DVD drive not recognising

[cathyrees]

I watch lots of DVDs on my Computer. But I got one yesterday (it's Billy Connolly - Was it Something I said, if that's important) and the computer's not even recognising that there's a disc in the drive. I've even tried in My Computer, but there's nothing. It's not my drive, and I've tested other dvds and they all worked, and it's not the disc, as I've tried it in a friends computer and it registered there. What's the problem??

[Dalo Harkin]

Hi and welcome to FPCH

 

some drives are very awkward - you could look on your manufacturers site of the drive and see if there is some updated firmware.

from memory Billy Connolly DVD's are SONY owned and these are normally the most 'awkward' disks for DVD drives to read.

Sony spend so much on encrption that some Home DVD players do not even recognise the disks.

try the firmware and see if that does the job.

[Guest Wolfeymole]

Hi Cath

 

Welcome to FPCH

 

Is this a disk from say Woolies, eg shop bought or a burned copy from a mate?

[cathyrees]

ok this might be a stupid question. It's a laptop, so must I go to the laptop manifactuer's site (fujitsu siemens, amilo)?

It's universal, not sony

[Dalo Harkin]

As Wolfeymole has said is this a copy or a bought version of the film?

[cathyrees]

I hired it from a dvd store. I've had the problem with copied discs before, but never with an original

[Dalo Harkin]

Is the disk scratched badly?

If you have never had any problems before with other original disks then try it in a home dvd player and see if that works and failing that the disk is for lack of a better word 'broke'

[cathyrees]

It's slightly scratched, but nothing fatal, I've played much worse. It seems to work in every drive / player but mine

[Dalo Harkin]

If you have no other problems with disks - and its just this one - i would not recommend the firmware update.

I am afraid that some disks just do not work with some players, and I doubt that there is anything we could do to help you. (as its just the one disk)

[cathyrees]

seriously? So there's nothing I can do to fi it?? That sucks!!!!:(

[Dalo Harkin]

If it was a problem with more than one disk then I am sure there were some things we could have asked you to try, but seeing as though its just one disk, I think it best to just leave it alone, as some of the advice I was mentioning could cause more harm than good.

[RandyL]

cathy if this is just a hired (rented) dvd just take it back for a refund of the rental price. It's not a big deal as your PC plays all other DVD's fine. So it's not your computer.

 

Have you tried it in a dedicated DVD player? If it won't play in that it's likely damaged.

 

I fail to see why a hired (rental) DVD that won't play on your computer is of major concern when all other DVD's play fine.

 

Since you have had this issue with copied DVD's I'm led to believe you or someone else are using ripping software to circumvent copyright protection.

 

You may have root kit software previously installed from a DVD to prevent playback of copyrighted material or this DVD is not legit. Like I said try it in a regular DVD player or just take it back.