Problem with DVD-Rom Drive

I have a problem with my dvd-rom drive. It is an Artec 16x with model number DHM-G48R. The drive has worked fine for about a year and half (since new). One day, the thing just stopped working.....won't eject tray...nothing! The light is constantly blinking, but the drive refuses to do anything! The computer recognizes the drive and I have tried to update all drivers (tells me that newest driver is loaded). I tried unplugging the drive and plugging it back in to see if that would work, to no avail. Does anyone have any idea what could be wrong with this drive? Thanks for any help!

Computer is configured as follows:

MSI KM2M MS-6738 motherboard
AMD Athlon XP 2200+ CPU
Maxtor 40 GB Hard drive running Windows XP Professional
1024 MB DDR Memory
Artec 16X DVD-Rom
24x10x40 CD-RW

 

Drivers will not cause the behaviour, but a bad drive can. Have you tried using a Paperclip in the small hole on the front of the drive unit, in order to push the tray out? It is possible that the tray is off track, and could be why the tray is not ejecting.

 

could also need replacing .. not saying it does but this sort of thing isnt uncommon

 

I did try to that the other day, and it was like it wanted to open but wouldn't. I wonder if maybe it is off track. I'll try again and let you know. Thanks!

 

You may have to take it out of the computer if a desktop or tower, and pull the case off of the drive in order to put it back on track. I had one do it, and it was an easy fix.

 

I checked the drive last night, and it's not off track. The tray opened up as it is supposed to when I used the paperclip in the hole. I think that maybe the drive is dead.

 

Could also be the "Rubber Band" inside is broken, but you would have to look between the tray and bottom. If it is dead, I would go ahead and replace with a DVD-RAM -/+ drive since they are pretty cheap nowdays.