Why doesn't the DVD drive work? Why doesn't the DVD RW drive read DVDs?

What to do if DVD ROM does not read discs? The computer freezes when a disc is inserted, or when copying a movie or music, an error appears. So what is the matter - a scratched disk or the disk drive is to blame. Let's look at the causes and methods of eliminating these computer malfunctions.

Determining the reason why the drive does not read discs

If previously the disks were read normally, but after the next reboot the computer cannot read more than one disk, then most likely the reason is in the software or, more simply, some installed program conflicts with the DVD drive.

If the computer does not read only some discs, then the problem is in the drive itself, but we will try to fix even this problem ourselves; we will discuss this below. First, let's see if it's possible that the problem lies in the operating system.

For reference, the problem may be not only with reading disks, but also with writing them. The instructions below may be equally effective in resolving both problems.

Software conflict

In the event of a software error, the drive stops reading discs immediately, rather than gradually getting worse and worse. This may be preceded by an installed program or toy. Programs for creating virtual drives often conflict with drivers installed on the computer for DVD-ROM drives. The most popular of these programs are Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools and Nero. We simply remove these programs and undo the changes they made through System Restore. Let's go to Control Panel => Action Center => System Restore and select the date to which you should restore. Select a date when the drive was still working without problems.

We look at the result; if the problems have disappeared, then the remote program is to blame; if not, we move on.

Driver error

The drive may not see the disks due to errors in the driver. By pressing the key combination “Win + Pause”, open the device manager from the menu on the left.

In the list of devices, we delete virtual drives, if this did not happen after uninstalling the programs that we met above. Right-click on the virtual drive and select “delete” from the drop-down menu. To completely remove the traces left behind, we need to find the driver " SPTD" and delete it. To display it, turn on the " Show hidden devices" in the menu " View" You will be able to view the changes after restarting your computer.

If the problem does not disappear after rebooting, proceed to the next step. In the task manager, go to "", and among the devices with the name " ATA Chanel"We need to find the one that is responsible for the CD-ROM. To do this, you need to open the controller properties and go to the “Advanced parameters” tab.

The line “Device type” should contain “”. See if there is a check mark next to the item “ Enable DMA", try starting the system both with the function enabled and disabled. This method often helps to get the drive to read discs in Windows 7.

If the drive does not read only video DVD discs, then perhaps the wrong region is selected in the drive settings. In order to change regional settings, go to the task manager and open the properties of the DVD-ROM. Go to the “DVD Region” tab and select your region, but if the “Current Region” line is set to “Not Selected,” then it’s better not to change anything.

CD drive problem

All DIY drive repairs come down to replacing the IDE or SATA cable from the drive to the motherboard. You can also try connecting a different power connector; usually the power supply has a couple of free connectors. And the last thing that remains for us is to clean the disk drive laser.

To clean the laser head, remove the drive cover and very gently wipe the laser with a cotton swab.

Do not use acetone, alcohol or other aggressive liquids. Instead of the expected result, you will lose the drive forever. The best choice would be water or, as a last resort, high-quality gasoline for lighters.

If you don't want to risk disassembling the drive, you can purchase a special cleaning CD that will also effectively clean the laser eye of accumulated dust.

Has your disk drive suddenly stopped working? The reasons may be completely different and in this article we will look at the most popular, and also look at ways to solve them.

1. Complete failure

If your drive is many years old, and yesterday it suddenly stopped reading discs, then perhaps its service life has come to an end. In this case, you can test the drive on another computer and if it doesn’t start there, then the drive is probably broken. But we have 4 more options, why might the disk drive not work?, so read them before you make a conclusion.

2. Disabled in BIOS

If you recently wandered through the BIOS settings and changed something, then maybe you accidentally disabled it? Make sure this is not the case. Find instructions on the Internet on how to enable the drive in the BIOS and after logging in, see if it is disabled.

3. Windows is slow

It happens that something is screwed up in Windows and the system simply does not see your DVD drive. Need to try go to Device Manager and see if everything is in order there and if there is an unknown sign opposite some devices.

4. Laser is clogged

If in the section Computer The drive is displayed, but does not read discs, then it is possible the laser in the disk drive, which reads information from disks, could simply be clogged. You need to open the device and clean the head with a regular cotton swab. There are also special discs with a cleaning agent applied for these purposes. By inserting a disk into the drive, it will spin and clean disk drive laser head.

5. The laser head is broken

All equipment breaks down sooner or later, and the disk drive laser is no exception. In this case you need replace the drive. It costs about 10 dollars. If you don’t want to bother with replacing the old one (opening the system unit, removing the drive and installing a new one), then you can buy an external one. It really costs more, but it connects much easier, usually like a mouse or keyboard, it is inserted into any free USB connector. Suitable for both laptops and computers.

Of course, these are not all the reasons why doesn't the disk drive work?! You may have another reason. And I told those that I myself know.

There are many reasons why drives may not work: applications do not match each other, problems with drivers, drive failures. To decide what to do if the disk drive on your laptop does not work, you need to identify the cause of the damage.

1. The problem is in the storage medium

If the storage medium is not detected by the drive, and there is damage on the surface of the drive, then the storage medium may be the cause of the malfunction. Also, difficulty in reading information from disks may be due to the nuances of some manufacturers. For example, not every drive is capable of reading information from L-PRO products.

2. The disk drive does not see the disk on the laptop

You can identify problems with the laser emitter if the information reader does not detect disks. In this case, the device can be disassembled and the laser head can be cleaned of dust by wiping it with a cotton swab.

To analyze the operation of the drive elements and determine why the drive on the laptop does not work, and which of the elements is faulty, you can also try connecting the drive to another PC.

The drive uses various modes to process data. If one of them does not function due to lack of power or insufficient power, the disks are partially identified or not identified at all. For example, a disk drive can open and read information from a DVD, but at the same time completely ignore the existence of a CD.

As a rule, the main cause of product malfunction is wear and incorrect operation of the laser head. In this case, there is only one way out - replace the product.

3. The laptop drive does not see the disk. What to do?

In addition to failure of device parts, problems related to the OS may arise. In the case where the reading device identifies data disks as disks that do not contain any information, you first need to update the drivers. To perform this procedure: go to Device Manager, remove the controllers and restart the computer. After the reboot, the computer device will independently install the program and restart its work.

If these actions do not lead to the desired result, you will have to download the drivers to an external storage device from the website of the developer of this technology.

You should remember that programs such as alcohol or daemon tools can suppress the normal functioning of the drive. The best solution would be to remove them along with the device that controls the data reader.

4. The drive is working, but disabled in BIOS

In this case, just enter the BIOS and activate the drive by selecting the line “CD-ROM. ENABLED" and "DVD-ROM. ENABLED".

5. Laptop drive cannot be read

All of the above did not bring a positive result, and you are still wondering: why did the disk drive on the laptop stop working? In addition, the drive is not even detected by the laptop. This may indicate that the drive itself or the controller is damaged. In this case, the drive must be replaced.

6. No access to recorded files on the disk

This is a systemic issue. In this case, the drive operates normally, since the program opens and operates the files.

You need to reinstall the program or update to the latest version of the Nero and Roxy application, which are responsible for recording data, by contacting the official website of the program developers.

Note

If your computer already has utilities that read disk data, similar to NERO StartSmart, Roxio InCD, you need to remove applications and the disk drive from Device Manager.

The type of optical drive that determines its functionality.

The following types of optical drives exist: CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD/CD-RW, DVD RW, DVD RW DL, BD-RE, HD DVD-ROM, HD DVD/DVD RW, HD DVD-R, HD DVD-RW.
CD-ROM - the simplest version of an optical drive designed only for reading CDs.
CD-RW - in addition to reading CDs, they are capable of writing to CD-R(RW) media.
DVD-ROM - a drive designed only for reading CDs and DVDs.
DVD/CD-RW - the combo drive, in addition to reading CDs and DVDs, is capable of writing to CD-R(RW).
DVD RW - an optical drive designed both for reading CDs and DVDs, and for writing to CD-R(RW) and DVD R(RW) media. Based on the type of reflective layer, DVD R(RW) media are divided into DVD+R(RW) and DVD-R(RW). DVD+R(RW) discs support higher recording speeds compared to negative discs. However, DVD-R(RW) discs are more compatible with home DVD players.
DVD RW DL - a drive, unlike DVD RW, that can also record to dual-layer DVD discs (DL). Double-layer discs differ from regular ones in having a larger capacity.
BD-RE/HD DVD-ROM - a drive capable of reading and writing to BD (Blu-ray Disc) format discs, as well as being able to read HD DVD format discs.
BD-RE - a drive capable of reading and writing to BD (Blu-ray Disc) format discs. The BD-RE drive supports all possible types of BD discs: BD-ROM (read-only), BD-R (write once), BD-RE (rewritable).
BD-ROM can read BD (Blu-ray Disc) format discs.
BD-ROM/DVD-RW can read BD (Blu-ray Disc) format discs, as well as write to CD-R(RW) and DVD R(RW) media.
BD-ROM/HD DVD-ROM/DVD-RW can read BD (Blu-ray Disc) and HD DVD discs, as well as write to CD-R(RW) and DVD R(RW) media.
HD DVD-ROM can read HD DVD discs.
HD DVD is a new generation of optical discs that are designed primarily for storing high-definition movies (HDTV). The new media format allows you to record three times more data compared to DVD.
Single-layer HD DVDs have a capacity of 15 GB, double-layer - 30 GB.
Typically, an HD DVD drive can read all formats of DVDs and CDs.
HD DVD/DVD RW can read HD DVD format discs, as well as write to discs in such formats as DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, CD-R, CD-RW.
Drive HD DVD-R Used to record write-once HD DVD-R discs. In addition, it can usually write and read CD/DVD discs.
HD DVD-RW used for recording HD DVD-RW discs intended for repeated recording. In addition, it can usually write and read HD DVD-R and CD/DVD discs.

If you're having problems with one drive but other drives are working fine, try these solutions. Please note that your console does not require repairs or updates to resolve this issue. Solution 1: Make sure the drive is clean and defective.

Clean the disc with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth. Hold the disc by its edges without touching the top or bottom surface. Solution 2: Playing the disc on another console will help you determine whether the problem is with the individual disc or the disc drive on the console. Try the disc on a friend's console or at a retail location that can test the disc.

For reference, the problem may be not only with reading disks, but also with writing them. The instructions below may be equally effective in resolving both problems.

My disk boots but has not been installed

Solution 3: Previous section. In this article, we will show you how to solve the problem. After all, you want to get your data quickly. The main rule in this situation is to remain calm and act analytically. In most cases the cause is harmless. Our practical article shows what you can do in this case. Obviously nothing happens after connecting an external storage medium, which could have many reasons.

Determining the reason why the drive does not read discs

In the worst case scenario, the hard drive is actually faulty and can no longer be used.

Connection problems, such as a mechanical problem.
The wrong driver is being used for access.

You must eliminate these sources of error one at a time. In advance, however, it is important to note: with active processes in the background, the system can be so busy that it takes longer than usual to say. Before attempting to fix the problem, simply plug in the drive and wait a minute or two.

Software conflict

Check your external hard drive connection

Each technician will also start working on the hardware while analyzing the hardware problem. If the hard drive is detected, then most likely the first port on the computer is faulty. Especially with cheaper plates, their quality often leaves much to be desired. The cable may be broken and therefore a stable connection cannot be established. Be sure to connect the AC adapter. And make sure it's turned on. Check the indicators on the plate and power supply.

Get an alternative cable.
Many external hard drives are not the cause of the power cable.

Of course this won't work.

We look at the result; if the problems have disappeared, then the remote program is to blame; if not, we move on.

Driver error

The drive may not see the disks due to errors in the driver. By pressing the key combination “Win + Pause”, open the device manager from the menu on the left.

The control is simple. Bring up Computer Management, preferably by typing the term into the search bar. If the drive needs to be found here, but no drive letter is assigned, right-click the item.

From the Data Storage submenu, select.
Then all connected hard drives are displayed.

Select Disk Management from the Storage submenu. Communication between the operating system and the connected internal and external hardware requires some kind of translator. Drivers are very specific to the corresponding module.

If the wrong one is used, it leads to problems. The entry "Edit environment variables for this account" also appears as a hit.

Type "Environment" into the search box in the Start menu.
Click "Create".

In the second, the value is 1. Only now the system provides the user with access to outdated drivers or remote devices. Right-click the entry to open a context menu where you can update the driver or remove the device.

Open Device Manager.
Under View, select.
Devices or drivers that are not activated will not be available.
Now find the model name of your entry.

Under View, select Show hidden devices.

If the drive does not read only video DVD discs, then perhaps the wrong region is selected in the drive settings. In order to change regional settings, go to the task manager and open the properties of the DVD-ROM. Go to the “DVD Region” tab and select your region, but if the “Current region” line is set to “Not selected,” then it’s better not to change anything.

The disk or file system is faulty

However, make sure that you only really remove the drivers that you know are no longer needed or are causing the problem. To ensure safety, restart the system and reconnect the external hard drive. Often the problem is fixed. If the drive is now recognized but you still can't access your files, you may have to face the truth that the drive is indeed faulty. Then we just reformat. The function is achieved by right-clicking on the disc entry in Explorer.

CD drive problem

To clean the laser head, remove the drive cover and very gently wipe the laser with a cotton swab.

If the drive still doesn't show up in Device Manager, the drive may also be mechanically faulty. In this case, you have no choice but to buy a new record. Before troubleshooting, first make sure that the drives you are using work with your computer. Inserting a disc of a non-standard size or shape into a drive that is not designed to accommodate it may damage the drive.

Standard round disc 120 mm

Examples of non-standard or formatted drives that are not supported

Troubleshooting. Here are some of the symptoms that may occur. Follow the steps for the corresponding symptom to verify that the problem is coming from or within the disk. Be sure to inspect the discs before using them to ensure they are not cracked, scratched, or damaged. The inspection should include the inner ring of the disc, which should be smooth and free of roughness. A failed drive may become pinched or damage the drive.

If you don't want to risk disassembling the drive, you can purchase a special cleaning CD that will also effectively clean the laser eye of accumulated dust.

Accepts discs, but discs are not readable or are automatically ejected

If the disc is curved on both sides or in the center, do not use it as it may get caught in the drive. If you have difficulty inserting the disc into the device, or if the disc stops in the middle of the disc, look closely at the disc for marks that may be interfering with the disc. If you can't find the bright shortcuts on the disc, try loading it a few more times. Try inserting a different drive to see if the problem is caused by a specific drive. Make sure you insert enough of the disc to engage the drive mechanism. You have to insert almost the entire disk to activate the disk and remove it. If you do not insert the disc all the way, the device will reverse and eject the disc. Give the drive a second or two to accept the drive when it is fully inserted. Reset.

Do not eject discs or discs are ejected slowly

If the disc ejects slowly or is difficult, insert and remove the disc several times. Make sure there is a label or other material stuck to the disc that may increase its thickness. If the disc does not eject, try dragging the disc icon to the Trash. If the disc still does not eject, try holding down the trackpad or mouse button after restarting your computer. Please note that because optical drives operate by spinning the dial quickly, it is normal for them to vibrate or emit noise. If you find that the drive is making more noise than usual when inserting or removing disks, try inserting and removing the disk several times to correct the problem. Try using other drives to see if the problem is with just one drive or drive type, or if the problem is specific to the drive. If the disc has uneven weight distribution, it may cause additional noise and vibration as the disc rotates in the device. Vibrations resulting from using an optical drive may be exacerbated by using the system on a surface that is neither rigid nor flat. Make sure that all of the laptop's feet are present, as the lack of this support can create an uneven surface. Please note that the device should only operate in a horizontal position and may make more noise if tilted. If you lift or move the unit while reading a disc, it may become unbalanced. Any damages incurred by the device or disc as a result of using it in accordance with the above conditions will not be covered by the product warranty. Although some noises and vibrations are predictable, if you find that the noise or vibration generated by the device is not normal.

Check the disc to make sure it is flat.
You can do this by placing the disc upside down on a flat surface.
Do not use discs with objects attached or suspended.
Make sure the device is not turned upside down.
Select System Information from the menu.
Remove the label if possible.
If the disc does not eject, try pressing the eject key on your keyboard.

Insert the disc into the optical drive of the shared computer.

To understand the reasons why the laptop does not read disks, it is necessary to analyze the situation - how exactly did the malfunction occur? What events preceded the problem?

If the computer has been in use for a long time, it is logical to assume that the power of the laser beam has decreased significantly over time. In this case, the drive usually first stops writing information to the discs, and after a few months it becomes impossible to play it.

If you can't use a shared drive

If you enabled the option to request permission before using the drive, click Accept on the computer that is sharing its optical drive. Summary: External hard drive is not recognized or appears on your computer or drive?

Hard drive overview is not displayed or recognized

This problem occurs frequently and can ultimately lead to a data loss disaster. So far the hard drive not showing up issue has caused problems for a large number of users.

Some types of disk drives have an option to increase laser power. For this purpose, there is a special adjustment screw on the body. The problem is that laser amplification will force the equipment to work in a forced mode and this will soon lead to the final destruction of the laser source.

If the discs are not only unreadable, but the tray does not open at all, it can be assumed that there is no power to the device. There could be several reasons for this.

Make sure your external hard drive appears under Disk Management

When you find that your external hard drive is not showing up on your computer, you first need to open the Disk Management tool and make sure that it shows up in Disk Management. This will help you determine why your hard drive is not recognized and find the right solution to display or locate the missing drive.

Make the hard drive recognized and appear on the computer in different cases

When the hard drive appears in Disk Management. If you see your external drive listed in the Disk Management window, this means that the drive is not showing up in your computer window because it does not contain partitions. To backup or restore data to an external hard drive is not recognized.

The contact in the connecting wires is broken. You need to turn off the computer, perform an external inspection, disconnect and reconnect the power and data cables.
Malfunction of the motherboard or south bridge.
The tracks on laptop boards are very thin and often burn out. A short circuit most often occurs after liquid gets on the laptop keyboard. Burnt tracks and contacts can be detected by visual inspection. Some advanced users even repair gaps in tracks on the motherboard themselves.
If the laptop has not been recharged for a long time, the battery may not have enough power to operate some of the computer's power-consuming devices properly. To check this version you just need to connect the charger to your laptop and wait a while.

The disk drive could break, and not only at the laser level. The test is usually carried out by installing a known-good analogue or installing the problematic unit in another computer.

Software problems

Sometimes a situation where the laptop does not read discs is caused by the operation of certain applications, such as Nero. If any virtual disks were previously created on the computer, the system could switch to them, and the physical drive would seem to disappear from the general list of connected equipment.

To find out if the drive is connected, you need to open Control Panel and view the list of connected devices. If the problem is with your disk management software, the physical drive may not be listed in the hardware list, but virtual disks will be shown.

To begin with, you can try simply removing the virtual disks and turning on the physical drive. Perhaps after a reboot, reading DVDs and CDs will be restored.

The next probable reason is that the device drivers are not working correctly. How can you reinstall the drivers if the drive does not read and it is impossible to use the set of files from the Windows installation distribution? All that remains is to look for the necessary drivers on the Internet. The best way is to go to the official website of the manufacturer of the type of drive that is installed on your computer.

If you are not sure which drivers are required, you can go another, simpler route. Download and install a special program from the Internet that automatically analyzes the computer system and checks the availability and relevance of drivers.

The utility itself will check the availability and functionality of drivers and then automatically find and install them. As an option, you can run the Windows OS automatic update system; in the overall process, the latest drivers for the optical drive will be installed.

Problem with BIOS settings

For some reason, the laser drive was disabled at the basic BIOS settings level. Go to CMOS settings and check. If it says that the drive is unavailable, you just need to re-enable it by selecting Enable instead of Disable from the drop-down menu. Then restart Windows. Even easier is to reset the BIOS settings to default. If you did not do anything special with the BIOS settings, such an operation will not harm the performance of your computer.

The computer is infected with viruses

If you are an active Internet user, like to visit little-known sites, often install new programs, or follow links in emails, the likelihood that your computer will receive a portion of harmful viruses is very high.

First you need to check the system. Enable antivirus scanning. After removing infections, the antivirus usually prompts you to restart the operating system for a final repair.

If after an overload the disks are still not readable, it could very well turn out that your digital horse got a really serious illness that severely destroyed the operating system. Viruses often destroy important system files and disguise themselves as their names.