cdrom unit stopped working

[indy23]

Cdrom unit stopped working. I was able to clean the player's lens but that did not help.  Whenever I try to play a DVD I get message.  E:\  the directory name is invalid.  I found a lot of google hits on this message and have tried a lot of the suggestions to fix the problem but none have helped. Thanks.

[sandytechy20]

@indy23

Welcome to HP forums, I see that cdrom on your computer is not working.

Follow the below steps to fix this issue.

Checking if the drive is in Device Manager

1. In Windows, search for and open Device Manager.

2. Double-click DVD/CD-ROM drives to expand the category.

   If DVD/CD-ROM drives is not in the list, skip to the step to Reset the computer power.

   

3. Right-click the drive name and select Uninstall.

   

   If a confirmation window opens, click OK or Yes.

   The drive name is removed from the list (and the DVD/CD-ROM drives category is removed if there is only one drive).

4. In Device Manager, click Action, select Scan for hardware changes, then wait for Windows to find and install the CD/DVD drive.

   

Open the DVD/CD-ROM drive category again and do the following actions depending on what displays in DVD/CD-ROM drives:

• If CD/DVD drive name is missing displays, the drive is not being detected by Windows. Scan for hardware changes again to attempt to detect the drive. If the drive is still not detected, close Device Manager and skip to Reset the computer power to reset power and reseat the drive cables if necessary.

You can refer this HP document for more assistance:- https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-pavilion-17-f000-notebook-pc-series/6936220/model/7174510/do...

To thank me for my efforts to help you, please mark my post as an accepted solution so that it benefits several others and please give the same post a Kudos.

Let me know how it goes.

Cheers.

[indy23]

  Thank you for your reply. 

  I did what you suggested but that did not help.  Actually, I did that a few times earlier.  Reading through the link you sent me,  I found an item I had not done yet.  I removed the power suppy, waited 10+ seconds and put the power supply back in.  

  I'm now getting mixed results with the cd rom unit.  Sometimes I still get that "E:\ the directory name is invalid" message, then at times the message "loading" with the spinning circle.  The last time I tried the dvd worked, but the pictures freezes and stutters from time to time.  I tried a second dvd and now it doesn't play at all.

  I have cleaned the lens quite a few times using that lens cleaning disk.  That works okay.  

  I download and ran the HP Hardware Diagnostics on thie laptops.  All the test said "passed".  But I did not see a test for the cd rom unit itself.   

  From these tests I found out the cd rom unit is model  HP DVDRAM GU90N and the firmware version is U900.  

  I searched HP's support site to see if there is a newer version of the firmware but I could not find it.  I put in the info about this laptop:  HP Pavilion 17(actually HP Pavilion 17z-f000ct0), serial # 5CD4340522 and product # G1D26AV. 

When it listed the components in this laptop there was no entry for this cd rom unit.  

 Would you know if there is a newer version of this firmware that I can load and see if thate helps this problem?

 The HP parts store has this model of cd rom unit in stock and it costs $101.24 plus tax and shipping.  Maybe the unit just needs to be replaced?

 Thank you.

[sandytechy20]

@indy23

Thanks for the reply.

I appreciate your time and effort.

There is no new firmware update available for this part.

However, you can update the BIOS Click here

Then download and install HP support assistant to update the drivers, Click here to download.

If the issue persists, you might have to replace the part or upgrade the notebook.

Cheers.

[indy23]

Hi,

  I updated the BIOS and the cd rom player still does not work.

  I also downloaded the latest HP Hardware  Diagnostics software(1.5.2.0). 

  When I run the Components Tests, I see no entry to test the optical drive.

  Reading through the instructions for the Components Tests it lists a test for the optical drive.

  How come that test is not showing up?  It doesn't say " This test is not available in the Windows version of the hardware diagnostics at this time" like it says for some of the tests for certain components.

  Thanks. 

[KrazyToad]

@indy23

It looks like you were interacting with @sandytechy20, but he is out for the day. I'm KrazyToad & I'm at your service. 

Have you performed the troubleshooting steps in the Link provided by sandytechy20?

Link: https://support.hp.com/us-en/product/hp-pavilion-17-f000-notebook-pc-series/6936220/model/7174510/do...

If your computer cannot read discs, confirm that the drive can read discs from a command prompt. Use the following steps to test the discs and the drive from a command prompt:

1. In Windows, search for and open Command Prompt.

2. Type diskpart at the command prompt and press Enter.

   If you are prompted for an Administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.

   Figure : Command Prompt: diskpart

   

3. Insert a disc that contains files into the drive that is having the problem. Use a type of disc that is not being recognized in the drive. Good discs to use are game or software discs that were purchased from a store. Do not use music CDs. If the DVD drive can read CDs but not DVDs, insert a DVD movie.

4. Wait about 20 seconds for the disc to achieve full spin velocity.

5. Type list volume at the command prompt.

6. Press the Enter key and look at the list.

   Under the Ltr column, find and remember the drive letter next to the CD/DVD drive that contains the disc.

   Figure : List Volume

   

7. Type Exit and press the Enter key to return to the command prompt.

8. Make sure you type the correct drive letter for the drive that contains the disc, followed by a colon (:). For example, if the drive letter was listed as E in the diskpart list, you would type the following:

   E:

   Figure : Drive letter

   

9. Press the Enter key, and then type the following at the new command prompt:

   dir

   Figure : Drive directory command

   

10. Press the Enter key. A list of files and folders should display on the screen.

11. Do one of the following tasks depending on what is shown on the screen:

    • If a list of filenames and folders is shown on the screen, the disc data is recognized by the drive. The issue is not likely related to the drive or the disc. It is probably related to the software configuration in Windows. 

    • If the message "device is not ready" is shown, or the screen fails to update after 30 seconds, the disc or the drive may be bad.

Keep me posted how it goes

Thank you 😊

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" and this will also help other community members with similar issue.

[indy23]

  The DVD is not spinning up so it looks like the cd rom player needs to be replaced.  All I get it that same message :

  E:\

  the directory name is invalid. 

  HP parts has a replacement unit in stock, but I'll have to take it to a PC repair shop because I do not know how to install a new cd rom player myself.

 Thanks for all the help.

[KrazyToad · Accepted solution]

@indy23

This is definitely a Hardware issue. 

I have sent you a private message. Please check your private message icon on the upper right corner of your HP Forums profile.

Next to your profile Name, you should see a little blue envelope
 

Thanks

If the information I've provided was helpful, give us some reinforcement by clicking the "Solution Accepted" and this will also help other community members with similar issue.