PC won't play dvd's, just cd's HELP PLEASE.

georgiac

My Dell computer has developed a weird fault it will play Cs's just fine but not DVD's.

I pressume it is something to do with drivers but I am not sure.

The player in the machine is a DVD+RW GWA4164B.

It has worked fine up until recently so I am not sure what I have done to it.

Any advice gratefully received.

Thanks

aliEnRIK

Theres a fair chance its knackered (The 2 use different lasers, even though its the same machine)
I cant see it being the drivers. Ive never YET had a drive that NEEDED drivers beyond XPs or VISTAS for it to work (Plus, yours HAS worked)
Have you tried a cleaning disc?

mdbarber

when you say "play" dvds is that just movies? or can you read the disk through my computer?

georgiac

It doesn't see any dvd, film or application disc.

It won't play or acknowledge them at all.

It comes up with the error message :

Explorer.EXE - No Disc - There is no disc in the drive

vyseyboy

Have you installed any third party disc burning software? (Nero, Roxio etc...)

Sometimes they can interfere with windows burning.

Googling the model number, it does seem like people have experienced a fair few issues with this drive.

My plan of action would be:

1) Check LG website for firmware updates

2) Try a cleaning disc (if there's one about,)

3) Replace it. They are cheap and not worth the hassle of repair.

Also if it's the drive that came with a Dell system, then it may make you happier (or angrier...) to hear that I've had three Dell's and the optical drive has failed in all of them within six months. I definately suspect they cut corners in this department...

DatabaseError

With Rik on this one, as the drive reads no DVDs, neither data nor film (though both data) , buy a new drive, £12+, 5 mins to fit, tools required =1 posi screwdriver (probably)
easiest way to ensure correct replacement (sata vs ide) is take the old dvd drive to a shop