My DVD drive no longer reads DVDs

[mal]

In one of my PCs the drive has stopped reading DVDs. It still reads CDs with no problems whatsoever, but no matter how long it tries, it can't read a DVD. This goes for either original movies or data discs.

It can't have happened that long ago as I transferred some DivXs via DVD-R recently...

Any ideas?

 

[IceDigger]

The drive is slowly dying unfortunatly. 🙁

 

[mal]

It's actually not that old. <_<

 

[antime]

I'd guess the read head has become slightly misaligned. When trying to read a badly burned CD my previous drive performed a spectacular 1541 impression, trying to knock the read head through the case. After that it could only read CDs, just like your drive.

 

[Alexvrb]

Could be the laser's inability to focus properly with DVDs. I had one do this gradually, like it would sometimes read DVDs, but it was picky, and then no more. Only CDs. I suppose depending on what is wrong with it, it could be repaired, but is it even worth it? DVD-ROMs are cheap enough at least. At least it isn't a DVD-RW that can only write CDs! 😀

 

[vbt]

Originally posted by mal@Jun 12, 2004 @ 04:46 PM

In one of my PCs the drive has stopped reading DVDs. It still reads CDs with no problems whatsoever, but no matter how long it tries, it can't read a DVD. This goes for either original movies or data discs.

It can't have happened that long ago as I transferred some DivXs via DVD-R recently...

Any ideas?

I had the same problem with a Pionner slot-in 104S, it has readen DVs only during 1 year so I have bought a 106s but I have no idea if it still reads DVD. My brother has got the same trouble with a 106S(only 6-8months old). so I guess mine will get this problem soon too ...

 

[Alexvrb]

Originally posted by vbt@Jun 12, 2004 @ 08:26 PM

I had the same problem with a Pionner slot-in 104S, it has readen DVs only during 1 year so I have bought a 106s but I have no idea if it still reads DVD. My brother has got the same trouble with a 106S(only 6-8months old). so I guess mine will get this problem soon too ...

Not necessarily. If the laser strength/focus WAS the problem, you could always screw with the potentiometer and see if you can get it working again. Assuming it isn't difficult to fiddle with the pot on that model. Same goes for Mal's problem.

 

[mal]

I'll probably just get a new drive and use this one as a plain old CD-ROM, which I kind of need anyway.

 

[RitualOfTheTrout]

My girlfriends brothers PS2 is doing the same thing. You hafta fight with it to get it to read DVDs, after several minutes of trying it usually works, but CDs works without trouble. I assume its the same type of problem, the drive in his unit is just slowly dying.

Its a now wonder cause he leaves it on with games running for days at a time.

 

[Alexvrb]

The laser is probably getting weak in that too. There are guides on PS2 laser repair all over the net though.

 

[schi0249]

With the PS2, the disk read error is a known issue. If it is an early generation one, Sony will actually exchange it for a newer one.