Windows XP tech question - My CD/DVD doesn't work

Me | 2/9/09 | GeorgiaDawg32

[Frantzie]

Very easy. I do not like the HP internal cases because you have to find the clip to swing it open to slide out the ROM. Dell’s are easier in that respect. Sliding the ROM drive out is the hardest part. I bought another HP drive and did not have to install any ROM drivers or anything. XP saw it and was a breeze.

It is very easy. Post here if you have any questions.

[waynesa98]

Try right clicking my computer choose properties, hardware, device manager, dvd/cd players and open that. Choose your dvd player and delete it. reboot it should automatically reinstall. Hopefully it will work again.

[normanpubbie]

Dawg, Drivers for CD/DVD players are provided by Windows XP itself -- you don't need to find a driver online.

When you put a CD in, watch the drive light. It should flash once or more then go off or remain steady. If it stays dark or flashes about 50% on and 50% off that means that the drive cannot find a track on the disk. Also, when you put the CD in the drive, listen closely to the drive to see if the disk is spinning up. The most likely failure for CD/DVD drives is mechanical: the disk doesn't spin. If the disk doesn't spin up, check the power cable (four wires) and data cable (flat "ribbon") on the back of the unit to see that they have not come loose. If they are tight, the problem is almost always a mechanical failure in the drive which is of course non-repairable. And if you do buy a new drive, I recommend that you buy a DVD burner rather than a CD burner as the price difference now is almost negligible, especially if you buy it online.

P.S. As of this writing, no one has suggested that you get a Mac or put Linux on your PC. Good.

[Frantzie]

I have had two Pavilion CD ROM or DVD’s fail on me. Like someone said usually in 3 years but in my case about 5 years. I once bought a Mitsubishi buily in Illinois (Eagle). It was a decent car but their AC compressors fail like clock work after 3 years.

[J. Worthington]

Ordered a new Dell recently. Had trouble right away with the DVD player, although CD’s played fine, the DVDs wouldn’t. Spent a lovely couple of hours with two different tech specialists (both from India), and even entertained an in-home tech who installed new drivers, etc. but couldn’t fix the problem and referred me back to phone support. I finally broke down, spent $15.00 and purchased (downloaded) a new Decoder. Works like a charm now.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

did that several times..didn’t work..

[Petronski]

In my case, this symptom was the first sign of a dying motherboard. The drive worked fine on other computers.

Turned out the IDE controller on the chipset was failing. Shortly thereafter, the computer would spontaneously and suddenly shut down. Finally, it would not come on at all.

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I put the CD in, the light flashes 4 1/2 times and that’s all she wrote..

a new drive with new drivers should fix me up..

[billorites]

Please don't hit me if this sounds like a foolish question, but the problem drive still shows up in My Computer with a drive letter, for example E:, assigned? Sometimes stuff happens and drives "disappear."

If that's not the problem you can save yourself a lot of grief and replace an internal drive cheap. The hardest part is vacuuming dust of the case before opening it up.

Or you can be a big spender like me and buy an external USB HP DVD/CD drive for $60-70.

[Yosemitest]

Let me guess. You installed Service Pack 3, didn’t you?

[Petronski]

...best buy wanted $130 to install a new drive...

Run away!

[Yosemitest]

Roll back the driver. Don't take anymore updates from Windows.

Find out the motherboard you have, and see if it is compatible with Service Pack 3, probably NOT.

[AFreeBird]

You haven’t been using it as a cup holder again, have you?

[GeorgiaDawg32]

it auto-downloaded, even though I didn’t want it too..

[cva66snipe]

Nobodies mentioned this yet I think. The drivers are internal on HP’s if I( remember right. So go to your device manager by clicking Control Panel click System, Click Hardware, Click device manager. Make sure the player does not have a disabled tag on it. Right click on the CD driver to properties and there you should be able to update or roll back drivers. Check again and make certain the CD player did not get clicked disabled.

[Yosemitest]

Go to Control Panel,

go to Security Center,
at the bottom select Automatic Updates,
and then Select either Turn Off automatic updates
or Notify me but don't automatically down load or install them.
Then choose Okay.

[OneHun]

Try what others suggested for diagnoses, included the DOS mode.  If nothing works buy a new one at www.NewEgg.com  (good prices).  I am not affiliated with NewEgg, I just get all my computer parts from them.  Be sure you read the system requirements before you purchase.  Installation is easy, but if you want installation instruction, then select the retail version for a few extra bucks.

Good luck!

[GeorgiaDawg32]

I did all that..there are no previous drivers, and no updated drivers..best buy thinks the driver itself on the ‘puter are corrupted, so when I delete the device and reboot, it simply reloads the corrupted driver..

I tried to find a good one on the HP website, but couldn’t..

[mad_as_he$$]

FR has changed so much I almost cannot stand it. Nine posts before someone does their duty. Yikes!!!

[McGruff]

Luckily PCs are like old cars. You can replace parts on them easily.