DVD Writer / Cd Writer combo won't read or write CD-rw's

I didn't notice this problem because I've burnt CD-RW's in the past, but
recently when trying to, my drive is telling me I have no disc inserted.

I know it still reads and plays DVD's(just tested it seconds ago), but when
I pop a blank disc in and try to burn some files onto it, it still give me
the "insert cd" bs.

It's weird I went to the manufacturer's site(HP) to get the driver for my
drive(which says on the site that my drive is a Philip's) but when I go to
update it, it says it's not compatible.

I checked the driver information for the dvd/cdrw and it's a LITE-ON DVDRW
SOHW 832S GC
It's odd that it says it's a "dvdrw" and not dvdrw/cdrw , i've tried
updating it various ways but it will just not let me replace it. I also
uninstalled and tried install different but it still says i'm unable or it's
not compatible then installs the LITE-ON again.

Could it just be that my CD-RW laser is dead? I'm probably getting convinced
it is, but i just want to confirm it.(i've had the computer for a little over
3 years, but i have really used the CD-RW at all.)

epi-pissed! wrote:

> I didn't notice this problem because I've burnt CD-RW's in the past, but
> recently when trying to, my drive is telling me I have no disc inserted.
>
> I know it still reads and plays DVD's(just tested it seconds ago), but
> when I pop a blank disc in and try to burn some files onto it, it still
> give me the "insert cd" bs.

(snippage)

> Could it just be that my CD-RW laser is dead? I'm probably getting
> convinced it is, but i just want to confirm it.(i've had the computer for
> a little over 3 years, but i have really used the CD-RW at all.)

Yes. You can try an optical drive cleaner but most probably the CD laser is
dead. With DVD/RW drives so cheap, just replace it. If you want to be sure,
install it in another computer for testing or even better, boot with a
Linux Live CD like Knoppix and see how the burner behaves under a different
operating system.

Malke
--
MS-MVP
Elephant Boy Computers - Don't Panic!
FAQ - http://www.elephantboycomputers.com/#FAQ

epi-pissed! wrote:
> I didn't notice this problem because I've burnt CD-RW's in the past, but
> recently when trying to, my drive is telling me I have no disc inserted.
>
> I know it still reads and plays DVD's(just tested it seconds ago), but when
> I pop a blank disc in and try to burn some files onto it, it still give me
> the "insert cd" bs.
>
> It's weird I went to the manufacturer's site(HP) to get the driver for my
> drive(which says on the site that my drive is a Philip's) but when I go to
> update it, it says it's not compatible.
>
> I checked the driver information for the dvd/cdrw and it's a LITE-ON DVDRW
> SOHW 832S GC
> It's odd that it says it's a "dvdrw" and not dvdrw/cdrw , i've tried
> updating it various ways but it will just not let me replace it. I also
> uninstalled and tried install different but it still says i'm unable or it's
> not compatible then installs the LITE-ON again.
>
> Could it just be that my CD-RW laser is dead? I'm probably getting convinced
> it is, but i just want to confirm it.(i've had the computer for a little over
> 3 years, but i have really used the CD-RW at all.)

Run the Nero Infotool. It will tell you what standards the
drive thinks it supports. Just unzip and run it.

http://www.cdspeed2000.com/files/NeroInfoTool_403.zip

Paul

sounds like a dead or partially dead drive.
Newegg had new ones pretty cheap
just make sure if you get one to order the
right kind. IDE or sata.

"epi-pissed!" <epipissed@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:E843E02F-77FA-4E1C-B09D-4D6E742623C0@microsoft.com...
>I didn't notice this problem because I've burnt CD-RW's in the past, but
> recently when trying to, my drive is telling me I have no disc inserted.
>
> I know it still reads and plays DVD's(just tested it seconds ago), but
> when
> I pop a blank disc in and try to burn some files onto it, it still give me
> the "insert cd" bs.
>
> It's weird I went to the manufacturer's site(HP) to get the driver for my
> drive(which says on the site that my drive is a Philip's) but when I go to
> update it, it says it's not compatible.
>
> I checked the driver information for the dvd/cdrw and it's a LITE-ON DVDRW
> SOHW 832S GC
> It's odd that it says it's a "dvdrw" and not dvdrw/cdrw , i've tried
> updating it various ways but it will just not let me replace it. I also
> uninstalled and tried install different but it still says i'm unable or
> it's
> not compatible then installs the LITE-ON again.
>
> Could it just be that my CD-RW laser is dead? I'm probably getting
> convinced
> it is, but i just want to confirm it.(i've had the computer for a little
> over
> 3 years, but i have really used the CD-RW at all.)

You've got it spot on. The lasers are limited life items (in my view too
limited). Typical life seems to be 2 or 3 years, but I have had one go in 6
months. Fortunately a replacement drive is cheap as chips.

"M.I.5¾" wrote:

>

>
> You've got it spot on. The lasers are limited life items (in my view too
> limited). Typical life seems to be 2 or 3 years, but I have had one go in 6
> months. Fortunately a replacement drive is cheap as chips.
>
>
> Thank you all, I guess I new it all along, I just didn't want to have to pay for something that I've already invested $1500 for.(seriously it's messed up)

"epi-pissed!" <epipissed@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:F4E05385-D566-4C2C-932D-300E629BC689@microsoft.com...
>
>
> "M.I.5¾" wrote:
>
>>
>
>>
>> You've got it spot on. The lasers are limited life items (in my view too
>> limited). Typical life seems to be 2 or 3 years, but I have had one go
>> in 6
>> months. Fortunately a replacement drive is cheap as chips.
>>
>>
>> Thank you all, I guess I new it all along, I just didn't want to have to
>> pay for something that I've already invested $1500 for.(seriously it's
>> messed up)

You invested fifteen hundred dollars in a DVD writer???

Hi,

M.I.5¾" wrote:

.........You invested fifteen hundred dollars in a DVD writer???

I'd be willing to sell you one for a tad less as long as you're willing
to pay cash.

---==X={}=X==---

Jim Self

AVIATION ANIMATION, the internet's largest depository.
http://avanimation.avsupport.com

Your only internet source for spiral staircase plans.
http://jself.com/stair/Stair.htm

Experimental Aircraft Association #140897
EAA Technical Counselor #4562