Cd drive not reading cd's

[ajduk1]

Hi
I have an IBM thinkpad with a dvd/cd drive.
Up until a couple of weeks age everything was fine,then the drive stopped reading cd's it reads dvd's no problem. When I insert a cd I get the disk error message that the disk is in a "format that windows does not recognise."
I am running win XP Pro.
Any Idea's
Thanks
Ajd

 

[PRPhx]

Just a thought, have you ever cleaned the drive???? Go out and buy a cleaning kit and run through the procedure a couple of times. That or you might think about replacing the drive.

 

[BadBigBen]

I would suggest that you clear the upper and lower filters in the Registry...

then in the Device Manager to deinstall all Optical Drives (ergo DVD/CD)...

Reboot and let Windows reinstall them...
(faq602-5358)


I would also suggest updating the CD/DVD's Firmware...

Also see:

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_cd_dvd_fix.htm

How to Troubleshoot CD-ROM Drive Problems in Windows XP (Q314096)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/96.asp

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[heavyfeather]

Try reading it outside of windows by using a bootdisk for example (assuming you have a floppy drive) and then trying to read the cd from there (using the dir command)

 

[cdogg]

Definitely troubleshoot the problem as a software issue before you go out and buy a cleaner. Using a disc cleaner on PC CD-ROM drives should be a last resort. If you think the lens is dirty after trying everything you can think of, use a can of compressed air and blow out the inside of the drive (that's the safest way).

As for troubleshooting, heavyfeather's suggestion to use a boot disk will tell you right away if the problem is in Windows. Here's a tool that might help if it is Windows:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...b6-e8fa-45c4-a171-1b389cfacdad&DisplayLang=en

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[bygeek]

I would NEVER spray compressed air into a cd drive. There are very delicate parts inside that can easily be damaged by the blast.

 

[cdogg]

bygeek,
Aw c'mon now, are you serious? Perhaps if I restate myself and say to make sure you use a can of compressed air that is specifically designed for Electronics, you might let me off the hook?


Here's what one of the top manufacturers, Plextor, has to say:

http://www.plextor.com/english/support/faqs/G00048.htm

...you may want to use a short blast of Electronics-grade (sterile, filtered, moisture-free) canned air aimed at the center of the drive. Do not use any solvent-based cleaners, and do not use an air compressor, as damage can be inflicted upon the drive by the high pressure blast...Under no circumstances is the use of a CD Cleaning Disc recommended

I suppose I could have been more specific, but the point is that if done properly, there is very little risk of any damage. And by the tone of the article, lens cleaner discs pose more of a threat.

Another link I came across:

http://www.pcworld.com/howto/article/0,aid,110320,pg,11,00.asp

Bottom line is that electronics-grade compressed air is the quickest and safest way without taking the drive apart or scratching the lens. Like I said before, I would use a lens cleaning disc as a last resort. Hell, drives are cheap anyway!

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[cdogg]

And for the record, I've done this thousands of times with a lot of success. Though it doesn't always cure the problem, it has NEVER damaged a drive as a result in my experience. The same can't be said about lens cleaners...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[bygeek]

cdogg, I know a lot of people do it. Here's what Teac says:

Do not clean the inner parts of your TEAC CD-RW drive with compressed air. Any of these methods may cause damage to your TEAC drive.
(

http://www.teac.de/dspd/downloads/manuals/dl_quickcdw552pueng.pdf)

I've always been leary of knocking the laser out of alignment. Maybe I'm just being too careful?

 

[cdogg]

bygeek,
The pressure from the blast of a small can of compressed air is not the same as say an automotive air compressor. Because the TEAC PDF didn't distinguish between the two, then I would take that advice very lightly with a grain of salt. Also keep in mind that the more descriptive Plextor article suggests using a "short" blast in the center of the drive, which further reduces the risk (what little there is to reduce!).

If a drive is no longer under warranty, and you suspect a dirty lens after all other troubleshooting, you have to make a decision. All I'm saying is that with the cleaning methods available, the safest one is by far the can of compressed air. Couldn't tell ya how many I've brought back to life doing that or how many other success stories I've been told about!


Following your train of thought, the only other option you are giving yourself is to replace the drive when the lens is dirty. Instead of a "what if", you're forcing a "no chance"...

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[LawnBoy]

Like cdogg, I've used canned air on practically everything without any damage. I've found it much cheaper to just buy a small bottle of nitrogen and put a regulator on it set at 10-15 psi.

IMHO, if those low pressures damage the drive it was a POS in the first place...

When a 'dusting' isn't enough, I clean lenses with a q-tip and alcohol. You do need to be careful, but I have yet to break an already broken drive...

 

[cdogg]

if those low pressures damage the drive it was a POS in the first place...

LOL....my sentiments exactly

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[BadBigBen]

Cdogg and Lawnboy - I agree with you guys about the air and all... but in this case it should not matter, as the LASER of the CD-ROM on the ThinkPad is attached to the TRAY of the drive, and thus is clearly accessable... which means that you can take a look at it with a magnifying class and see if it is dirty or not...

as per cleaning with a q-tip here, well, aslong as no pressure is used it should be fine... but I would take a few drops of isopropyl alchol @ 96% or above and drop it onto the lens and let dry...


Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[cdogg]

Yep, good point. Forgot we were talking about a laptop drive here...