Help with sony vaio cd/dvd drive needed - not reading anything.

elsien

I have a sony vaio vgn-bx51vn, and the disc drive is refusing to recognise anything I put in it - I'm getting a message saying
F:\ is not accessible. The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.

I've done a quick search and found a previous thread mentioning this http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/l...56(WS.10).aspx
but it hasn't worked. The microsoft report says that the media is not readable and I need to insert a readable media. Either that or the drive is empty / the media format is not supported. I've tried a variety of discs including one that worked fine on another computer yesterday to no avail.
I'm not getting any sort of error code that I can see in the device manager.
My technical knowledge is very limited, so any other suggestions?

m5rcc

Which OS are you runnng? Drivers wouldnt help too much I dont think but maybe worth while going to check the exact drive Sony uses (might not be a Sony) and install the latest firmware and/or drivers.

elsien

Windows vista business, and I wouldn't know how to install the latest firmware and things.

elsien

Anyone else got any bright ideas please?

Browntoa

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116

click on the "Fix it for me" button

elsien

I'm getting the same message from this one, that the media isn't readable. I've tried the same disc in my desktop and it's working fine.
If it makes any difference, when I put the disc in I get the "computer not responding message" for about 20 secs, then it tries to load it, then I get the error message. Then nothing.

libra10

It might be worth posting at the Sony Vaio forum

http://www.sony.co.uk/discussions/community/en/support/vaio_and_computing

Good luck

spannerzone

Sounds like a faulty DVD/CD drive to me.... they can sometimes just fail to read discs or sometimes stop reading certain discs such as home made CDr or DVDr discs.

Occasionally removing and reinserting the drive makes a connection again so it 'might' be worth removing the drive and refitting..... usually 1 screw to remove the drive.

Sometimes cleaning the lens solves the problem and is easy to do, with care.
http://www.ehow.com/how_6777451_clean-laptop-dvd-lens.html

Usually these drives slide out after removing one (or two) screws so it's a relatively straightforward removal and replacement. The only possible issue is whether the drive uses the 'PATA IDE' or 'SATA' connector which you need to know before ordering a replacement.

I did a DVD swap for a friend's Sony (different model) and the replacement DVD drive cost around £35 and was an easy fix, the only issue was that the Sony's original DVD drive had a special plastic door to match the surrounding casing and the replacement DVD did not, so it looked a little odd (black DVD door against Silvery gold laptop case)

If you fancy trying the removal and refit option then this site has the info
http://www.insidemylaptop.com/disassemble-sony-vaio-vgn-bx-series-laptop/

Obviously turn off, remove power lead AND battery before doing this and don't do it on a static surface like a nylon carpet while wearing nylon clothes! - discharge static by grounding yourself on a radiator pipe before tinkering with delicate laptop's

elsien

Having had a quick scan of the sony forum, I have a horrible feeling you may be right.
I think I'm going to have to pluck up courage for a diy job -how do I know which of these 'PATA IDE' or 'SATA' it is?

spannerzone

This site suggests it's an 'IDE / PATA' connector
http://www.batterystyle.com/sony-vgn-bx51vn-drive-p-326456.html
(I'm not suggesting you buy it from here)

Best way is to remove the drive and see what the connector looks like, this site shows the two versions
http://www.laptopparts101.com/cd-dvd-optical-drive/

Note that IDE PATA is also known as ATAPI sometimes!

IDE PATA/ ATAPI are not used on laptops now and are harder to source replacements, SATA is the norm now so cheaper and easier to find. If you want an exact matching drive then it's a case of getting the right model at a cost (probably double the cost of a generic bland looking dvd)

I seem to recall having to remove 3 little screws on the Sony I did, all underneath and easy to do with a very small pozidrive (crosshead) screwdriver, unscrew the slide the drive out in one go. Watchmaker screwdriver is the best tool if you've got one.

If you can remove the drive and tell us the model/make on it we can help hopefully.

spannerzone

To try determine what the drive is you could try using the 'SIW.exe' system information tool - there's a free and safe version here to download: http://www.gtopala.com/siw-download.html - scroll down and click on the "Old SIW 2010 freeware version" and click the "SIW Without Installer (English-Only)" download option. Download this tool then run it (no installation is required, it just runs once) and there are loads of things displayed, scroll down the list to Hardware then Storage Devices and to the right it should display your DVD drive type (make, model, SATA or PATA etc)

If your drive is totally knackered it may not show up in the above program however.