CD-ROM Drive reads DVDs but does not read CDs.

  • Thread starter Thread starter George
  • Start date Start date
G

George

My CD-ROM Drive (LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4832K) shows up in "My Computer" but
does not read CDs (always recognized them before).

When I insert a CD and click on my DVD/CD RW Drive (E:), a blank page comes
up.

Several days ago, I put a DVD into the drive from which I successfully
installed a program onto my hard drive - the program is working fine. The
drive will read the DVD, but now it does not read CDs. I've put the DVD and
CDs into another computer's drive and all can be read.

I'm not sure if I'd ever put a DVD in this drive before... But as I
understand it the drive reads both CDs and DVDs.

Any ideas on what to do in order to again get the CDs read on my CD-ROM drive?

Any help appreciated.
 
George said:
My CD-ROM Drive (LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4832K) shows up in "My Computer" but
does not read CDs (always recognized them before).

When I insert a CD and click on my DVD/CD RW Drive (E:), a blank page comes
up.

Several days ago, I put a DVD into the drive from which I successfully
installed a program onto my hard drive - the program is working fine. The
drive will read the DVD, but now it does not read CDs. I've put the DVD and
CDs into another computer's drive and all can be read.

I'm not sure if I'd ever put a DVD in this drive before... But as I
understand it the drive reads both CDs and DVDs.

Any ideas on what to do in order to again get the CDs read on my CD-ROM drive?

Any help appreciated.
Click to expand...

From what I understand; DVD's and CD's are read with separate lasers in the
drive. If the CD laser is burned out, there ya go. Play a DVD video and a
music CD and see if they work. If the CD won't play, the laser is probably
bad. New drives are pretty cheap these days. It might not even pay to buy one
of those laser cleaning kits.
 
Try asking here:
http://club.cdfreaks.com/f44/
: My CD-ROM Drive (LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4832K) shows up in "My Computer" but
: does not read CDs (always recognized them before).
:
: When I insert a CD and click on my DVD/CD RW Drive (E:), a blank page
comes
: up.
:
: Several days ago, I put a DVD into the drive from which I successfully
: installed a program onto my hard drive - the program is working fine. The
: drive will read the DVD, but now it does not read CDs. I've put the DVD
and
: CDs into another computer's drive and all can be read.
:
: I'm not sure if I'd ever put a DVD in this drive before... But as I
: understand it the drive reads both CDs and DVDs.
:
: Any ideas on what to do in order to again get the CDs read on my CD-ROM
drive?
:
: Any help appreciated.
:
: --
: George XP Home Edition SP3
 
Hello,

It is most likely a weak laser or dirty lens. Get a CD lens cleaner kit or
buy a new drive.

The price of a CD/DVD Cleaner kit is about 15% of anew DVD drive so you may
want to instead replace the drive with a new one rather than buying a
cleaner kit.

Regards,
Singapore Computer Home Repair Service
http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
Video Conversion VHS Video8 Hi8 Digital8 MiniDv MicroMv
http://www.bootstrike.com/VHSVideoConvert/
 
Hello Mark, Tom, Encel & Singapore Comp. Serv.,

Thank you all for pinning down the likely problem and solution - your time
and thoughts appreciated. When I have solved the problem, will post outcome
here.

Thanks again.
 
Very good prices at www.newegg.com

: Hello Mark, Tom, Encel & Singapore Comp. Serv.,
:
: Thank you all for pinning down the likely problem and solution - your time
: and thoughts appreciated. When I have solved the problem, will post
outcome
: here.
:
: Thanks again.
: --
: George XP Home Edition SP3
:
:
: "Singapore Computer Service" wrote:
:
: > Hello,
: >
: > It is most likely a weak laser or dirty lens. Get a CD lens cleaner kit
or
: > buy a new drive.
: >
: > The price of a CD/DVD Cleaner kit is about 15% of anew DVD drive so you
may
: > want to instead replace the drive with a new one rather than buying a
: > cleaner kit.
: >
: > Regards,
: > Singapore Computer Home Repair Service
: > http://www.bootstrike.com/ComputerService/
: > Video Conversion VHS Video8 Hi8 Digital8 MiniDv MicroMv
: > http://www.bootstrike.com/VHSVideoConvert/
: > : > > My CD-ROM Drive (LITE-ON COMBO SOHC-4832K) shows up in "My Computer"
but
: > > does not read CDs (always recognized them before).
: > >
: > > When I insert a CD and click on my DVD/CD RW Drive (E:), a blank page
: > > comes
: > > up.
: > >
: > > Several days ago, I put a DVD into the drive from which I successfully
: > > installed a program onto my hard drive - the program is working fine.
The
: > > drive will read the DVD, but now it does not read CDs. I've put the
DVD
: > > and
: > > CDs into another computer's drive and all can be read.
: > >
: > > I'm not sure if I'd ever put a DVD in this drive before... But as I
: > > understand it the drive reads both CDs and DVDs.
: > >
: > > Any ideas on what to do in order to again get the CDs read on my
CD-ROM
: > > drive?
: > >
: > > Any help appreciated.
: > >
: > > --
: > > George XP Home Edition SP3
: >
: >
: >
 
Hello,

I have a different drive but the same exact problem. (Compaq Presario
V6000, PHILIPS DVD-RAM SDVD8821) But my computer is a laptop. Is it
realistic to talk about switching a DVD-drive out of a laptop? I've never
taken apart a laptop before, and I know Best Buy doesn't do it because I
asked them. Any suggestions or should I just wait until I can buy a new
laptop??
Thank you!
~Trudy~
 
Trudy said:
Hello,

I have a different drive but the same exact problem. (Compaq Presario
V6000, PHILIPS DVD-RAM SDVD8821) But my computer is a laptop. Is it
realistic to talk about switching a DVD-drive out of a laptop? I've never
taken apart a laptop before, and I know Best Buy doesn't do it because I
asked them. Any suggestions or should I just wait until I can buy a new
laptop??
Thank you!
~Trudy~
Click to expand...

Go to the HP site, and find the maintenance and service guide for your laptop.

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...n&product=3200953&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

For example, see page 135 here. You undo one small screw on the bottom of the
unit, and the drive slides out. There is some kind of adapter bracket on the
back. You place the adapter bracket on the new drive, then slide it
back into place. The implication is, the I/O connector snaps into place,
when the drive is slid back into place.

http://h10032.www1.hp.com/ctg/Manual/c01035886.pdf

That solves the easy part, of getting the drive out. But
there is still the job of purchasing a replacement which
is compatible in all respects. And that might not be
nearly as easy.

You could use an external optical drive in a USB enclosure, and
there are various types to do the job. (Slim ones, which may be
using a laptop drive internally, or full height ones which you
might find in a desktop computer.) But that solution is not very
portable, and means lugging external components around. If you
only needed it for software installation, you could leave it at
home.

Paul
 
Trudy said:
Hello,

I have a different drive but the same exact problem. (Compaq Presario
V6000, PHILIPS DVD-RAM SDVD8821) But my computer is a laptop. Is it
realistic to talk about switching a DVD-drive out of a laptop? I've never
taken apart a laptop before, and I know Best Buy doesn't do it because I
asked them. Any suggestions or should I just wait until I can buy a new
laptop??
Thank you!
~Trudy~
Click to expand...

Replacing the drive on a HP/Compaq laptop is really easy. Turn your
laptop over and look at the bottom for a screw that's near the end of
your CDROM Drive which is approximately 6". Remove that screw and the
drive just slides right out. There's a bracket on the old drive that
you'll have to remove and put on your new drive. Then just slide in the
new drive and replace the screw. Then just boot your laptop and it
should install the drivers for the new drive automatically if it's
different from the old drive.

You can find a replacement drive here:

http://h20141.www2.hp.com/hpparts/Search_Results.asp?mscssid=94F94ACC4367429EA13B28E05D38E489

the line above is just one line but may have been wrapped by the editor
of my newsreader.

Here's a hint, get the model number of the drive you want to replace
your old drive with and go to EBay and search for it. Should be able to
find it there for a lot less than what HP/Compaq wants for it.
 
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