CD-ROM/DVD drive won't work Solved/Closed

Question

Hello,

When we put a CD-R in it shows a little disc with an hour glass on the desktop. When we click on the drive it says, "please insert disc" as if there is not one in there already. It does not matter if it is a blank disc or one with something on it.  I really need to get these to work so I can back up files and save files on a disc. Could someone please help me? The top drive is DVD RW. It will not recognize or play any type of disc. The bottom drive is DVD ROM. It will play an audio CD. It played an old Family Values Tour CD .It will play a commercially recorded CD. It played or opened up a disc I had for a free 1175 hours AOL disc. It will not recognize a blank/empty CD-R. 
System Manufacturer MEDIONPC
System Model MS-6743
My OS is Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition  
Version:5.1.2600  Service Pack: 2.0  I have never installed or replaced any drivers.System Configuration: Windows XP
Firefox 2.0.0.14

Tech_Support · Accepted Answer

Alright Windows users listen up. 

I had the same problem and your site helped me out a lot, however none of your solutions worked for me. It did lead me to find the answer though so for those who have the updated driver already and have tried everything else follow these instructions:

Step 1: Click Start > Run. Type in " sysdm.cpl " into the dialog box that it shows. Click okay and it should bring you to a "System Properties" dialog box. 
Step 2: Go to the tab "Hardware" and click "Device Manager" once there locate your driver. Mine was called "DVD/CD-ROM drives." Double-click it to show it's contents and there should be another device under it. Mine had an question mark but in some cases it might have an exclamation point next to the name. Mine was called "AOPEN DUW1608/ARR" but if your's is different, it's okay. 
Step 3: Double-click the newly revealed hardward "AOPEN DUW1608/ARR" and it's own dialog box will appear. Go to the "Driver" tab and select "Update Driver..." from the buttons below. 
Step 4: Now, select "Install from a list or specific location" and click Next. In the next box select "Don't search. I will choose the driver to install" and again, click next. A different box will show with compatible hardware for your driver. I selected from the bottom believing it was the most recent, it was called "CD-ROM Drive [IMAPI settings 1,5]." Click next and finish the instructions it gives you. 

After that your driver should be working fine, I was able to run Sims 2 afterwards perfectly. 

Hope this helps you guys!

HG · Answer

Hi,

I recently wanted to transfer holiday pictures from my laptop onto a blank disc, which I do by opening a window for 'My Pictures' and then opening 'My Computer' to get to the E drive (where my blank disc is). I click open a window for E drive (which shows it as empty) so now I have both windows open next to each other.

I then select the pictures I wish to transfer and then drag them over to the E drive window onto the blank disc. Then the computer transfers these pictures without a promlem and I am able to view the pictures now on the disc.

But recently it would not do this command. The 'cd writing wizard' would report to me that I needed to insert a blank disc which I had already placed in the tray. I tried different makes of discs, restarted my computer just in case it had a minor glitch, cleaned the laser head, tried different programs to see if anything had change without me knowing about it etc, etc, but to no avail. After much hair pulling, swearing and so on, I tried a program called 'Set program access and defaults' in 'all programs', clicked on 'add and remove program' and saw it was set on 'custom' as default (and will do so everytime I go into this program) then clicked on 'Microsoft Window'. I tried the above again and this time it transfered my pictures to the disc without a problem as it always use to. 

I hope this might be of help.

Lioness · Answer

Ok for the unrecognized CD in the drive for the writing process perform the following.

Power down your system

Once the system is down hold down the eject button on the drive and hit the power button to power back up.

MAKE SURE YOU HOLD THE EJECT BUTTON IN THE ENTIRE TIME!!!!

Once your system is completely up (log in screen, desktop up) let go of the eject button.

The drive will open and you can either close it or put your CD in.


This process of holding the eject button while the system restores is re-calibrating the laser. 

Hope this helps!!! :)

zero_689 · Answer

hey well I had this prob about a week ago and I solved it by opening the device manager which could be located in the control panel after you open the device manager click on disk drives and click on update after that goto dvd/cd-rom drives and update that as well after that try restarting your computer or laptop and it should work=]

this is terrible · Answer

I am having the same problem as everyone here, with no solutions. First my computer would not read any blank cd's when I tryed to burn a home movie. It kept saying insert blank disk. So I looked up all the suggestions and tryed to unistall and reinstall cd-rom drivers which Windows reinstalled automatically when I restarted. Now the drive dosn't play any disk. I uninstalled nero partial downloads, and checked every thing mentioned in this thread. I also checked the enable recording box on the properties tab in the drive e:. I even checked to make sure all drivers were working properly. It says they are. I was low on disk space so I deleted a bunch of old files but I could really free up space if I could burn some of the data on my computer off ,but I can't do that because the drive dosn't work! ARRG! It loads and blink then spins when I put a disk in and then it just stops no dialog box or anything. I have tryed cd-r disk, music disk, and games that previously worked. The windows media and the disk writing wizard also show the "insert disk" dialog box.  I tryed the windows dialog box repair wizard and it says it cannot perform because my drive may be malfunctioning or not detecting a disk.

Joel · Answer

The problem = 3rd party burning software which has told windows to recognise all discs as blank in order to aid in the burning process.

The solution = Service pack 3

Joel · Answer

Uninstalling all 3rd party burning software (Alcohol, Discjuggler etc) also worked for me! (sorry for double post :) )

urbaneve · Answer

well -- after months and months of this I finally contacted HP and after they went through everything.  it turns out that it is a hardware issue.  I need to replace the drive itself and of course my warranty expired 2 weeks ago.  FIGURES.  tis gonna run me around 100.00.

i wish that unistalling 3rd party burning software was the trick for me.  it would save me alot of money.  

good luck all and if all else fails -- contact the maker of your computer and see if it is under warranty -- they will replace it for free is what they told me if I was still under warranty.

cheers

YA · Answer

If your Cd rom wont work its because of the disk. The disk contains somes data that wonte alow you to copy but its so stong you have to get a sertin type of CD rom in stores to work. (I have the the same problem to.)

T!z · Answer

did anyone think it may just be that your driver isnt reading the disc at all? I have the same problem and I dont really know how to do all this fancy downloading n stuff nor do I want to... I just need an answer without taking chances. what does this "service pack" mean? please reply, and dont use smarticle language...im only in 6th grade!

sunny · Answer

I too had the same problem. I took the disk drive out and replaced it with a used one. Now it works just as if nothing was ever the problem. My relacement one only cost $10 from computer renaissance.

Mike · Answer

Hi im having the same problem here like everyone else.

I have XP service pack 3, and my device manager says everything is dandy. My cd-rom will read commercially recorded cd's dvd's no problem, but when I try to put in a blank CD-R or burned cd it doesnt recognize it at all. Wont burn cd's either. 

I tried making a backup of an album and it prepared all the songs, burned the first 2 tracks and then finalized itself saying there was an error with the disc. It told me to buy a different brand of cds but I know thats not the problem

HELP

lilbits · Answer

i gave up and bought an external dvd/cd rom. My tech couldnt figure it out either

mj · Answer

Hi the mane reason for this problem is a problem with some of your registry files and your sys system files which are located in system 32. 

the best two ways to solve the problem is to either download driver detective and find a working serial for it from the torrent site you use or from a serial site or a keygen etc.. run the program and it will fix your drivers or recover your drivers. 

failing this back up or dont back up any files you want (your choice) then re install your operating system or an alternative operating system which will restore all of your drivers, it will also delete most of the stuff you have which is why I suggest backing it up first if you take this option. 

my email addres is Email Id removed for security. only email me if you have already tried both the options and still have no luck. DO NOT EMAIL ME TO ASK WHERE TO DOWNLOAD STUFF FROM 

kind regards Martin J

th3fro6 · Answer

After 3 full days of intensive search on the Web, I came across this forum. 

Problem: "me too" with a twist. 

System: Compaq A900 running Vista Home Premium. Automatic Windows update. Tons of apps. Latest was PowerISO to burn some learning videos. 

Symptoms: In the midst of burning some DVDs and some CDs using PoweISO, DVD drive did not recognize anymore CDs (DVDs work just fine). 

Troubleshooting Steps: 
1. Tried all CD/DVD in another computer running XP SP3. They all worked. Not a media issue. Not a PoweISO issue. 
2. Installed Nero 7 in both Vista and XP machines. Continued burning successfully DVDs and CD in XP machines. Vista only recognized DVD media but NOT CD. 
3. Went through all update drivers, registry manipulation with Up/Low limits entries. NOTHING helped. 

Diagnosis: XP works fine, Vista is the culprit. 

Work-around solution: Suspecting Vista and all its updates are the issue, Compaq A900 was formatted and restored back to its factory condition. Installed Power ISO. DVD drive now recognizes CDs again. 

My take: DVD drive (hardware) is rarely a problem. "It's the software, stupid!" It took 4 full productive days of my life to work-around this problem. 
I am sure it will come back some day, next time it's just 1 day to restore the computer to factory state then re-install everything else. 

Bill and his billions are looking prettier and smiling every time I wasted my precious day to fix his problem (or more precise, his built-in traps to make sure users like us scattering like bugs looking to get our tools fixed so we can be productive and contributing to his billions).

PS: some were asking "Why not restore using Restore Points?" Well, somehow Vista resets/deletes/ignores/forgets its functionality. I manually created at least 3 points, all were not kept by Vista. For this particular incident, Vista did not offer any Restore Point for me to go back to. It's another issue all together. 

But all points to Vista and its BIG BIG problems! So use Windows at your own risk, be prepared to scratch and reload, pay your shrink so you still have your sanity.

ory · Answer

Well I read and read and tried all of these so called fixes. I decided to just take a cloth with some Windex on it and gently wipe the laser lens on my DVD drive. To my pleasant surprise when I put in a CD with audio files on it, my drive saw them.

kermit2 · Answer

If you have XP I found a way to play what ever you place in your dvd drive. I have two drives that wont play, unless I do this; Start----control panel----performance and maintenance----administrative tools----double click on "computer management"----double click on "storage"----Double click on "disk management"----Right click on the drive with your media in it---click on open......now you should be able to right click and "play" or "open with"
I'm still working on a permanent solution, but I hope this helps.

Sparks · Answer

1Control Panel  -2 double click System -3 click hardware tab -4 click device manager -5  OE ATA/ATAA controller sect double click ide channel -6 click on advanced setting tab - 7 device 0 or 1 should be at ultra DMA (not POI) current tranfer speed should be ultra DMA - (if not) uninstal device drive and dvd drive (in my case it was Pioneer drive) - reboot computer to reinstal - once reinstalled reboot computer again - repeat 1 - 7 again that both settings are back to ultra and the problem is fixed.  This can be caused by a faulty DVD. It has happened to me a couple of times and this will fix.

Sparks · Answer

Hi daveyP, I don't know if this will fix your problem but it will change the settings back to DMA in both drives (your second setting was POI)  If setting is at POI it slows down the recording drastically.  eg set at POI recording a DVD can take up to two hours against 12-15mins with setting at DRM.  Best of luck and hope it solves your problem.

Shadow Elite · Answer

Hi, I'm 24 and having the same exact problem (I seriously think this is Microsoft Sabotage) My Pc worked fine last week, now it gets hot 187F it's a laptop, and it's UNDERCLOCKED and UNDERVOLTED, I have never had my HP DV6500 laptop get so hot and now my DVD ROM is not reading the discs, It makes a strange sound and nothing - I accidently used Registry Repair Software because my Registry was corrupted. I accidently removed the string instead of the lower and upper filters... But I downloaded that REGFIX and the CD program, Even reinstalled Service Pack 3 for XP home (NOCD DETECTED, so I deletes my Primary IDE and CDROM Driver and it auto detects something like this - WHICH is NOT my freakin DRIVER - TWPCRY NOTNWI SCSI CDROM DRIVER
I NEED HITACHI Hl-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20N DRIVER FOR XP HOME --- PLZ HELP!!!!!

Joy R. · Answer

I'm having this problem of the DVD-ROM opening, but the computer not recognizing the CD-ROMs (ANY CD-ROM), but I don't have XP, I have Vista.  And it's only been since upgrading.

I've checked everything and it's in DMA mode, but still, every time I insert a disc, and double click the drive, it tells me to insert a disc as if there were nothing in there.

Anyone figure it out for Vista?

perez · Answer

im also having the same problem

mindex · Answer

Clear SOLUTION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you have any instaled virtual discs; egz daemon-tools SET ALL EMULATIONS TO OFF!!!!!!!
Restart system, it should be ok.

ANOTHER GOOD SOLUTION

You may access the system registry by running the Registry Editor. To do that, simply go Start>Run and type "regedit" in the Run dialog box.

Once you are in the registry editor, you can navigate through the registry as you would for a regular windows directory.

To access the two specified keys, click on the following folders situated on the left hand side, in the specified order.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
SYSTEM
CurrentControlSet
Control
Class
{4D36E965-E325 -11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

Once you have opened the last folder, you should see two keys on the right hand side ("Upperfilters" and "Lowerfilters") which you may select and then delete by right clicking and selecting "Delete".

If you are unable to find these registry keys, it may be that they do not exist on your system. In such a case, this fix will probably not work for you, try first solution

Klaccs · Answer

Ok guys, I have somekind of solution.
Well, I had the same problem trying to write a cd iso to a cd, using alcohol120%, without any success.

I gave a try to download another burner no matter i've red a post that sy had the same problem but not just with alcohol but with all the other big burner softwares like nero.

Well, I did not care that post, and I downloaded Burn4Free.

Now, my CD is ready, and I can tell you, this small software does it's work. I think it's great, and I know it's free.
I strongly reccommend to give it a try.

Whatever, let me know if it did not work for you.

Goodluck

eyeslikeice · Answer

I've been reading through pages and installing a codec checker and all sorts of crap tonight... FINALLY, 
this microsoft automated fix it thing has solved the problem. 

https://support.microsoft.com/gp/mats#tab0

just popped in a movie and its actually working. yay. 

this laptop isnt mine, i'm borrowing it.. so I didnt really want to go straight to regedit because it has been rare that I have to mess with things like that and I dont want to mess it up.lol So relieved right now though.

Dena · Answer

I fixed mine by uninstalling the drive and letting windows rediscover it.

Emiii · Answer

Nothing is working for me :(

i am on Windows 7.

when I first got windows 7, it worked a few times, now it wont work at all.


please help
emily

sunny · Answer

i want to use the slim cd lap top drive as a adiou cd player so what can I do.
in this situation I use this drive with out the lap top

rach · Answer

hey, That happened to me aswell it wont read my sims 2 disk and I really want to play it.!please help.

Kayla:) · Answer

This didn't help at all!

xoxSIMSxox · Answer

I brought a cd and its written on it SIMS 2 DVD GAME and in the middle of the download it stops and says somthing about the media PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!

lesego · Answer

my drive only plays cds but when I insert dvds nothing happens...what seems to be the problem and is there anything I can do to fix it?

rosie · Answer

having problems opening a memorex CD-R disc with photographs on it, what do I do?

Megaaan · Answer

It wont let me burn any CD's PLEASE HELP ME! :(

the real deal · Answer

How Do I get my dvd drive too work cause every time I put a blank dvd cd it cant read it, but every time I put a blank cd in it works find? if you any links too download dvd r rom drives let me no people thanks

Thorsbolt · Answer

I have several computers, most with xp, one with Vista. 
All of them have had progressive non recogintion of the cd/dvd drive(s). 

What the @*%# is wrong with Microsoft!!!!!
Are they just installing problems with the automatic updates so that people will be driven to by Win7?

After the inboard drives no longer worked, the only one that did was a portable disk drive made in China. Eventually, however, Windows found a way to disable that as well.

Does anybody have an answer?

hv shah · Answer

i am unable to open dvd movie though properly copied when my computer is opened dvd rom indicates red colour instead of green.  unable to open dvd after sometime the message shows not responding. is there any solution

saroj · Answer

i need a software for running my cd\dvd rom

saif · Answer

How can I install windows vista without cd/dvd rom, caz, itsn't work properly,

bootyful · Answer

followed all the above suggestions none worked .Downloaded Windows media player 11 put disc in drive no more clicking and noiuses coming from the dvd player movie that previously wasn't recognised useing VLC played ...worked for me .Sounds like a corrupted file problem that was fixed with the download

GB · Answer

Sony PCG GRT360ZG got wormed.  Technician put it into safe mode on boot up.  I want to use the Recovery Disks to reformat computer.  The computer will not recognize the factory recovery disks.
Idea welcome.....Thanks

doublej88 · Answer

I have recorded video clips using my iphone and stored these files with itune program in the " library " . However, when I tried to record thes files to my blank dvd CD the the disk drive does not recognize it and rejects the disk. Cand you please help me to overcome this problem without purchasing another software to do the job.


Thanks.


J J de Souza

bjossi110 · Answer

Hey, I'm trying to install Assassin creed 2 but my computer does not read any disk when I put it in the drive. Only thing my computer can do is reading rewritable disks, it cannot read cd games and movies ... anyone got some solutions for that ... I have tryed almost every "solution" here but no one works .. 
Got some solution ?

ss · Answer

FREE download ??

jb · Answer

accer laptop will not save to disc. says no disc?

dug · Answer

why dont you just change your disc..........

silu · Answer

Iam insert DVD they acess and when I insert cdhe didn't aceesnot open

Louise7-89 · Answer

i think u have to have a dvd-rw disk for it to work. I'm pretty sure it will work then. I am going to install Windows 7 myself and I'll let you know how it goes with me and then send a message 2 u. Hope this Helps

hgfdsahdoi · Answer

Hello, I Have the idea !!                          Noooot !!!   HaHa

RAMAN · Answer

JUST CLEAN YOUR DRIVE LENS (WHERE U PUT THE DVD) WITH A CLEAN CLOTH.
IT WAS SO SIMPLE!!!!!!!!!!!
BELEIVE ME IT WORKED FOR ME

A FRIEND.

akshay · Answer

insert your cd which came with your cd/dvd drive

niko · Answer

does this work on vista?

BETTY ANN · Answer

my DVD drive will not burn disk.it says it full in properties. I don't understand why because when to format it shows their are no files to burn.

CD-ROM/DVD drive won't work

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