CD/DVD Quit Working
Hello Fred, I am an avid supporter of LangaList. Your straight forward, no punches pulled approach to every problem solved is enjoyable and refreshing. While I am not new to computer science, (I was involved with RCA drum memory, RCA Spectra 70), once in awhile I get confounded by new approaches.
I have a problem that is likely very common, and to date I have not seen a solution in any of the forums and Google searches notwithstanding.
I am currently running a Gateway laptop with a DVD/CD drive that will not recognize a new blank CD-R or CD-RW. At one time the DVD/CD driver worked perfectly and I can't pinpoint when it quit recognizing blanks. If I had to point a finger of blame on software, it would have to be Windows Media Player 9 and now version 10. It may be my imagination, but Media Player 9 and 10 have taken a rip and burn approach to Music CD's and MP3s.
The drive recognizes and plays CD's that have been previously burned, new DVD's, and new Music CD's. The problem arises when I try to burn a new CD (R or RW). The drive will burn a previously recorded CD-R or RW but not a new blank. The blank CD-Rs work with other computers. I tried to find an update for my driver and none is available. I downloaded a new burner "Pro" from the Internet and it goes through the motions of burning a blank, but the CD turns out to be empty.
I tried the internal methods of troubleshooting PC Doctor and whosewhatsit which find the DVD/CD device is working. I tried editing preferences so the drive would write. But it all comes back to the drive not recognizing a new blank CD.
I am leaning toward a dysfunctional registry setting after finding this answer in another forum but have not had the desire to try rewriting registry (especially since I have no working knowledge of upper and lower filters):
"Might be the Upper and Lower filters in the registry.
Please remember to export\backup any registry keys before modifying them.
Start > Run > Regedit
HKEY_LocalMachine\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4d36e965-E325-11CE
-BFC1-08002be10318}
Delete the UpperFilters and LowerFilters values on the right (if they are
there)
Restart the machine. Test"
Fred, I would be most appreciative of any help advice you can think of. Thanks, Walt Armour
I don't know if that edit will really help you--- it's more for problems such as when a drive seems to "disappear" from a system; or is not recognized; or generates a "code 31" error message; along with several other symptoms. I'll come back to other approaches that may work better for you, but to answer your question, that particular edit is simply telling you to remove a value from the registry. It's a kind of cookbook fix that doesn't require that you necessarily know anything about the fix--- or specifically "upperfilters" and such. They're telling you to use Regedit, to navigate to the specific Hkey, to look for the UpperFilters and LowerFilters entries, if they exist (they may not); and if they do exist, to clear (delete) the entries for those items. Lots more info: http://www.google.com/search?q=upperfilters+lowerfilters
Doug Knox also offers an excellent script to help correct
this problem, too:
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts/xp_cd_dvd_fix.vbs
But in your case, Walt, it sounds like something else. I have a feeling the following *won't* solve the problem, but it's a quick and easy step to take with almost any hardware problems that sometimes does fix things: I suggest uninstalling the drive from Device Manager/Hardware Manager (you don't have to physically remove it), and then reboot; letting Windows rediscover the drive and set it up afresh.
If the above doesn't work, I'd suspect the drive itself. Assuming it's out of warranty and ineligible for factory repair, there are several things you can do yourself:
Perhaps the laser head is dirty: You can use a can of compressed air to blow out the dust bunnies that lurk within. (Real-life example of cleaning a laptop: http://www.informationweek.com/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=60300177 ) Sometimes you can remove the entire CD unit from a laptop by releasing a catch or removing a couple screws: That might be a good thing to do, too, as you could more thoroughly clean the unit, and also make sure it's re-seated properly.
In the worst case, the unit may simply be dead or dying--- worn out, or subjected to enough cumulative shocks that it's just not working right anymore. Again if it's out of warranty and if buying a new replacement unit is prohibitive, you might try something like eBay or http://www.craigslist.com/ : Someone else may have a laptop that died for other reasons, but that has a perfectly-good CD/DVD burner. If you can strike a deal, you both end up better off then otherwise--- a classic win/win!
If that doesn't work, you also could check with the vendor to see if you can buy a refurbished or used unit that they removed from a laptop that was returned for other reasons. This will usually cost more than a user-to-user sale on eBay or Craigslist, but may get you some limited warranty along with the purchase.
Let's hope it's just dust!
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