DVD drives not reading DVDs?

[Kooldino]

So I have a DVD reader / CDRW and I also have a DVD+/- RW in my desktop machine at work.

When I insert a DVD disc into either of the drives, it doesn't read the contents. However, CDs work just fine.

This is on a P4 based Dell.

[Tjalfe]

new drives are $20, ask for a new one

[az]

It's probably just a dying drive. Do as Tjalfe said.

[Kooldino]

new drives are $20, ask for a new one

I sincerely doubt it's the actual drive.

Besides that, I can't just "get a new drive".

And if you read closely...I have TWO DVD drives in this machine. Neither of them are reading the disc.

[Tjalfe]

Hmm.. not sure then

[Kooldino]

Let's see if a reboot fixes it, shall we?

[Kooldino]

Reboot did jack.

[Claymonkey]

uninstall and redetect the devices? run and sfc /scannow? Are these data or video? if video do you have a dvd player installed? possibly the drm encryption doesn't allow it to be viewed normally in the system. Have you tried multiple dvd's or is this just one particular disc? If so have you tried the disc in another system?

[Elie]

Kooldino, this happened to me too, all I can do is read CD's, this happened with no warning what so ever, and flashing it didn't work.
So I was forced to buy a new Pioneer 112 for $35 Canadian which works great now.

[High_Jumbllama]

Make sure DMA mode is on.

[Kooldino]

uninstall and redetect the devices?

Just delete them from the device manager?

run and sfc /scannow?

What's that do?

Are these data or video?

Data

if video do you have a dvd player installed? possibly the drm encryption doesn't allow it to be viewed normally in the system. Have you tried multiple dvd's or is this just one particular disc?

Just this one particular DVD. I can read DVDs that I've burned with no issue.

If so have you tried the disc in another system?

Yes, and it works.

[Kooldino]

Make sure DMA mode is on.

It is.

[az]

Try ISObuster.

Still it could be a sign of a dying drive, and just that this disk is particularly hard to read for whatever reason - although what are the odds of it happening with two drives at once?

Maybe the disk is bad?

[rylan]

My guess is something is screwed up with the disc and the drives in that computer don't like it.

[Claymonkey]

Just delete them from the device manager?

Yes and then select 'scan for new hardware' it will probably do nothing but who knows

"SFC /scannow" is the system file checker. It will compare what is on the system to what was installed on the system (including service packs and critical updates) and if the files have been corrupted or changed will replace them with the originals (you'll need the cd or i386 directory for this)

If all that doesn't help you could probably try swapping a dvd drive with another system there.. if the problem moves or stays you have a pretty definite answer...