DVD not recognising when a disc is present

k66

I have a Hewlett Packard PC with built in Maxtor DVD reader (4RO60J0) when I inserted a DVD it is not recognising it, it used to start automatically. I go to my computer and click on the drive icon but it tells me to insert a disc. I have tried various discs and also tried via mediaplayer but no joy there either. My CD rewriter is fine. Please advise on what I should do next. System restore is not an option.
Thanks.

opportunity_cost

Try installing the drivers (from a CD that you have for that drive or download them from the manufacturer's website) for that DVD-ROM drive.

If that doesn't fix the problem, a system file is probably missing/corrupted so do a Windows re-install (just install over your current Windows copy without uninstalling first). That should get the drive back to normal.

jamalfatty

Most DVD drives shouldnt need any drivers at all, I had a similar problem with my PC just a short while ago, recognised some DVD's but not others, turned out I had the jumpers on the back of the drive set incorrectly, was set to Cable Select when should have been set to slave.

Hussein_

try cleaning the drive wit a normal head cleaner....

Browntoa

my Hp PC drive packed up about a month ago....it's only a couple of years old

sounds like the drive may have failed

ollyk

Well the computer can clearly see the drive which means it is an internal problem to the drive itself....
may be just dust on the pickup. Get a cd cleaner before condeming!

k66

Browntoa wrote: »

my Hp PC drive packed up about a month ago....it's only a couple of years old

sounds like the drive may have failed

Thanks for all of the advice but it is still not working, I get the green flashing light, I can hear some whirring from the drive but I still get the insert a disc notice. I have run Norton System works and cleaned the heads. The PC has not been moved or the cables touched. I feel that it might be a conflict somewhere or missing files as sometimes when in My Computer that freeezes too. Ahhhhhhh.

Enterprise_1701C

Have you tried looking in Control Panel - SYstem - Hardware - Device Manager? It should show there if there are any conflicts in thesystem.

ollyk

k66 wrote: »

Thanks for all of the advice but it is still not working, I get the green flashing light, I can hear some whirring from the drive but I still get the insert a disc notice. I have run Norton System works and cleaned the heads. The PC has not been moved or the cables touched. I feel that it might be a conflict somewhere or missing files as sometimes when in My Computer that freeezes too. Ahhhhhhh.

what do you mean when you say you have 'cleaned the heads'?

k66

Jane_Blackford wrote: »

Have you tried looking in Control Panel - SYstem - Hardware - Device Manager? It should show there if there are any conflicts in thesystem.

Thanks I have run through the process, it states that it is functioning OK, I have searched for updates but it says that I have the latest one.

k66

ollyk wrote: »

what do you mean when you say you have 'cleaned the heads'?

I used a 10cm long lint free video head cleaning swab with camera lens cleaning fluid on it, I opened the CD tray and swabbed all the metal parts that I could see. Should I have done something else?