DVD drive will not read/write Solved/Closed

Question

Hello,
The DVD drive fitted in my Gateway MT6832B Laptop (Vista home premium OS) has stopped working.  It will no longer read or write to either CD or DVD disks.  In device manager the drive is listed as an Optiarc DVD RW AD-7530A ATA device.  If I click thereon I get a message that the device is working properly.  When I first clicked on DVD regions no region was indicated.  I clicked on UK  and  region 2 is now shown as the Current Region.   When I clicked on update driver, after carrying out a search on line, I got a message to say that the best software was already installed.   When I click on "Computer"  DVD RW Drive (E) is shown.  If I insert a DVD (or CD) disk and click on run or explore the disk is ejected and I am asked to insert a disk in Drive E.    If I then reinsert the disk the drive makes a clicking/grinding noise but the disk is nor read.   The evidence seemed to point to a hardware fault.

Perusing the issue in this forum I see a suggestion that it could be caused by a recent update in Windows Vista blocking the policies. The proposed remedy is to open regedit & go to                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\explorer 
In the right pane create a new 32-bit DWORD value, if it does not already exist, name it NoCDburning and assign the value data to 1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             
I have run into some problems.   When I drill down from HKEY_CURRENT_USER I can get as far as Policies.  Policies\explorer does not exist in my computer setup.    There is no subkey named Explorer shown beneath Policies.      Explorer is, however, listed beneath "current version".
How should I proceed from here.   If I highlight "policies" the right window shows  name: ab(default)  Type: REG_SZ  Data: (value not set).   Should I create & add the new DWORD in this (the current version\"policies" ) right  window.? Perhaps I should highlight current version\explorer and create the new DWORD in its right window?
Here I would point out that I have no experience of working within the Registry.   The instructions say to Create a new 32-bit DWORD value, if it does not already exist.  I am not sure that I would be able to recognise a DWORD if it does exist.  Would it have a name that I would recognise?
I would welcome advice in the form of step by step instructions for the completion of the proposed procedure described above to remedy the DVD issue. 

Many Thanks

xpcman · Accepted Answer

You might try the solution given at this web site:

https://searchwindowsserver.techtarget.com/tip/How-to-fix-CD-DVD-ROM-issues-in-Windows-2000-and-XP

crazycrow · Answer

XPCMan
Thank you for responding to my query.
The DVD drive is detected & shows up in "Computer"  There are no error messages other than to insert a disk when there is already one in the drive.  Furthermore there are no yellow exclamation marks in Device Manager.  For that reason I think it probably isn't a driver filter problem.  I will, however, check it out if I find that the Windows Vista update is not the cause of the issue.  I am grateful for your offer of help.

loke · Answer

I encountered exactly the same problem.

I followed HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies

but cannot find the brach \explorer.

I rightclick on 'policies', choose new key and entered 'explorer'

I then follow the brach \explorer, rightclick on the right pannel, choose new DOUBLE WORD (32 bit) Value and entered 'NoCDburning'

Then I rightclick on the word 'NoCDburning' and choose 'modify' and enter the value 1.

This fixed the problem for me.

Thank all the previous contributers.

Skeeter.Gz@msn.com · Answer

I found the resolution to the Matshita DVD-Ram UJ-850s ATA Device Drivers. 
This is different than altering your registry, and it works via Microsoft Vista Home Premium 
Please follow directions carefully or either the Read or the Write won't work. 
In order for this to work - (YOU WILL NEED A BLANK DVD AND A FULL DVD WITH SOME KIND OF PROGRAM ON IT)  
https://support.microsoft.com/fixit#tab2 

Click (or copy and paste) the link above to begin the process. Click on the first option Your CD/DVD drive cannot read or write media in Windows Vista. Click on the big "RUN NOW" button to the right, then select "Continue" when your computer asks your permission. Then Select Detect problems and apply the fixes for me (Recommended). It gives you two options "Read a CD/DVD and Write a CD/DVD" you will need to run both options separately once for each issue you're having with your hardware. You will see your device listed, click on your device. It will ask you for a disc. For the Read part of it, you need to insert a DVD Disc with something on it such as a program, of any kind. Insert the disc and click on your device. NOTE: If you forget to insert a full DVD Disc your DVD Device door will pop out, then you will be forced to insert a DVD disc with a program on it. The program will continue and configure your DVD device.  
After it completes return back to the first page where it says "RUN NOW". Click on "RUN NOW' again and follow the same steps. When you see the screen with the two options "Read a CD/DVD and Write a CD/DVD" and "Write a CD/DVD", this time select "Write a CD/DVD" option. NOTE: IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU INSERT A BLANK DVD IN ORDER TO COMPLETE THIS PROCESS. The program is configuring the write portion and it needs to be able to write on the blank DVD in order to complete the process. Then follow the rest of the steps and complete the process. 
THAT'S IT !!! 
Congratulations, you can now use 100% of you DVD device and there is no risk with altering the registry. 
Sincerely Email Id removed for security

DVD drive will not read/write

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