Problem with Sony DVD+-RW DW-Q58A

Hello,

I have a Sony DVD+-RW DW-Q58A drive in my Dell XPS M140 and until recently it was working great. Until a few days ago I tried burning a CD with iTunes and it wouldn't work. Every time I put in a blank CD/or regular CD, the computer doesn't recognize it. A green light on the drive is on continuously and the drive makes sounds like its working. But its not recognized still! So I put in a blank DVD and the computer recognized it fine, but as a blank CD! is there anyway to fix this problem? I really need some help, I don't want to go get a new computer...

thank you!!

 

someone please help me!

 

can anyone please help me??? i really am in trouble here...

anyways, heres the driver details i found, maybe something in there?

http://i248.photobucket.com/albums/gg175/modernage013/sonydriverdetails.jpg

 

so no one can help me with this???

 

Okay, I have no idea what is wrong with your DVD player, but I can give a way to find out. I recently had my Sony DRU-830A go South on me. Go to the Sony website, support and run their 'drive test' on it. The results are e-mailed to Sony and they give you a toll-free number to call after 24-hours and they will tell you what the problem is and, if possible, how to fix it. Mine, however, had a 'hardware error' and has to be replaced and since mine is out of warranty, guess who's going to be buying a new DVD player?

And, if I may make a suggestion, there is no need to keep 'bumping' your request. There are ALOT of great people here at MGs with ALOT of knowledge and if someone would know how to fix the problem, they would have replied. I guess what I'm trying to say is simply...patience, my friend, patience.

 

http://www.kb.sony.com/selfservice/...g=dw-q58a&product=&gobutton.x=31&gobutton.y=5

This is as close as I can get to the drive you have, and if this fails, maybe you should try and contact Dell and see if they can assist you. Hope this helps!!

 

wow thanks a lot for your help so far, but when i went to the firmware update results there was one for a VS and A VN version of my drive, which is the one i use?

also sorry for bumping so much, i thought no one saw my post or didn't know what to do. but yes next time, more patience!

thank you so much for your help so far.

EDIT: also where can i find the driver test tool on the sony website? I went to the support site but couldn't find it!

 

Okay, I searched the ENTIRE Sony site and couldn't find your exact DVD listed anywhere.:cry However, you can go to the site listed below and download the drive test and it will tell you if your drive either passes of fails. So, here's the address
http://sony.storagesupport.com/node/507 Try it and let me know how it went. Hope this helps!!

 

it fails when its at checking media. it keeps saying to verify that the CD is blank and i know it is and I used this brand of cd many times to burn cds before. But I didn't update the firmware yet, cause I don't know which to use..

 

Okay, since Sony has no listing for your particular DVD, the next place to go for drivers is here http://support.dell.com/support/dow...SystemID=XPS_M140&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid= This link is the driver section for your laptop. Hopefully, you'll find the right firmware you need there. Good luck and let me know how you do.

 

ok so i went to the serach results of sony and tried installing the two VS and VN types but it said that it isn't compatible with my computer! than i clicked the link you posted recently but what i can see so far, the updates don't seem to apply to my driver! and i called dell customer assistance before but what do you know...as soon as my warranty expired they offered no assistance! is there no way to fix this driver? i mean it was working perfectly before...

 

That's the trouble with computers....one minute they are working perfectly and the next everything seems to go South! Sometimes they give ya a warning, and sometimes not. I think this fits under the NOT catagory!! It appears that you DVD player, since it wasn't listed at Sony, was made especially for the Dell computer, and since Dell won't offer any help, which I think is crappy, there seems to be only one solution...time to break out your hidden stash of cash and spring for a new one. Since yours is not reading the media, that would indicate a hardware problem, and if that is the case, I doubt that drivers will help. The way I see it, you have 2 choices, get and external, USB drive or you can checkout some of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...&N=2010100005+1036508673&name=Slim+DVD+Burner

 

i knew this would happen, the inevitable. well i did burn a lot of CDs though, my burner had a good long run. But can you recommend any good long lasting but cheap cd/dvd burners to replace my own? and how much would that cost to have it installed? or can I do it myself easily?

thanks for all your help!

 

I have to admit, my friend, when it comes to laptops and installing new hardware in one, I'm lost!! Desktops...no problem.....laptops:cry!! See how emotional I get just thinking about it!!:-D Anyhow, if you don't feel comfortable installing one yourself, your best bet would be to have someone do it for you. It'll cost less in the long run than if you try to put it in and something screws up. As for the cost to install one, again, I have no clue. However, you could start a new thread saying something like "How to install a DVD in a laptop?" There are ALOT of technically savvy people here at MGs, and I'm sure someone could help. Not much help, am I? Good luck, my friend, and let's hope for the best!!

 

Today I have run into a similar problem. But the solution turned out to be very simple - using cd/dvd lens cleaner. Try it. Good luck.

 

i hae the same dvd and the same problem, so the lens cleaning thing sounds like a good way to start, but what is that and how do you do it? is there a website?