Game. I watch one of the DVDs, and then after try to install a PC Game, Crysis. Crysis gives me some error saying a file is corrupt, I check some forums and that's common and there's some work around. So a few days later I try to do the work around, but now my Drive won't read the DVD. In fact, I throw in some more DVDs, and it won't read ANY of them. All it does it makes a few sounds, and then stops trying.

BUT, it does read, play and burn CDs.

The Device manager says the device is working correctly.
I try:

1. Uninstalling the drivers, opening up the case, disconnecting the drive, restarting the PC. Shutting it down, reconnecting the drive, restarting again and thus re-installing the drives. Situation unchanged.

2. I try to uninstall securom. Doesn't help.

3. I start up some DVD creation program, it says DMA is turned off. So I go into Device manager, click on Primary IDE and Secondary. For everything DMA is turned on. Except for one, Device(0) it says that DMA is on if applicable. But PIO is on by default. I try the windows help thing, and select PIO hit ok. Then I go back in, select DMA and hit okay. Doesn't help.

4. I believe I also tried the autofix tool, as in this forum: http://www.techspot.com/vb/showthread.php?p=262352 but it didn't work.


Though one thing odd I noticed. Under the IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.

Is there supposed to be two Primary IDE Channel tabs? I have two Primary and one secondary. The first Primary says "Ultra DMA 5 Mode" the second says PIO Mode. The Secondary says not applicable.

Any help is much appreciated.

dai

try removing the filters

http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=k...060&x=12&y=13#

Akalabeth

hmmn, I think I've tried that before actually.

But anyway, I ran the FixIt program and then shutdown. Restarted + deleted the driver. Shut down, disconnected the drive, restart+shutdown, reconnected+restarted and then tried a DVD but no dice.

Then I was going to try to "fix it" manually but I notice that the filters aren't there anymore. (guess they don't get reinstalled?)

Hmmn. Dunno what's going on. But thanks for the suggestion.

dai

try a system restore to when all was ok

Akalabeth

I think I've tried that before but I'll give it another try and let you guys know. I'm a little busy right now so haven't had time to do it.
Thanks

Akalabeth

Ok, I did a system restore. Still doesn't work. :(
Sigh

dai

try uninstalling from the device manager and reboot

Akalabeth

Yeah I tried that too. No dice.
Maybe I just need a new drive or something. . . I don't know if a disk can ruin a drive. Or if a drive can lose its DVD laser but not the CD one??

dai

a drive can lose one laser while the other one keeps working

have you tried cleaning the laser

try the drive on another computer if it's the same time to replace it

Akalabeth

yeah I ran a VCD cleaner in there that my roommate had. No effect. It read the VCD just fine of course (because it's not a DVD). I'm not sure if VCD and DVD cleaners are different (ie brushes in different places??? I wouldn't think so).

I ran this Nero infotools thing: http://www.nero.com/enu/support-nero...utilities.html which is supposed to check out the hardware and it gave green lights on most of the DVD functions (except -RAM (read+write), -ROM (write) and -R DL (write)), So who knows. DVD drives seem to be pretty cheap apparently, like 30-40 bucks. I might just pick one up and use my existing drive as a CD drive only. OR . . use the new DVD drive to back-up my stuff and then wipe the hard drive and reinstall windows and maybe that will fix it. But of course I can't back up my stuff really with just a CD writer, some of my files won't fit and I don't care to have it archived over multiple CDs.

dai

with the prices so low when the usual fixes don't work i just replace

Akalabeth

ok thanks for your help