Dvd drive can't read DVD's [ Edited ]

[SidSam]

hi all,

My problem is the dvd drive in my laptop. It will not read dvd's commercial or burnt variety, curiously it reads cd's just fine. So far email tech support has been useless. I wrote them explaining what steps I had tried to fix the problem such as uninstalling and reinstalling device drivers and they suggested that I try and reinstall device drivers. Do they even bother to read the emails you send or just guote out of some manual. System restore did not work either, but the drive is rarely used so the latest system restore points are probably useless wrt this problem. Returning the unit to factory state is simply not an option. The unit is still under warranty. Any other suggestions? I couldn't find any firmware updates. Other than this problem this system works flawlessly and has since I bought it.

Hp Pavilion

Model # dv6934ca

Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit

DVD drive  TSSTCorp TS-L632N  ATA device

3 g ram

320 g harddrive

Message Edited by SidSam on 05-30-2009 10:13 AM

[CherylG]

The DVD's I assume are data as well as movie files? Do you have an app such as Intervideo,etc to play dvd's?

 My usual steps include running a laser cleaning disk, remove/reinstall as you have done and maybe deleting upper & lower filters.Once done if it still doesn't work,it is declared dead.

I would request a replacement.Of course HP will likely first make you jump through the usual hoops which include a System Recovery back to factory configuration.This can be eased considerably by making a backup Image of your current setup to restore later.

A great free tool I have used a lot lately is Macrium.It works fast and will create & save the image to external USB HDD, CD/DVD,network drive,etc.

Macrium Reflect Disk Imaging:

http://www.macrium.com/reflectfree.asp

[SidSam]

Hi.... thanks for the reply.  Yeah the problem is with data and movie dvd's.  I went the email support route and they suggested nothing I hadn't all ready tried.

I removed the drive from the laptop and cleaned and lubricated it. BTW as an electronics tech I would never advise using one of those lens cleaning cd's, Frankly 

anyone in the know wouldn't use one. A lint free Q-tip and isopropyl alcohol is the best way.  Anyway the drive service solved the problem so I'm good to go,

whether it was the lens cleaning, the lube job or the simple act of reseating the drive that cured it I don't know.

Macrium is a program I use on a regular basis however it is still a hassle and time waster to go through the process of restoring to factory defaults and attempting

to return the machine to your preferred setup. Also restoring to factory condition will not solve a hardware problem which this obviously was once unistalling and

reinstalling of the device did not cure the problem.

sidsam 

[StevieRayBranch]

Hi there, I wrestled with this DVD problem for weeks... 

Finally... I finally the culprit !!    

Some DVD stuff that HP that had thrown to manage Power DVD, and several other ...

I just finally just unstalled all other all these after market DVD and now my DVD just works just fine !!

SR