QUE! DVD ROM drive ?

[Patty]

I have an older DVD-ROM drive in my system that is a QUE! DVD drive. QUE!
is no longer in business for the most part, however the drive is really a
Samsung SD-612 DVD-ROM drive. (Both Windows XP and the label on the drive
identifies it as such.)

In Windows Explorer, Windows XP (SP2) reports it as being just a CD drive.
However, if I click on properties for it, under Hardware, it reports it as
being a DVD/CD ROM drive and gives me all the settings such as DVD Region
for the drive. The problem I am having with this drive is it won't read a
particular DVD. The one in particular I'm having difficulty with is an
install CD for Vista Beta 1. It spins but when I try to explore the disk,
it tells me that there's no disk in the drive. However, my Sony DVD/RW
does read the disk, and so does my DVD combo drive in my laptop. I thought
maybe it was a problem with the fact that it was a data DVD rather than a
movie (I've put movie DVDs in this drive and played them with no problems)
but, when I made some data backup DVDs for my daughter recently, it also
reads the files on those DVDs. It's only the Vista install DVD it will not
read.

I'm wondering if because it's a very old drive (at least 5 years old, I'm
thinking) it does not read all DVDs as it should? I'm also wondering why
XP indentifies it in Windows Explorer as only being a CD drive rather than
a DVD drive? The Hardware Properties lists the Manufacturer as being
"(Standard CD-ROM drives)" but the Device Type is listed as "DVD/CD-ROM
drives". Any thoughts? I'm thinking maybe I should just bite the bullet
and replace it, new DVD-ROM drives go for around $20 in the US so it's no
big deal, but I just hate to get into the process of tearing my system
apart (ALL those CABLES!) to install a new drive since it does play pretty
much all other DVDs, just won't play this Vista install DVD.

Thanks much.

Patty

 

[Alias]

I have an older DVD-ROM drive in my system that is a QUE! DVD drive. QUE!
is no longer in business for the most part, however the drive is really a
Samsung SD-612 DVD-ROM drive. (Both Windows XP and the label on the drive
identifies it as such.)

In Windows Explorer, Windows XP (SP2) reports it as being just a CD drive.
However, if I click on properties for it, under Hardware, it reports it as
being a DVD/CD ROM drive and gives me all the settings such as DVD Region
for the drive. The problem I am having with this drive is it won't read a
particular DVD. The one in particular I'm having difficulty with is an
install CD for Vista Beta 1. It spins but when I try to explore the disk,
it tells me that there's no disk in the drive. However, my Sony DVD/RW
does read the disk, and so does my DVD combo drive in my laptop. I thought
maybe it was a problem with the fact that it was a data DVD rather than a
movie (I've put movie DVDs in this drive and played them with no problems)
but, when I made some data backup DVDs for my daughter recently, it also
reads the files on those DVDs. It's only the Vista install DVD it will not
read.

I'm wondering if because it's a very old drive (at least 5 years old, I'm
thinking) it does not read all DVDs as it should? I'm also wondering why
XP indentifies it in Windows Explorer as only being a CD drive rather than
a DVD drive? The Hardware Properties lists the Manufacturer as being
"(Standard CD-ROM drives)" but the Device Type is listed as "DVD/CD-ROM
drives". Any thoughts? I'm thinking maybe I should just bite the bullet
and replace it, new DVD-ROM drives go for around $20 in the US so it's no
big deal, but I just hate to get into the process of tearing my system
apart (ALL those CABLES!) to install a new drive since it does play pretty
much all other DVDs, just won't play this Vista install DVD.

Thanks much.

Patty

To replace the drive involves 8 screws. Four to take off the sides to
your case and four to remove the DVD ROM. It connects to two cables, the
motherboard and the power supply, the same ones your current DVD is
using. There are far more complicated things to replace in a computer
than that.

Just make sure that you unplug your computer before swapping hardware. I
mean pull out the power chord from the computer before doing anything.

Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

 

[Lindsay]

Your drive has 2 lasers for reading. One for CDs and the other for DVDs. It
is possible that over time one laser will become weaker faster than the
other to the point that the drive will only read CDs and not DVDs (or vice
versa). Maybe the CD laser is weakening. I have seen drives that will only
read DVDs and not CDs.

As for what Windows indentifies it as, that is normal and can happen with
some drives.

Go and buy a new drive.

 

[Patty]

To replace the drive involves 8 screws. Four to take off the sides to
your case and four to remove the DVD ROM. It connects to two cables, the
motherboard and the power supply, the same ones your current DVD is
using. There are far more complicated things to replace in a computer
than that.

Just make sure that you unplug your computer before swapping hardware. I
mean pull out the power chord from the computer before doing anything.

Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

I know how to replace the drive. I built this system from scratch. The
agony is getting the box out of the place it's located (under the desk) and
disconnecting all the millions of cables (USB, Printers, Scanners, etc.)
that are connected to the back to get into it to work on it. ;o) I hate it
everytime I have to do it. I'm not as young as I used to be and it is work
for me to get under that desk. *vbg*

Patty

 

[Patty]

Your drive has 2 lasers for reading. One for CDs and the other for DVDs. It
is possible that over time one laser will become weaker faster than the
other to the point that the drive will only read CDs and not DVDs (or vice
versa). Maybe the CD laser is weakening. I have seen drives that will only
read DVDs and not CDs.

As for what Windows indentifies it as, that is normal and can happen with
some drives.

Go and buy a new drive.

Oh, it reads CDs just fine. It reads DVDs just fine, only will not read
ONE. The Vista install DVD. All others it reads just fine. Guess the
laser doesn't like the Vista install DVD. I'm still thinking it's some
kind of shortcoming on the firmware or something. Yeah, I've looked at new
drives, just putting off installing a new one right now. Guess I'll just
wait until it gets worse since I've gotten another method of using the
Vista Beta 1 install from the .iso file (Daemon Tools). Thanks for your
suggestion.

Patty

 

[Harry Ohrn]

A DVD-Rom (or CD-Rom) device takes about 10 minutes to replace from start to
finish. The most difficult aspect can be the location of the computer
itself. If you have it pushed into a corner, under a table or crammed into a
computer desk then yes it can be a PITA. However if it is out in the open
just remove the cover, remove the cables (they will only attach on way),
remove the screws that hold it in the case, slide it out and pop the new on
in. Ensure the small jumper plug at the back of the new drive - located
between the wide flat IDE cable and the smaller white power cable - is in
the same position as the one on the old drive. These small plastic plugs
slide over a pair of metal pins and are easy to move. See here for
step-by-step http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/installing_cd_recorder.htm

 

[Patty]

A DVD-Rom (or CD-Rom) device takes about 10 minutes to replace from start to
finish. The most difficult aspect can be the location of the computer
itself. If you have it pushed into a corner, under a table or crammed into a
computer desk then yes it can be a PITA. However if it is out in the open
just remove the cover, remove the cables (they will only attach on way),
remove the screws that hold it in the case, slide it out and pop the new on
in. Ensure the small jumper plug at the back of the new drive - located
between the wide flat IDE cable and the smaller white power cable - is in
the same position as the one on the old drive. These small plastic plugs
slide over a pair of metal pins and are easy to move. See here for
step-by-step http://www.helpwithpcs.com/upgrading/installing_cd_recorder.htm

As I've already explained, I put the original drive in as well as all the
other drives (motherboard, etc.) I'm afraid that I'm the one with the PITA
situation in where the box is located, it is not out in the open. Never
thought how much a pain it was going to be when I got this desk setup, but
I needed the deskspace and storage space for working (I work at home). Oh
well, some day when I get in the mood, perhaps I'll replace it. However,
to me, it just seems like too much hassle and trouble to just read ONE disk
which I've already solved by using Daemon Tools and just reading the
original .iso file.

Thanks much for your suggestions.

Patty

 

[Alias]

I know how to replace the drive. I built this system from scratch. The
agony is getting the box out of the place it's located (under the desk) and
disconnecting all the millions of cables (USB, Printers, Scanners, etc.)
that are connected to the back to get into it to work on it. ;o) I hate it
everytime I have to do it. I'm not as young as I used to be and it is work
for me to get under that desk. *vbg*

Patty

Maybe you should keep it on the desk, rather than under the desk

Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

 

[Patty]

Maybe you should keep it on the desk, rather than under the desk

Alias

Use the Reply to Sender feature of your news reader program to email me.
Utiliza Responder al Remitente para mandarme un mail.

No room on the desk. It's pretty full.

Patty