CD/DVD burner won't burn CDs

[sidekickbob]

My CD/DVD burner will not burn a CD.  It will burn a DVD but not a DVD.  I don't even see the Burner in the device manager and don't know why it will burn a DVD but not a CD.

[WAWood]

@sidekickbob

Hello;

Allow me to welcome you to the HP forums!

I don't know what burning Application you're using, but I use several, and in each case, I have to tell the app whether the media is a CD or DVD.

If I put a CD in there and try to burn it, since I most often use DVDs, the app will generate an error and not let me do it -- until I choose a CD burning format.

[sidekickbob]

I can't even find the name of the application I use.  The burner came installed when I bought the computer.  I do get a message to update the firmware but don't know hw to do that.  I did find a download but it didn't work.

[mdklassen]

Have you tried a different brand of "blank" CD-recordable disks?

Sometimes, a "firmware" update of the programming inside the CD/DVD is necessary, to support the latest brand of media, or to fix software "bugs".

[sidekickbob]

Tried that.  Didn't work.

[mdklassen]

> I do get a message to update the firmware but don't know hw to do that.  I did find a download but it didn't work.

Please elaborate on "did not work".  Error-messages?

Open the Windows "Device Manager", and expand the 'CD/DVD/optical drives' section.

What "details" does it show for your CD/DVD device?

This information is necessary to locate and download the correct firmware update for your device.

[kingtopcat]

is this a new optical drive? if it's fairly old or been heavily used chances are the problemmatic laser is no longer working

I have a HP DVD optical drive that was the 1st generation lightscribe model when PC #5 croaked back in January 2008   

I installed it in PC #4 the Pavilion 7965 & with my lightscribe media I noticed the same problem. I understand the bond we have with our "babies" maybe it's time to yank the old one out & get a new one which hopefully won't go on a cyberstrike optical drives are like the classic AC/DC lyric "dirty deeds done dirt cheap"! that means unless you're financially strapped via bankruptcy you can get one or get lucky And get a working one passed down to you bupkis

good luck hope this ensures success!

                                                                                                                  kingtopcat

[sidekickbob]

Computer was bought in 2011. Optical drive will reconize DVD disks but not CD disks.  Can't afford to have it fixed with HP support.  Might try Geek Squad or might just buy an external burner and be done with it.

[WAWood]

@sidekickbob

Combination CD/DVD drives actually have two lasers in them -- one for the CD, one for the DVD -- and it's possible for either or both of those to fail over time.

You should see if you can find a "CD Cleaning Kit" online -- which consists of a CD with some bristles on it.  You spin that CD and the bristles clean the lenses -- which can get dirty over time, which will prevent the associated laser from working.

If this does not work, then likely, your CD laser has failed.

[sidekickbob]

Under the details tab all it says is CD-ROM DRIVE.  I check for firmware updates and get a message that there are no updates and my burner is working.  But I can't burn a CD.  I can only burn a DVD.