Problems with my CD & CD/DVD drives.

Hi Guys.
I have separate CD and CD/DVD drives. They both worked fine, but now something strange is happening.
Since I have installed the DVD "SONY DVD RW DRU-720A" Drive about 4 years ago, I have been using it for both CDs & DVD's.
Now I found that the "SONY DVD RW DRU-720A" does not recognise any CDs in Play or Write mode, just keeps asking to insert a disk. It does not recognise CDs at all, but works fine with DVDs in all modes.
The other drive, which is a CD drive "SONY CD-ROM CDU 5211", plays back fine but does not recognise brand new CDs, keep asking for a disk to be inserted. So only unformated empty disks are not recognised.
My computer is :
Pentium 4, 2.8Ghz, RAM 3.5 GB
Windows XP, SP-3,
Comodo firewall, NOD32 antivirus, Malware bits, Spybot, Super antispyware.
Thanks,
Boris.

 

1. Upper / Lower filter problems in registry

2. Run Autofix (from MS)

3. Possibly the laser on the drives (CD & DVD are different) have become faulty.

4. Try to delete/uninstall one optical at a time from Device Manager and reboot (drive should be reinstalled at reboot).

As always take an image of your partition prior to any remedial action.

Good Luck

 

Thanks Halo & risk_reversal
Thanks for such a prompt reply.
Unfortunately the problem still exist after I have Deleted the Upper filters & Lower filters,
Unistalled both drives, they back now, ran Autofix.
You have mentioned the lasers.
If the SONY CD-ROM CDU 5211 can see recorded disks and play them OK, wouldn't one think it has to recognise an empty disk, which it does not.
Again, the SONY DVD RW DRU-720A handles DVDs OK, but does not see CDs at all.
If the drive has two lasers and one is dead, than what I am to do? Should I by a new drive?
Thanks again
Boris

 

It sounds like the CD laser on the DVD burner is gone. So it should be replaced with a new DVD burner. This will give you Read/Write capabilities for both CDs and DVDs. [My advice would be to buy an inexpensive (Lite-on is a reliable brand) DVD burner. My own personal experience is that cheap ones last just as long as more expensive ones and I'd rather replace a cheap one every few years rather than replace an expensive one.] You'll get a much better deal on a burner online than at the few retail stores that still carry them. Newegg or Amazon will give you an idea of available pricing.

The other CDROM appears to just be a reader and not a burner. So it would be correct that it does not recognize blank CDs. You're probably just confused about thinking it could burn CDs, having not used it for that purpose recently.

I would just remove the CDROM altogether and put a new DVD burner in and keep the old DVD burner in as well. Or if you play a lot of CDs than leave the CDROM in place and remove the old DVD burner.

 

Hi Sach2.
Now it makes perfect sence to me. Right, when I bought the computer, there wasa separate CD reader, I think. This fixes the first question.
About the DVD drive, I will do as you say.
Thanks a big lot to you Sach2 and the other guys.
It is good to have you around.
Best regards,
A greatfull Boris.

 

You're welcome!

You will probably want to narrow your search for a replacement burner to IDE interface models. It sounds like that PC is a bit older if it came with a CDROM rather than a CD burner. So most likely you do not have a connector for a SATA interface optical drive and can eliminate them from your shopping options.

 

Prior to purchasing a new DVD burner, you may want to try cleaning the lenses with isopropyl alcohol (just pop open - 4 screws - and clean lightly with qtip). Often dust just settles on the lens and creates difficulties. This has worked for me on several drives and only take a few minutes to do.

Good Luck

 

Hi Guys and thanks again.
I will attempt to clean the optics. I hope an alcohol swab will do?
And what is SATA anyway. What if my PC does not have a SATA connector and I have already ordered a Sony AD7240SGB SATA ? Is there anything one can do without replacing the whole machine ( !!!...) to make it SATA compatible?
Best regards,
Boris