Optical drives not recognizing inserted disk

[envengineer]

I have been experiencing an issue with both optical drives on the PC as
described below. The drives are a Sony DVD-ROM DDU1615 and an HL-DT-ST DVD+ -
RW GWA4164B. The driver for both optical drives is
C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys(5.12600.5512).

Both optical drives are exhibiting the same issue, started this at the
different times, and have continuously exhibited this issue since start. When
an optical disk is inserted into either drive the message “Please insert a
disk into drive D†or “Please insert a disk into drive E†is displayed. The
DVD + - RW was first about six months ago and the DVDROM about one week ago.

Both optical drives are running, that is the drives are spinning, making
‘read sounds’ as the disk spins, and the light on the front of each drive is
lighting as the drive reads.

I have tried:

1. CD +, -, R or DVD +, -, R, RW optical disks. The result for each is the
same message as above.
2. I have also disassembled the DVD optical drive and determined that the
first micro-switch is closing when the tray begins to close and the second
micro-switch is closing at the end of the tray closing.
3. Switching the order and location of the two drives. The automatic mode is
selected on both drives for location assigning.

How do I diagnose this issue? How do I resolve this issue?
--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Driver version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE8.0.6001.18702

--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE7.0.5730.13, Build 75730

 

[chas2209]

I have been experiencing an issue with both optical drives on the PC as
described below. The drives are a Sony DVD-ROM DDU1615 and an HL-DT-ST
DVD+ -
RW GWA4164B. The driver for both optical drives is
C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys(5.12600.5512).

Both optical drives are exhibiting the same issue, started this at the
different times, and have continuously exhibited this issue since start.
When
an optical disk is inserted into either drive the message "Please insert a
disk into drive D" or "Please insert a disk into drive E" is displayed.
The
DVD + - RW was first about six months ago and the DVDROM about one week
ago.

Both optical drives are running, that is the drives are spinning, making
'read sounds' as the disk spins, and the light on the front of each drive
is
lighting as the drive reads.

I have tried:

1. CD +, -, R or DVD +, -, R, RW optical disks. The result for each is the
same message as above.
2. I have also disassembled the DVD optical drive and determined that the
first micro-switch is closing when the tray begins to close and the second
micro-switch is closing at the end of the tray closing.
3. Switching the order and location of the two drives. The automatic mode
is
selected on both drives for location assigning.

How do I diagnose this issue? How do I resolve this issue?
--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Driver version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE8.0.6001.18702

--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE7.0.5730.13, Build 75730

Hi
You may like to try this
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Have you tried a lens cleaner?
But I have the feeling that both Drives have died.
chas2209

 

[Jim]

I have been experiencing an issue with both optical drives on the PC as
described below. The drives are a Sony DVD-ROM DDU1615 and an HL-DT-ST
DVD+ -
RW GWA4164B. The driver for both optical drives is
C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys(5.12600.5512).

Both optical drives are exhibiting the same issue, started this at the
different times, and have continuously exhibited this issue since start.
When
an optical disk is inserted into either drive the message "Please insert a
disk into drive D" or "Please insert a disk into drive E" is displayed.
The
DVD + - RW was first about six months ago and the DVDROM about one week
ago.

Both optical drives are running, that is the drives are spinning, making
'read sounds' as the disk spins, and the light on the front of each drive
is
lighting as the drive reads.

I have tried:

1. CD +, -, R or DVD +, -, R, RW optical disks. The result for each is the
same message as above.
2. I have also disassembled the DVD optical drive and determined that the
first micro-switch is closing when the tray begins to close and the second
micro-switch is closing at the end of the tray closing.
3. Switching the order and location of the two drives. The automatic mode
is
selected on both drives for location assigning.

How do I diagnose this issue? How do I resolve this issue?
--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Driver version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE8.0.6001.18702

--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE7.0.5730.13, Build 75730

What you have tried is all for naught if the lasers aren't working.
You can try to clean the lasers as another poster stated.
Usually, though, the only fix is replacement.

Jim

 

[Richard Urban]

I have been experiencing an issue with both optical drives on the PC as
described below. The drives are a Sony DVD-ROM DDU1615 and an HL-DT-ST
DVD+ -
RW GWA4164B. The driver for both optical drives is
C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys(5.12600.5512).

Both optical drives are exhibiting the same issue, started this at the
different times, and have continuously exhibited this issue since start.
When
an optical disk is inserted into either drive the message “Please insert a
disk into drive D†or “Please insert a disk into drive E†is displayed.
The
DVD + - RW was first about six months ago and the DVDROM about one week
ago.

Both optical drives are running, that is the drives are spinning, making
‘read sounds’ as the disk spins, and the light on the front of each drive
is
lighting as the drive reads.

I have tried:

1. CD +, -, R or DVD +, -, R, RW optical disks. The result for each is the
same message as above.
2. I have also disassembled the DVD optical drive and determined that the
first micro-switch is closing when the tray begins to close and the second
micro-switch is closing at the end of the tray closing.
3. Switching the order and location of the two drives. The automatic mode
is
selected on both drives for location assigning.

How do I diagnose this issue? How do I resolve this issue?
--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Driver version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE8.0.6001.18702

--
envengineer
Dell XPS400, DXP051, BIOS AO3
OS: Windows XP SP3 Professional,
Version 5.1.2600
Browser: IE7.0.5730.13, Build 75730

I have had 2 drives go bad within about 15 hours of use. Unfortunately,
because of my sparse usage - they were both out of warranty. BTW: they were
both Sony CD/DVD combo drives.

 

[Peter Foldes]

See the following for your issue

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/939052/en-us

 

[M.I.5¾]

I have been experiencing an issue with both optical drives on the PC as
described below. The drives are a Sony DVD-ROM DDU1615 and an HL-DT-ST
DVD+ -
RW GWA4164B. The driver for both optical drives is
C:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys(5.12600.5512).

Both optical drives are exhibiting the same issue, started this at the
different times, and have continuously exhibited this issue since start.
When
an optical disk is inserted into either drive the message "Please insert a
disk into drive D" or "Please insert a disk into drive E" is displayed.
The
DVD + - RW was first about six months ago and the DVDROM about one week
ago.

Both optical drives are running, that is the drives are spinning, making
'read sounds' as the disk spins, and the light on the front of each drive
is
lighting as the drive reads.

I have tried:

1. CD +, -, R or DVD +, -, R, RW optical disks. The result for each is the
same message as above.
2. I have also disassembled the DVD optical drive and determined that the
first micro-switch is closing when the tray begins to close and the second
micro-switch is closing at the end of the tray closing.
3. Switching the order and location of the two drives. The automatic mode
is
selected on both drives for location assigning.

How do I diagnose this issue? How do I resolve this issue?

You can try a lens cleaner, but I doubt that it will solve your problem.

Basically the laser is shot in both drives (the clue is the time difference
in failure). Unfortunately the laser is a limited life item (with too short
a life in my view) which deteriorates in use. They can fail after 6 month's
use or after 5 year's use. The most common time is after 2 years or so.
Since DVD drives invariably have 2 lasers they may continue working with CD
media after the DVD laser has failed (and vice versa), though most DVD
drives read pre mastered CDs and CD-RWs with the DVD laser.

The problem may well be worse with blu-ray drives as they have 3 lasers.