Help with computer disc drive.

[René Artois]

Hey,
I have a laptop, and I use it for cds, dvds, games, all that stuff. Sometimes though, I come across a dvd that doesn't work in the disc drive, you can hear it spinning round sort of half-heartedly though. Sometimes a dvd will work then not work in a way I just described.

Any ideas?

oh yeah, i cant really tell you more about the laptop other than i got it from pcspecialist.co.uk.

[Maizel]

Its the issue unique to some discs?

Is it the case that a particular disc works sometimes, and sometimes it doesn't? Or are it some discs that just refuse to work 100% of the time?

[Nanny de Bodemloze]

are they burned disks?

[GrnEyedDvl]

You need to determine whether its the discs or the drive trying to fail. When it happens try the disc on another machine.

[Maizel]

You need to determine whether its the discs or the drive trying to fail. When it happens try the disc on another machine.

What he said.

If the failing discs are good on other machines, it may indicate a problem with the rotary parts in your discdrive, this would also explain the 'the half hearted ' spinning thing.

Alternatively, it could be a problem with the reading diode, or the, if it's burned, the disc could be nearing it's experation date.

[M D]

Discs have Expiration dates?

[Maizel]

Discs have Expiration dates?

It was a figure of speech, but yes, burned discs do expire, the time it takes for that to happen varies, but factors like, disc qualitu, usage, sun exposure, definitely leave a mark on disc life.

[♔KillZoneGB♔]

Before you yank the drive out, have you tried updating the Drive`s Firmware?

[René Artois]

Drive up to date.
All discs that fail to work in the laptop do work in a DVD player.
Only happens with DVDs, and like I said, sometimes a DVD won't work, then works at a different time or even if I open the drive and close it again. Conversely sometimes a DVD works, then fails when I try it again. Some work all the time, some work none of the time.
Seems to be a hit and miss thing, i.e. disc failings happen at random.

Thanks for the help as well.

[Maizel]

Try getting a cleaner dics.


I've never used one, but maybe it'll work?


If not, you might want to get it looked after. Or maybe a USB DVDdrive?