DVD/RW will not read anything Solved

Question

Hello,
my DVD/RW will not read cds, dvds or data discs. I used it regularly for burning both cds and dvds, up until 2days ago when it suddenly decided to stop working for reasons unknown. I have been to device manager which says there is no problems, I have reinstalled to let the pc find it. I am now at a loss please can someone help me.

It is a Samsung Writemaster Dvd/rw TSST Corp SH-W162C
and I am running WinxpSystem Configuration: Windows XP
Firefox 2.0.0.15

logik · Accepted Answer

If your DVD shows up in device manager, and reports no problems, but sill doesn't read disks, the problem has a simple 1 minute fix.

The problem is simple.  Your transport it jammed, likely due to vibration or some shock to the system that you may not even be aware of.  The transport for the laser head moves too far toward the centre of the spindle and gets wedged in just far enough that the transport mechanism can't move it back.    Here's what you do...

 Open the DVD-Rom bay on your laptop.
 Very carefully remove any dust or debris  from the area around the laser head with a cue tip or gentle microfibre cloth, like the type used for cleaning monitors or lenses.  BE GENTLE!  You scratch that lense you are buying a whole new DVD drive.
 Once the area is clean, use a small, blunt object like a paperclip or plastic pen tip to gently, but firmly move the transport away from the centre spindle toward the outside.  Clean up and more dirt or debris using the method above.   If you have anything sticky or gooey, like ciagrette smoke or the like, you can use a mixture of 50% rubbing alcohol and distilled water on the q-tip to help remove junk.
 Once clean and the transport is moved to the outer limit, place in a dvd and close the tray.   next time you boot your computer, the DVD reader will seek the correct centre ring on the DVD, and will then read it properly.  The DVD will auto align, and your troubles should be over.   If it happens again, you will know what to do.
 The culprit is a weak transport that can get stuck on smoke, dust, hair, or even get jammed in the centre if the unit takes a shock or too much vibration.   

Thankfully, it is a dead simple fix.

Jason in Australia · Answer

Try to turn off the vista's burning feature.

It's not yours or anyones burners....just an update in vista which buggered the policies up

Go to your run command and type  (start.....Run.....)
type gpedit.msc
Go to User configuration/Administrative templates/Windows components/Windows explorer
On the right pane, double click on "Remove CD burning features" tick the enabled button, then OK.
Reboot or logoff/logon to apply.

If your vista version does not have the gpedit function, do the following.
Open regedit, go to: 

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer

In the right pane, if it does not already exist, create a new 32-bit DWORD value. Name the new value as NoCDBurning, and assign the value data to 1. 
Reboot or logoff/logon to apply.

This should fix the problem
it worked for me
pass this round

micro01 · Answer

I can not find HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Â­Policies\Explorer also. I am running windows Vista. 

When I go to registry this is what I have:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Â­Policies. 
Policies does not have a values. 

Please help. I believe I am getting closer to resolving my issue with your forum.


Thank you

Frank · Answer

You should delete your upper and lower filters in registry hkey local machine-->system--> currentcontrolset -->control --> class-->highlight the first map that starts with 4d --> on the right side u see the upper and lower filters.
reinstall the dvd player in device managerm--> fixed

Gatorp003 · Answer

i just had this same problem after windows 7 upgrade.  After trial and error to fix this issue I opened divice manager uninstalled the the device and then restarted the computer.  when restart windows found new hardware and installed the device and drivers.  this fixed my issue.  Hope this helps

dj5 · Answer

I had the same problem with my both my DVD drives in my desktop and the DVD drive in my laptop.  They would play CDs but would not recognize a DVD.  I tried the solutions listed but none helped.  I finally found a link to a Mirosoft link which solved my problem.  I ran the 'Fix It' program and it solved my problem.  Here is a link to the site: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/314060/your-cd-or-dvd-drive-is-not-recognized-by-windows-or-other-programs

leed321 · Answer

hi 
Try this - Control Panel - Device Manager - CD/DVD - double click the device - Driver's Tab - click
Update Drivers (this will likely do nothing) - then RIGHT CLICK the drive - UNINSTALL - REBOOT 
this will refresh the default driver stack.

Normally the above will fix that issue if not work your way down through these even if you have done
them before. thanks lee

bsgbest · Answer

I just experienced the same problem with the optiarch DVD RW AD-7640S (installed on my Gateway UC7807U).  I could not reading any of the discs I inserted.  I was really not looking forward to have to buy a replacement DVD drive as suggested by many on this forum.  The alternative, which was lens cleaning, was a bit tedious since the drive is a slot drive and we had to unscrew a lot of parts to get access to that lens.  It took about 2 hours of careful dismantling and reassembly with a whopping 5 seconds at the main event: cleaning the lense with alcohol and a cotton cloth.  In the process, I wondered which was better: this, or changing a baby's diaper?

Good luck!

Naveen · Answer

Hello Guys: Its Quite Informative  Thread for me.

I had a very strange Problem with my CD/DVD. I tried almost every solution given on net, but at last I am not sure what made it working.. Here's my understanding experience

Dell Inspiron 1420
Windows Vista Business Edition
PBDS DS-8W1P Slim 8x DVD+/-RW

I tried working with Registry/ Drivers/ BIOS/ Dell Support Guys almost everything. Nothing came out Positive.. In my case it was working for few CDs/ DVDs but not all Cds/ DVDs esp never for '-R' CDs/ DVDs

At one point of time, I thought my CD/DVD rom does'nt support this -R type.. Even tough bought which supports +-RW which means +R -R +RW -RW all should be supported. It was disappointing with strange problem where only a few DVDs are accepted

One day after reading this thread (The first answer of cleaning the lense by Tybaltkilla08) strike to mind and I started cleaning the DVD lens with an ear bud.

When I pressed the lens it was moving in to/fro motion, I moved it left/right couple of time rotated the bud to clean the lens.... and that's it..Life was never the same again ..

All the DVDs/ CDs worked perfectly after that..


Hope this Helps

Dev · Answer

Just delete the upper lower filter key from registry. 

The address is ---> 
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} 

Then go to the device manager and uninstall the cd/dvd drive if the showing the yellow exclamation mark with them. and then restart the computer. 

It will definetly work. 

Manish Dev

viren · Answer

One thing that helped me out was cleaning the DVD  rom drive with cotton swabs...I was about to take it for servicing but then decided id give it one last shot.My Dvd writer was not working on the laptop for the past 1 year which was running vista and I thought it might be a registry or driver problem.nothing used to read and it would EJECT automatically.
I cleaned it with cotton swabs on the base below the lens and around the casing and the amount of dust collected was huge.The dust stops the lens from moving freely on the base and therefore does not read.
Clean the laptop drive and itll surely work.This worked for me after a year of contemplating. TRY IT

DVD/RW will not read anything

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