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DVD Drive Half-working
Henroid
Mexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
Mexican kicked from Immigration ThreadCentrism is Racism :3Registered User regular
Blarg, jailed so I can't make new threads, but I need help solving an issue I'm having with the compy. The thread was originally about my monitor stretching out images but that was fixed (in the spoiler below, not relevant anymore).
My problem is that my DVD drive won't read discs of any type. The computer recognizes its make and model in the device manager -
SONY DVD-ROM DDU1622
But it won't access discs. It's also working mechanically - it'll spin discs up and down, as if attempting to read, opens and closes with no problem. Here's the quirky things I've noticed.
The drive first started acting like this for me a year ago. I pretty much abandoned using it. This past fall, I had to do a format of the HDD, but when it came to installing Windows XP the DVD drive worked fine. It also worked fine when I was installing various drivers and programs. The problem of it not working shows up when Service Pack 2 or 3 (I never identified which) are introduced to the system.
Windows Update isn't showing any driver updates, nor is a manual search for one. Anyone got any clues as to what the heck is going on?
EDIT - Important note: unemployment for a year and various other issues make buying even a $20 drive a non-option. I'm seeking a fix.
My problem is that my DVD drive won't read discs of any type. The computer recognizes its make and model in the device manager -
SONY DVD-ROM DDU1622
But it won't access discs. It's also working mechanically - it'll spin discs up and down, as if attempting to read, opens and closes with no problem. Here's the quirky things I've noticed.
The drive first started acting like this for me a year ago. I pretty much abandoned using it. This past fall, I had to do a format of the HDD, but when it came to installing Windows XP the DVD drive worked fine. It also worked fine when I was installing various drivers and programs. The problem of it not working shows up when Service Pack 2 or 3 (I never identified which) are introduced to the system.
Windows Update isn't showing any driver updates, nor is a manual search for one. Anyone got any clues as to what the heck is going on?
EDIT - Important note: unemployment for a year and various other issues make buying even a $20 drive a non-option. I'm seeking a fix.
A simple question I guess. I've got a widescreen monitor, 1600x900 desktop display. I was wonder if there was a way to set the computer so that it doesn't stretch out the display on programs / games that run at full screen. For example, Warcraft 3 will stretch to fill the screen. I don't want it to do that - I'd much prefer having it only fill the screen from top to bottom, and then black bars fill the sides.
I've got an ATi Radeon X1600 Pro. I checked out the Catalyst Control Center, which under the Digital Panel (DVI) 3 menu has a section in Attributes labeled as Image Scaling. Below is what it is set to at default; before coming here to make the thread, I tried enabling it and trying the different options but to no avail. Is there something else I could be doing? Or am I just stuck with this crap?
I've got an ATi Radeon X1600 Pro. I checked out the Catalyst Control Center, which under the Digital Panel (DVI) 3 menu has a section in Attributes labeled as Image Scaling. Below is what it is set to at default; before coming here to make the thread, I tried enabling it and trying the different options but to no avail. Is there something else I could be doing? Or am I just stuck with this crap?
Henroid on
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Posts
EDIT:
Apparently so...
Try the Aspect Ratio option and make sure whatever media player/game you're using isn't forcing the issue.
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http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010100005&bop=And&ActiveSearchResult=True&Order=PRICE
Edit - Hey, does Windows keep drivers on the HDD post install (and in what folder if they do)?
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060 Try going through that.
in windows/system32/drivers.
but usually you have to install drivers, you can't just copy and paste a file.
first: download and install the updated drivers
second: check if there's a firmware update for the drive
third: get some compressed air and try to clean out the inside of the drive when the door is open
I doubt this will make much, if any difference. Unless it's changed (depending on which OS you're running), Windows should be able to install a generic device driver. It's not as if these things usually have some hidden and important functionality.
My two DVD drives both use a default Windows driver dated 7/1/2001 and I'm definitely using SP3. Now oddly, a Google search turned up some hits based on the drive model. It seems you're not alone.
One suggestion was to swap cables and ensure everything is seated correctly, so you might try that. You might also try submitting a query to Microsoft and see what they have to say. But I can't offer much more. Maybe a suggestion to ensure the BIOS is reporting the drive accurately. Or at least not inaccurately.
If you're any good at tinkering, you can create and install your own .inf file. If a generic device driver can work, then the right registry entries can add a listing that you can specifically select. But it can be pretty complicated and depending on how you feel about fiddling with the registry, potentially screwy. Though you've stated that you've already done the re-install so it won't exactly be the worst thing to have to do over.
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I tried the fix yourself method on that (the auto-fix wasn't working in IE8; it just made the page refresh when it needed to prompt for install of whatever) and it didn't do the trick. Though, it noted in the registry editing stuff that if one of the entries weren't present (which it wasn't) then the method wouldn't work anyhow. I need to see the next steps bit.
The cable connections are fine and everything is hooked in properly. Again, the drive worked prior to SP2 or SP3 being installed, and the alternate CD-ROM drive works. I've ruled out hardware as the issue.
I'm fine about tinkering with the registry, it was something we did often in tech school. As long as I have any sort of instructions I can do it. But I've never written any sort of pseudo-drivers before.
But at that point, you wouldn't need to create anything so long as you don't care what the system thinks the drive is. Try just manually selecting different available drivers, including the generic one, and see if it works.
If the drive worked perfectly before any service packs, then something is being added that blocks it. If SONY doesn't have a driver specifically for the issue, then I would definitely contact MS to see if they can offer anything that might be useful.
I also wouldn't take it for granted that the cabling isn't at fault. Weird shit happens all the time. I'd also try the drive in a few different PCs. Until you eliminate the alternatives, nothing is certain.
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The drive was able to read from the PowerDVD disc that came with it (finally found the bugger). Installed from it and all.
But the drive still cannot read any other CD or DVD.
Edit - Also, peculiar behavior, my HDD light often stays on as if it's trying to do something when discs are inserted and not starting up right. I think something is wrong with Windows' AutoPlay function.
It could be a lens issue. Some drives develop problems in reading certain areas of the disc. Usually the extreme edges. Despite the seemingly obvious cause being the service packs, it's probably just a wonky drive and you should look to replace it as soon as you're able.
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I'm guessing the rattling is the lens being loose inside where it sits. I didn't want to crack open the drive fully though.