Gateway Solo 2550 Laptop D: drive won't read some CDs

My Gateway Solo 2550 Laptop D: drive (running Windows XP) won't read some CDs and will read others. When I insert some CDs, the D: drive seems like its trying to read the CD, then I get a message "Please insert a disk in the D: drive." Since there already is a disk in the D: drive, I don't know what to do. I was able to read the same disk on another computer I have, so it's not the disk.

What can I do to get the Laptop to read the disk in the D: drive? Thanks.

 

I would suspect that the drive needs to be replaced, or at the very least you can try a firmware upgrade if you can find it. Firmware for CD drives can be VERY difficult to locate online, even the drive manufacturers rarely have firmware updates. You may be able to email the support team at the drive maker's web site, or try the same with Gateway. Many older CD drives have troubles reading CDs that were burned on newer PCs. I'm not sure if it's the way the CDs are burned, or maybe the speed at which they're burned, but I've noticed this problem with MANY older CD drives in both laptops and desktops, esp. with CDs burned in XA format at higher speeds. This is especially true with burned CDRW discs.... I know this isn't really a "fix" for your problem, but it's about all I can offer

 

Thanks! I've been puzzled as to why some CDs could be read and others could not. It can read the high priced, fancy commercial CDs, but not the lower end CDs or the ones I burn on another computer. I'll see if I can located driver updates over the Internet. I bought the laptop for $2,000+, but it would be much cheaper to get a new laptop then continue to put money into this one. Thanks again.