mysterious laptop cd problem!

I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving this
one more go.

My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and dvd's. It
will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I have used an air
duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read standard DVD'd and all
genuine software vendor cds!!!!????

What is the problem? Can anyone help?

TIA

"The Passa Man" <passa_man@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4061fd18$0$31716$fa0fcedb@lovejoy.zen.co.uk...
> I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving this
> one more go.
>
> My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
> bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and dvd's.
It
> will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I have used an
air
> duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read standard DVD'd and all
> genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
>
> What is the problem? Can anyone help?
>
> TIA


When you say it won't read cdr's are ones burnt by yourself? Have you tried
another cdr made by someone else's PC in your machine? Also try the cdr's
you are trying to use in someone else's machine. If they all work, then it
sounds like the drive may be going tits up.


Martin

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 21:26:46 -0000 Letting slip the dogs of war "The
Passa Man" <passa_man@hotmail.com> wrote :

>I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving this
>one more go.
>
>My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
>bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and dvd's. It
>will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I have used an air
>duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read standard DVD'd and all
>genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
>
>What is the problem? Can anyone help?
>
>TIA
>

Try on here,
alt.comp.periphs.cdr
You may need to update/change the firmware.
HTH



--
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Free songs to download and,"BURN" :O)
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The Passa Man wrote:
> I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving
> this one more go.
>
> My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
> bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and
> dvd's. It will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I
> have used an air duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read
> standard DVD'd and all genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
>
> What is the problem? Can anyone help?
>
> TIA

This drive dates from 1999? and the 505 was originally a Win98 computer?
Do you have actual experience that the drive will read CD-R? Even some
CD-R drives cannot necessarily read all recordable CDs and if a CD was
written at more than 1x-2x I would not necessarily expect that drive to
be able to read it given its age. Were you reading UDF CDRW (packet)
CDs and do not have the UDF reader anymore? I have two older computers
that will/will not read recordable CDs depending on the write speed and
the type of medium. and will absolutely not read any CD written at more
than 2x.

Q

"Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
news:dLCdnekABND2mf_d4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> The Passa Man wrote:
> > I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving
> > this one more go.
> >
> > My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
> > bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and
> > dvd's. It will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I
> > have used an air duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read
> > standard DVD'd and all genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
> >
> > What is the problem? Can anyone help?
> >
> > TIA
>
> This drive dates from 1999? and the 505 was originally a Win98 computer?
> Do you have actual experience that the drive will read CD-R? Even some
> CD-R drives cannot necessarily read all recordable CDs and if a CD was
> written at more than 1x-2x I would not necessarily expect that drive to
> be able to read it given its age. Were you reading UDF CDRW (packet)
> CDs and do not have the UDF reader anymore? I have two older computers
> that will/will not read recordable CDs depending on the write speed and
> the type of medium. and will absolutely not read any CD written at more
> than 2x.


Didn't like to comment. But older CDs tend not to read CDR's, especially the
one on my laptop! What a pain:-(
--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds

CB wrote:

> "Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
> news:dLCdnekABND2mf_d4p2dnA@comcast.com...
>
>>The Passa Man wrote:
>>
>>>I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving
>>>this one more go.
>>>
>>>My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
>>>bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and
>>>dvd's. It will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I
>>>have used an air duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read
>>>standard DVD'd and all genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
>>>
>>>What is the problem? Can anyone help?
>>>
>>>TIA
>>
>>This drive dates from 1999? and the 505 was originally a Win98 computer?
>>Do you have actual experience that the drive will read CD-R? Even some
>>CD-R drives cannot necessarily read all recordable CDs and if a CD was
>>written at more than 1x-2x I would not necessarily expect that drive to
>>be able to read it given its age. Were you reading UDF CDRW (packet)
>>CDs and do not have the UDF reader anymore? I have two older computers
>>that will/will not read recordable CDs depending on the write speed and
>>the type of medium. and will absolutely not read any CD written at more
>>than 2x.
>
>
>
> Didn't like to comment. But older CDs tend not to read CDR's, especially the
> one on my laptop! What a pain:-(
Hi,
My understanding is the laser beam intensity is different between newer
drive and older ones. Some times it's worthwhile experimenting with
different brand blanks. I like black ones.
Tony

"Tony Hwang" <dragon40@shaw.ca> wrote in message
news:A8o8c.899646$ts4.177954@pd7tw3no...
> CB wrote:
>
> > "Quaoar" <quaoar@tenthplanet.net> wrote in message
> > news:dLCdnekABND2mf_d4p2dnA@comcast.com...
> >
> >>The Passa Man wrote:
> >>
> >>>I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving
> >>>this one more go.
> >>>
> >>>My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
> >>>bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and
> >>>dvd's. It will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I
> >>>have used an air duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read
> >>>standard DVD'd and all genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
> >>>
> >>>What is the problem? Can anyone help?
> >>>
> >>>TIA
> >>
> >>This drive dates from 1999? and the 505 was originally a Win98 computer?
> >>Do you have actual experience that the drive will read CD-R? Even some
> >>CD-R drives cannot necessarily read all recordable CDs and if a CD was
> >>written at more than 1x-2x I would not necessarily expect that drive to
> >>be able to read it given its age. Were you reading UDF CDRW (packet)
> >>CDs and do not have the UDF reader anymore? I have two older computers
> >>that will/will not read recordable CDs depending on the write speed and
> >>the type of medium. and will absolutely not read any CD written at more
> >>than 2x.
> >
> >
> >
> > Didn't like to comment. But older CDs tend not to read CDR's, especially
the
> > one on my laptop! What a pain:-(
> Hi,
> My understanding is the laser beam intensity is different between newer
> drive and older ones. Some times it's worthwhile experimenting with
> different brand blanks. I like black ones.


My thoughts entirely. The laser is the problem, so nothing can be done,
unless you experiment! OR change the CD reader!

Problem was the expense. As my laptop is 4 years old, I don't want to pay
through the nose for a fresh CD Reader. Knowing my luck the MoBo would go
t*ts up as soon as I replaced the CD reader.

--
Craven Birds

Bird sightings based around 'Craven' Skipton, North Yorks.
http://cravenbirds.mysite.freeserve.com/
http://mysite.freeserve.com/cravenbirds

You have a bad drive.
Good luck with Sony support!

On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 21:26:46 -0000, "The Passa Man"
<passa_man@hotmail.com> wrote:

>I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving this
>one more go.
>
>My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
>bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and dvd's. It
>will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I have used an air
>duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read standard DVD'd and all
>genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
>
>What is the problem? Can anyone help?
>
>TIA
>
>

No he does not! Read the other posts.

CB
"Bruce Markowitz" <scosgt@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:40621be3.2669939@news-server.optonline.net...
> You have a bad drive.
> Good luck with Sony support!
>
> On Wed, 24 Mar 2004 21:26:46 -0000, "The Passa Man"
> <passa_man@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >I know i have already posted this, but no one replied, so I am giving
this
> >one more go.
> >
> >My laptop (Sony PCG-R505R/GK), its the one with the media slice at the
> >bottom has decided it only wants to read industry standard cds and dvd's.
It
> >will not recognise any cdr even though its a combo drive. I have used an
air
> >duster to clean but still no reaction. It will read standard DVD'd and
all
> >genuine software vendor cds!!!!????
> >
> >What is the problem? Can anyone help?
> >
> >TIA
> >
> >
>

On Thu, 25 Mar 2004 00:52:58 -0000, "CB" <CB@privacy.net> wrote:

>No he does not! Read the other posts.
>
>CB

Most drives, even VERY old ones, can read CD-Rs just fine, providing
they're not higher than 650MB capacity, and even then they can usually
read most of the higher capacity. A 4 year old laptop should have no
problems with CD-Rs unless the drive was flaky to begin with, marginal for
any use at all.

Differences reading different burn speeds suggests a problem with the
burner or media, not the reader.