HELP please! Cannot watch DVD's on computer

glicky

ScoobieGirl wrote:

What happens when you start up your DVD playing software and try opening the disk from there?

Also if you reboot the PC with the disk already in the tray and then open My Computer does it show the disk is there? If so you may have Autorun set to off.

Excuse my ignorance but I am a technophobe ... when you say "start up DVD playing software", what do you mean? If you mean the menu that usually comes up when you insert a DVD, then no menu comes up whatsoever and that's what got my attention in the first place.

I will try and reboot the PC with disk already in the tray and let you know what happens. What is Autorun?

I did say I was useless, didn't I?:o

GoofyGAT

DVD playing software is like PowerDVD (screenshot below) - the program/software that plays your DVDs.

'Autorun' is when the disks you insert into your drive automatically run without any further input from you. To see if it's enabled or not follow these steps http://autorun.moonvalley.com/enable.htm. G

glicky

ScoobieGirl wrote:

What happens when you start up your DVD playing software and try opening the disk from there?

Also if you reboot the PC with the disk already in the tray and then open My Computer does it show the disk is there? If so you may have Autorun set to off.

Tried the above ... no difference! I can't even burn them now, seems like it's completely caput now!:mad:

glicky

How To Enable/Disable Autorun (Windows XP)
Open Windows Explorer by pressing the Windows + "e" key.

What is the "Windows" key?

glicky

OK so it seems the disc drive is caput!

Does anyone know where I can get a good deal on an external dvd burner for my Toshiba A60 Satellite laptop?

I've spoken to an engineer and they said that if I wanted to replace the disc drive on my laptop the part alone would cost about £100 because it has to come from Toshiba itself! Is that correct?

ScoobieGirl

bad luck

I tend to use microdirect or dabs for my computer purchases, but I'm sure you can get better deals if you use one of Martin's shopbots.

However when I replaced my laptop dvd (reader only) I got it on ebay for less than a tenner. If you are comfortable doing so take it out of it's plastic housing and search for the model number as printed on the device itself. either that or you could pick up a dead model (where the processor has broken) the same as yours and do a straight swap

glicky

ScoobieGirl wrote:

bad luck

I tend to use microdirect or dabs for my computer purchases, but I'm sure you can get better deals if you use one of Martin's shopbots.

However when I replaced my laptop dvd (reader only) I got it on ebay for less than a tenner. If you are comfortable doing so take it out of it's plastic housing and search for the model number as printed on the device itself. either that or you could pick up a dead model (where the processor has broken) the same as yours and do a straight swap

I'd love to be able to do that, but know zilch about computers, so wouldn't know what to do.

I've ordered this one http://svp.co.uk/products-solo.php?pid=1521 which is cheaper than getting my one fixed.