my cd/dvd writer cannot read my blank dvd

I put a blank dvd into my computer and it doesnt even recognize that it is in
the computer. Ive checked everywhere and it says that nothing is there!
Please help! I need it for a school project that is due tommorow!!!!

What are you using to look at it? If it's explorer it won't recognise it as
windows doesn't natively recognise dvds, only programmes like nero etc will
read it.

Also ensure the writer is a dvd writer and not just a dvd rom (reader)

1) Is this a new brand of DVD blank media you are using?
Or a brand/type you have used before?
If a new brand, There is an issue with blank media in asmuch
how they are pressed/manufactured etc. To ensure compatibilty
with the ever increasing range of media, an update to the burner
is usually all that is needed, this is called firmware upgrade.

2) Are you using the correct propriatary format disks?
Most drives will read anything, and most burners are
now "all formats", but you may have a burner that is
either one or other, not both, thats to say, your burner
maybe only a "DVD+R/RW" - note the "plus" sign.
whereas your blank media maybe "DVD-R/RW" - note the "minus".


3) You ain't going to have it ready for a project tomorrow.

I'm having a the same problem. I have an LG GSA-4160B DVD writer with
the latest firmware, running WinXP SP2 and updated regularly. The
drive has worked flawlessly since I installed it almost two years ago.
Last thursday I burned a DVD, went to burn another and my drive
wouldn't recognize the blank disk had been inserted. It won't
recognize any type of blank media, DVD or CD, and I've tried different
brands thinking that might be the issue but it doesn't matter what
brand I tried. The drive will read anything that has already been
written, CDs or DVDs, with no problems. I've seen a couple of threads
on other forums where numerous people are having the same problem in
the last month or two but no definitive fix. For some reason the
drives just stop recognizing when blank media has been installed. I
spent hours last night trying all kinds of different things but still
can't get it to work. My initial thought was maybe a Windows update
broke something. Maybe it's a virus or worm or the like. I don't
know. My next step I think will be to install the drive in a different
PC and see if it works. Maybe it really is broken.

decoder wrote:
> "laurendew05" <laurendew05@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:FA4D27E5-F730-4E42-A068-150A9372D036@microsoft.com...
> >I put a blank dvd into my computer and it doesnt even recognize that it is
> >in
> > the computer. Ive checked everywhere and it says that nothing is there!
> > Please help! I need it for a school project that is due tommorow!!!!
>
> 1) Is this a new brand of DVD blank media you are using?
> Or a brand/type you have used before?
> If a new brand, There is an issue with blank media in asmuch
> how they are pressed/manufactured etc. To ensure compatibilty
> with the ever increasing range of media, an update to the burner
> is usually all that is needed, this is called firmware upgrade.
>
> 2) Are you using the correct propriatary format disks?
> Most drives will read anything, and most burners are
> now "all formats", but you may have a burner that is
> either one or other, not both, thats to say, your burner
> maybe only a "DVD+R/RW" - note the "plus" sign.
> whereas your blank media maybe "DVD-R/RW" - note the "minus".
>
>
> 3) You ain't going to have it ready for a project tomorrow.

Indeed, maybe it has given up the ghost?
You don't mention what authoring/burning software you have,
but most have a tool that that can discern at least what still
works on a burner, an example being Nero which has the
"Nero info Tool", which will produce a report on a drive/burner.
Your software may also have such a tool

My DVD burner is working again. I uninstalled absolutely EVERYTHING
that I thought might be remotely related to the DVD drive, reinstalled
Nero, and it was working again. Not sure which one was to blame, maybe
it was just a combination of things but the good news is that it's
fixed now.

[brenchrised]

HI! I have the same problem with my DVD burner, it can play and read discs with contents, but when you try to burn and put an empty disc, it says that the Driver is still empty... I bought a new one hoping that it is the dvd burner but still having the same problem.

Please help, I still have a lot more important things to do like minding my newborn baby than fixing this dvd player for hours.

Also, I have tried the Nero Info Tool and got the report but I don't know what to do next..

You bought a new what? Blank DVD or DVD Burner?

Maybe the following article would be worth a look:

(314060) Your CD drive or DVD drive is missing
or is not recognized by Windows or other programs
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/en-us

If you mean you tried a specific brand of blank DVD and it is
not recognised and it is a type your drive can burn to, DVD +/- etc,
Then you require to flash that drive with a firmware update.

Firmware is on-board code that allows a drive to function.
An update fixes bugs, but importantly increases a drives compatibility
with the ever increasing brands of blank media.

First you must identify the *exact model of burner - in Device Manager,
Then RIGHT click on the device and select "Properties"
Click the "Details" tab
Listed under "Device Instance ID" will be the currently installed firmware.

Now goto the *manufacturers site for that model and click the Support
and/or download link. Locate and download the latest version firmware
for your exact model, follow exactly the instructions how to flash the drive
with latest firmware (It will involve burning it to a CD-R, so use an old
CD-RW that the current firmware will recognise) once loaded and flashed
your drive will be uptodate and recognise all current brands and patched
and bugs fixed.

*Identifying an OEM's drive can be tricky from some oblique "brands"
sometimes listed in Device Manager, a very obvious example being if
it is listed in Device Manager as a "TSST.corp" model -
TSST = "Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology", if one of those, the
firmware will be available from the SAMSUNG site only.
If you have problems, post back and importantly, you must flash with
firmware for your exact model and follow the instructions.

[brenchrised]

hi all!

I am so happy that after I post my question, I did some registry cleaning & scan again the computer for possible viruses, then to my surprsie it worked!

maybe it is the registry, or some sort of bugs but whatever it is, I am just glad that it is back to normal and I have a bonus, I now have two dvd writers because apparently my original dvd writer still works and it is not the cause of the problem.

Thank you guys, you help people unselfishly.

Thank you.