CD/DVD tray will not open

[stjon]

My DVD writer is behaving very strangely, and it does not appear to be a
machanical problem because it can open/close on occasion. The tray sometimes
opens immediately whilst system is booting, but the button won't make it
close. If it is closed, the button does nothing, but it can be opened with a
paperclip after a while. If a disc is inserted, it is not read. I've noticed
that when it DOES close now, it goes back in very rapidly, whereas before all
this started the opening and closing were both 'normal' and unhurried.

I have recently downloaded a number of video editing programs (which are all
rubbish, but that's a separate issue!) and I now have pop ups galore being
blocked by my pop up stopper. I have tried the tray button whilst in BIOS
setup and it's still dead. I am at my wits end. I have downloaded spyware
software which says it is not able to delete all the nasties it is finding. I
am sure it said it had found MSBlast at one point but I've searched that
filename and nothing is found.

I've also downloaded Windows Defender and disabled a number of startup
programs - could I have stopped something that the CD tray needs?
ANY advice gratefully received.
It feels like my PC has been taken over by something...

Steve

 

[R. McCarty]

If the installs where very recent, you might want to do a System Restore to
a date before the infections got onto the PC. Cleaning up Malware can be
a time consuming process. Here is a good tutorial on how to proceed:
http://elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

[stjon]

Thanks for the prompt reply! Yes, I've tried a restore to a week previous and
nothing changed for the better. I'll check out the malware link though -
thanks.

Just whilst I remember (cos it just happened again) I hear fairly frequently
the quiet 'metallic click click' noise that I normally get when moving
between IE Explorer windows, but nothing is evident on screen?? Don't know if
readers will know what I mean by that description!

Steve

 

[R. McCarty]

Disk drives all have some level of sound as the head pivots over the
platters.
Most any type of "Click" sound isn't a good thing if it's coming from the
HD.
You should probably do a Read-Only Chkdsk on your Windows volume &
verify the drive isn't "Dirty". Of course the sounds could be part of
Windows
default sound scheme ( if it's enabled ). Either way you should probably do
a
few maintenance operations ( Chkdsk [ only if data is backed up ], defrag &
those Malware steps from Malke's site.

 

[Xandros]

If the DVD device is opening or not closing while booting and before you
even get to the Desktop then the problem sounds hardware related or possibly
firmware related. Software can't be affecting the drive until Windows loads.
Software isn't going to make the drive open and close more quickly. It
sounds like the motor is failing. Try a firmware upgrade is there is one.
Type in the make and model of the device followed by the word firmware into
your search engine (www.google.com) and see if there is a firmware update.
Follow the instructions to flash the drive. If that doesn't help then
replace the device.

The spyware is a separate issue. Take the advice here to get rid of it
http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/page2.html#Removing_Malware

 

[Xandros]

R. McCarty I don't see where the OP is talking about hard drive problems in
this thread. The OP is asking about a DVD writer from what I can see.

--

Xandros

Disk drives all have some level of sound as the head pivots over the
platters.
Most any type of "Click" sound isn't a good thing if it's coming from the
HD.
You should probably do a Read-Only Chkdsk on your Windows volume &
verify the drive isn't "Dirty". Of course the sounds could be part of
Windows
default sound scheme ( if it's enabled ). Either way you should probably
do a
few maintenance operations ( Chkdsk [ only if data is backed up ], defrag
&
those Malware steps from Malke's site.

Thanks for the prompt reply! Yes, I've tried a restore to a week previous
and
nothing changed for the better. I'll check out the malware link though -
thanks.

Just whilst I remember (cos it just happened again) I hear fairly
frequently
the quiet 'metallic click click' noise that I normally get when moving
between IE Explorer windows, but nothing is evident on screen?? Don't
know if
readers will know what I mean by that description!

Steve

 

[Lem]

I assume you mean the "Start Navigation" sound (Windows XP Start.wav).
If you hear that but don't see anything, that's a further suggestion
that you're infected with some malware. The link that both R McCarty
and Xandros gave you is what I would have suggested also.

Thanks for the prompt reply! Yes, I've tried a restore to a week previous and
nothing changed for the better. I'll check out the malware link though -
thanks.

Just whilst I remember (cos it just happened again) I hear fairly frequently
the quiet 'metallic click click' noise that I normally get when moving
between IE Explorer windows, but nothing is evident on screen?? Don't know if
readers will know what I mean by that description!

Steve

--
Lem -- MS-MVP - Networking

To the moon and back with 2K words of RAM and 36K words of ROM.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_Guidance_Computer
http://history.nasa.gov/afj/compessay.htm

 

[stjon]

Thanks again all for the advice. To clarify - the little noise I hear is from
the speakers, as suggested it sounds like a system generated sound. I done
chkdsk, defrag, disc clean in last few days. When I switched on PC tonite the
drawer opened immedaitely again, now it doesn't respond to any method of
closing it! When I first pressed the button next to the drawer it withdrew
about a cm then came out again. Now it's completely ignoring me again!

I will just have to go through the Malware advice - I had a look at the link
and it looks VERY comprehensive. Thanks again all.

Steve

 

[Kelly]

Steve-

Have you figured out, by chance, a reason why your dvd/cd tray won't open?
Mine has just begun not opening at all as well, and I can't figure out why.
I don't believe it's a mechanical problem withing my laptop either because
it's not even "trying"...there are no whirring noises, no clicks, nothing.
....Quite concerning for a laptop that is less than 6 months old. I'd
appreciate any advice/insight you might have.

Regards,
Kel