Really, Really Annoying DVD Problem

[BlindMelon7]

I just bought Neverwinter Nights 2 and Fear Extraction Point but I cant install them because my DVD drive doesn't work!!!!

The drive plays and writes CDs but It wont play or write dvds! It doesn't recognise them as being there and Windows Explorer crashes if I try to open the drive there. The funny thing is, the computer I built my brother does exactly the same thing!

I looked on google and it seems many people have had the same problem as me but not many came up with a conclusive solution. Does anyone know whats going on? Any help would be very much apreciated.

Edit: BTW Its an IDE drive and it has the latest "LiveUpdate" thing. All my drivers are up to date.

[mistrip]

Is there anything else connected to the same ide cable? If so try disconnecting the other stuff.

You could also try removing the DVD drive from device manager and restarting to let windows re-detect it.

[BlindMelon7]

There isn't anything else on that cable but I will try removing it. Thanks

[BlindMelon7]

Oh wait. My wow free trial works. NWN2 still doesn't. Hmmmmmm.

[BlindMelon7]

Okay, I'm sick of this. I'm just gonna get the cheapest SATA one on scan

[scrandman]

Make sure you've got the jumper in the right place on the back of it. Forgot to install one before and it gave me all sorts of grief!

[BlindMelon7]

Good point, I've done that before. I'll check now. I was playing with a few dvds and it seems it will play some but not all. Could it be a software problem? I dont want to buy a new DVD drive only to find it was a software problem (and I want to play Neverwinter Nights now )

Edit: No, everything was plugged in right.

[Zak33]

what drive is it? what brand and model?

[Agent]

Boot into safe mode and try
Download a Linux LIVE CD and see if it works in that - that will almost certainly let you know if its a hardware issue, or windows based
Check to make sure you have nothing like Starforce installed (Google it if you dont know what it is)

[BlindMelon7]

I'm in safe mode and it still doesn't work. I noticed that it doesn't even spin up the disc. It just makes a farting sound . I would download Linux but my internet is dodgy so it would take like 2 days. How would I know if starforce is installed?

[pmanington]

You tried updating the firmware on the drive? Make sure you know the exact model number before you do this though.

[g8ina]

Positioning - overheating ?
Power supply big enough, cabling from power all connected OK ?
DMA on ?

Make and model would sure help though....

[BlindMelon7]

DMA is on, the power supply is 450 watts but it came with a £30 case so its terrible but its all plugged in ok. Its an emprex DVDRW-IDE 16X. What I dont understand is that my one plays fear but my brothers doesn't and neither of them play nwn2. His drive is the 8x version. I built both machines so I think its something I've installed. I dont want to re-format but I might have too soon. NWN2 is just sitting there, taunting me.

[g8ina]

A quick scan of other DVDR forums and my gut feeling is telling me that this drive is quite naff Lots of folk appear to have coaster problems, and it is very media sensitive.

Personally, I'd ditch it and get a Pioneer 110D or LG. Both have much better reps than the Emprex in any case, so it would only cost £25 or so (SVOP maybe).

Hope it works out in the end but I can't offer any other advice right now.

[BlindMelon7]

Thanks everyone . I'll just get a couple of drives.

[BlindMelon7]

I just remembered that I had an old DVD drive that i KNOW works. It does EXACTLY the same thing. *sob*