SONY DVD RW DW D-56A reading only CDs

[vishworks]

Hi,
I've a K Series PCG-K47 VAIO laptop, with a DVD RW DW-D56A that I
purchased during March 2005. All of a sudden, I'm not able to read any
DVDs using this drive. It is only able to read CDs successfully but no
DVDs. I've tried cleaning the drive, using the maxell lens cleaner DVD,
I've upgraded the firmware from sony's website to PFS3, but to no
avail. The problem is that I don't even get any error message. It keeps
on trying to read the DVD disc inserted, and everything else comes to a
halt, till i remove the disc from the DVD drive.
Any suggestions would be highly appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Regards,
Vishy

 

[DebB]

Have you changed the zone?
Is the problem the result of a previous attempt to update the firmware,
prior to the PFS3?
Have you got an error message? If so, please relay it word for word.
If you can think of anything at all that transpired prior to the problem,
and might even remotely be connected, then it's worth mentioning.

Try the DVD in another drive (neighbours place or something) to confirm that
it works ok. Try a number of different DVD's as it might just be that you
have one that's faulty.

Try re installing your DVD software for reading the disks (PowerDVD or the
like). If it still fails contact the shop where you bought it and ask if
they have any suggestions or others with hte same experience.
Also try sending a support request to the manufacturer.

DebB

 

[vishworks]

Hi Deb,
Thanks for the reply...but no, I did not change the zone...I
did not see any errors while updating the firmware. The worst part is I
don't see any error message anywhere. The DVDs do work on others drives
(my friends computers for example)... But here is one line i'm
continuously seeing in the EventViewer


=============================
The device, \Device\CdRom0, has a bad block.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
=============================

Regards,
Vishy

 

[Malke]

Hi Deb,
Thanks for the reply...but no, I did not change the
zone...I
did not see any errors while updating the firmware. The worst part is
I don't see any error message anywhere. The DVDs do work on others
drives (my friends computers for example)... But here is one line i'm
continuously seeing in the EventViewer


=============================
The device, \Device\CdRom0, has a bad block.
For more information, see Help and Support Center at
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/events.asp.
=============================

It sounds very much like the drive has failed. Combo drives use two
different lasers for cd's and dvd's. It sounds like the one used for
reading the dvd's has failed. Since it is fairly new, the drive is
probably still under warranty. Contact the mftr. for replacement.

Malke

 

[Marius D Borca]

Good luck with this laptop. I have had to have the dvdrw drive replaced 3
times! I am waiting for spare time to go in for the 3rd time and get a 3rd
drive! These drives from my experience are pure crap! Luckily for me I
live/work in the San Diego Ca area and am able to simply drive to Sony's
repair center and give them the entire machine for diagnostics instead of
waiting for a fedex box w/ a drive and doing it all myself, which is what I
did the 1st time anyway.

I am so dissapointed w/ Sony and these drives! I've even tried DELL firmware
on the drive and this 2nd drive is just f00bard, it simply makes noises
which sound like knocking noise when I put in any kind of media.