DVD-R reading problem - this one is odd...

[Mini-Me]

Hi all.

DVD-writer drive.

Reads studio-issue silver DVD's fine.
Reads studio-issue CD's fine.
Reads CD-R's fine.
Burns DVD-R's fine.
Burns CD-R's fine.

REFUSES to read ANY DVD-R disc - even ones written by that same drive just minutes ago. Other DVD-drives can read the discs burnt by this funny drive. I have run a DVD-cleaner disc(with embedded brush) through the drive to make sure there is no problem with dust on the lens.

As they are so cheap these days, I will most likely just replace the drive outright, but I am curious as to why it would not want to read it's own discs anymore, or any other DVD-R for that matter...

[Sylvander]

How to troubleshoot common problems that occur when a Windows XP-based computer cannot read a CD or a DVD (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];321641).

The above link was found here in this list of "Microsoft Knowledge Base (MSKB) - Articles related to optical drives" (http://club.cdfreaks.com/f61/troubleshooting-microsoft-knowledge-base-mskb-articles-related-optical-drives-52565/).

[Mini-Me]

Thanks, but this is Windows 2000 Pro...

[Sylvander]

Most of the points raised in that KB article are non-OS-specific. [Apply regardless of OS]

Here's another possible...
Such as these depend upon the background, history, etc.
You Cannot View the Files on a Disc After You Replace a CD-R or CD-RW Drive with a DVD or CD-ROM Drive (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;[LN];311455).
QUOTE
"When a writable drive such as CD-R or CD-RW drive is installed, Windows Explorer records its drive letter in the registry. If you replace the CD-R or CD-RW drive while Windows is running (this is known as "hot swapping"), the registry information is automatically updated. However, if you replace the CD-R or CD-RW drive while the computer is off, the registry information is not updated and Windows Explorer tries to treat the new drive as the [former?] writable device."

[Paul Komski]

A couple of reads if wanted.
http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showthread.php?t=162027
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DVD

If the type of medium is definitely supported then the problem is almost certainly due to either a weak or mal-aligned DVD beam of laser light such that there is not enough reflected light from the DVD-R medium. CD's use a a different wavelength and have larger pits/lands.

If this is a new problem, it is much more likely to be a direct hardware issue than any possible fault with the firmware but at this stage there would be little to lose by upgrading the firmware.

Perhaps the drive can read pressed DVD-ROMs since they generally have greater reflectivity than DIY-burned DVDs. If so it would tend to confirm a primary drive failure issue.

[Mini-Me]

Cool - thanks guys - will read the links.
:)