DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

[Guest John]

There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

it just happened again yesterday.

 

Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

hours of doing nothing, it works again.

 

I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

doesn't help either.

 

Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

 

The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

 

Reply-to address is real

John

[Guest Malke]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

John wrote:

> There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

> it just happened again yesterday.

>

> Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

> in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

> both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

> of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

> hours of doing nothing, it works again.

>

> I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

> working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

> Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

> and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

> but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

> the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

> doesn't help either.

>

> Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

> what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

> reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

> involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

> eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

> up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

>

> The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

 

Usually when this happens it means the drive is in the process of dying.

DVD-RW drives are now cheap. Swap this one out for a known-working one and

if all is well, discard the original one. FWIW, I've completely stopped

buying Lite-On drives as I have found they have a high rate of failure.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

Don't Panic!

[Guest Kelly]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

Hi John,

 

How to Fix a No-Disc Error

http://www.ehow.com/how_2036277_fix-error-dvd.html

 

How to Troubleshoot Issues with Reading CD, CD-R, CD-RW, and DVD Discs

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;Q321641

 

--

 

All the Best,

Kelly (MS-MVP/DTS&XP)

 

Taskbar Repair Tool Plus!

http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/taskbarplus!.htm

 

 

"John" <fakeaddress@nowhere.com> wrote in message

news:5c9j3490fcpjat7ei8jpt0066nnn2faie4@4ax.com...

> There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

> it just happened again yesterday.

>

> Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

> in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

> both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

> of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

> hours of doing nothing, it works again.

>

> I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

> working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

> Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

> and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

> but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

> the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

> doesn't help either.

>

> Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

> what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

> reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

> involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

> eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

> up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

>

> The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

>

> Reply-to address is real

> John

[Guest John]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

On Sun, 25 May 2008 11:00:22 -0700, Malke <malke@invalid.invalid>

wrote:

>John wrote:

>

>> There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

>> it just happened again yesterday.

>>

>> Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

>> in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

>> both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

>> of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

>> hours of doing nothing, it works again.

>>

>> I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

>> working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

>> Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

>> and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

>> but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

>> the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

>> doesn't help either.

>>

>> Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

>> what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

>> reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

>> involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

>> eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

>> up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

>>

>> The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

>

>Usually when this happens it means the drive is in the process of dying.

>DVD-RW drives are now cheap. Swap this one out for a known-working one and

>if all is well, discard the original one. FWIW, I've completely stopped

>buying Lite-On drives as I have found they have a high rate of failure.

>

>Malke

 

Actually, I chose this one because it was well-rated at Newegg. But

for about $30 I can replace it if that's what it takes. (Do you have a

favorite brand in lieu of Lite-On?) I guess I'll try cleaning it

first and if that doesn't do the trick, I'll replace it. Thanks.

 

Reply-to address is real

John

[Guest Big Al]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

John wrote:

> On Sun, 25 May 2008 11:00:22 -0700, Malke <malke@invalid.invalid>

> wrote:

>

>> John wrote:

>>

>>> There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

>>> it just happened again yesterday.

>>>

>>> Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

>>> in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

>>> both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

>>> of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

>>> hours of doing nothing, it works again.

>>>

>>> I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

>>> working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

>>> Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

>>> and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

>>> but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

>>> the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

>>> doesn't help either.

>>>

>>> Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

>>> what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

>>> reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

>>> involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

>>> eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

>>> up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

>>>

>>> The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

>> Usually when this happens it means the drive is in the process of dying.

>> DVD-RW drives are now cheap. Swap this one out for a known-working one and

>> if all is well, discard the original one. FWIW, I've completely stopped

>> buying Lite-On drives as I have found they have a high rate of failure.

>>

>> Malke

>

> Actually, I chose this one because it was well-rated at Newegg. But

> for about $30 I can replace it if that's what it takes. (Do you have a

> favorite brand in lieu of Lite-On?) I guess I'll try cleaning it

> first and if that doesn't do the trick, I'll replace it. Thanks.

>

> Reply-to address is real

> John

I love my lite-on drive, but they are the cheapest drives out. Maybe

there is a reason for that. I did burn 45 DVD's out of a 50 pack only

to find that the last 5 would not burn. Tried a friend's Lite-on and

same issue, tried a Memorex or Iomega drive and the dvd's worked.

 

I'm looking at some of the samsung on newegg for a second drive to cover

this problem in the future.

[Guest Anna]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

(Apologies to John, the OP if we're slightly off on a tangent here, but I

assume he's rec'd sufficient responses to resolve his problem)...

 

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:eDL50EpvIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

(SNIP)

> FWIW, I've completely stopped buying Lite-On drives as I have found they

> have a high rate of failure.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

> Elephant Boy Computers

> http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

> Don't Panic!

 

Malke:

I was interested in your comment re Lite-On optical drives. The computer

shop I was associated with over the past couple of years dealt nearly

exclusively with Lite-On optical drives during that period (having gotten

some attractive pricing incentives from our distributor re that brand). I'm

no longer associated with that shop but to the best of my knowledge they're

still carrying & recommending that brand.

 

I would guess that during that time we installed a few hundred or so of

various Lite-On models including both IDE & SATA interface units and I'm

under the impression we experienced remarkably few problems with those

units. Certainly not to any significant degree that it would cause us to

discontinue using those units.

 

(I'm not considering DOA units since, as I'm sure you know, that's an

unfortunate occurrence with virtually any major PC component, but even there

I can't recall that we experienced any significant DOA defect rate with

Lite-On units.)

 

Was your negative experience re Lite-On optical drives confined to any

particular model or group of models?

Anna

[Guest Malke]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

Anna wrote:

 

> Was your negative experience re Lite-On optical drives confined to any

> particular model or group of models?

 

No, and it wasn't a particularly scientific survey either. I just noticed

that new Lite-Ons I was installing in my own boxen weren't lasting very

long, maybe only a few months. I can't remember if I bought them all at one

place or not, but I usually buy hardware at NewEgg. I mentioned this to my

tech buddy/sometime-partner and he said he had the same experience, too. So

we don't buy Lite-Ons any more.

 

Sorry I can't be more precise for you.

 

Malke

--

MS-MVP

Elephant Boy Computers

http://www.elephantboycomputers.com

Don't Panic!

[Guest John]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

On Sun, 25 May 2008 23:00:25 -0400, "Anna" <myname@myisp.net> wrote:

>

>(Apologies to John, the OP if we're slightly off on a tangent here, but I

>assume he's rec'd sufficient responses to resolve his problem)...

>

>Malke:

>I was interested in your comment re Lite-On optical drives. The computer

>shop I was associated with over the past couple of years dealt nearly

>exclusively with Lite-On optical drives during that period (having gotten

>some attractive pricing incentives from our distributor re that brand). I'm

>no longer associated with that shop but to the best of my knowledge they're

>still carrying & recommending that brand.

>

>I would guess that during that time we installed a few hundred or so of

>various Lite-On models including both IDE & SATA interface units and I'm

>under the impression we experienced remarkably few problems with those

>units. Certainly not to any significant degree that it would cause us to

>discontinue using those units.

>

>(I'm not considering DOA units since, as I'm sure you know, that's an

>unfortunate occurrence with virtually any major PC component, but even there

>I can't recall that we experienced any significant DOA defect rate with

>Lite-On units.)

>

>Was your negative experience re Lite-On optical drives confined to any

>particular model or group of models?

>Anna

>

 

Anna:

I don't mind because your comments are relevant if I have to replace

the drive. I wonder: have you ever heard of a problem like the one I

described in my original post? If so, do you know what the cause was?

 

Reply-to address is real

John

[Guest Anna]

Re: DVD Drive -- "No Disc" error

 

> John wrote:

>

>> There's a problem that I've had several times with my DVD drive, and

>> it just happened again yesterday.

>>

>> Basically, the system gets into a state where it says there is no disk

>> in the drive, even though there is. I've tried using different disks,

>> both new and previously-written, both CD and DVD, and it won't see any

>> of them Rebooting sometimes helps, sometimes not. Then after several

>> hours of doing nothing, it works again.

>>

>> I've used Device Manager to check the drive and it says the device is

>> working properly. I tried removing it from device manager and letting

>> Windows rediscover it, and it announces that it has found new hardware

>> and properly identifies the make and model and seems to install it,

>> but still it doesn't work. I've even tried flashing the drive with

>> the latest firmware from the manufacturer's site (LITE-ON) and that

>> doesn't help either.

>>

>> Has anybody else ever seen this sort of behavior or have an idea

>> what's going wrong? I've tried Googling around and found others

>> reporting similar problems, but the proposed solutions all seem to

>> involve installing some third-party software. Since Windows

>> eventually recovers and starts working again, I'd rather not clutter

>> up the system with add-on software that I don't need.

>>

>> The system is using XP, SP2, kept current with Windows updates.

 

 

"Malke" <malke@invalid.invalid> wrote in message

news:eDL50EpvIHA.4492@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...

> Usually when this happens it means the drive is in the process of dying.

> DVD-RW drives are now cheap. Swap this one out for a known-working one and

> if all is well, discard the original one. FWIW, I've completely stopped

> buying Lite-On drives as I have found they have a high rate of failure.

>

> Malke

> --

> MS-MVP

 

> Anna:

> I don't mind because your comments are relevant if I have to replace

> the drive. I wonder: have you ever heard of a problem like the one I

> described in my original post? If so, do you know what the cause was?

>

> Reply-to address is real

> John

 

 

John:

Well, as far as ever hearing about a problem like the one you described -

yes, many, many times...

 

As you've heard from Malke and I guess from others it certainly sounds like

a defective optical drive. The fact that Device Manager indicates the drive

is "working properly" is virtually irrelevant. That indication will

frequently appear in DM even when a component (it need not be an optical

drive) is defective.

 

You could try installing the drive on the other IDE channel (I'm assuming

your motherboard has both Primary & Secondary IDE channels) and/or changing

its position on its present IDE channel from Master to Slave (or the

reverse) just to see what happens. I'm not particularly hopeful that will

resolve the problem but I suppose it's worth a try. Also, might you have

another data cable you could substitute for the present one? And you have

checked to determine that all the current connections (data & power) are

secure, right?

 

I don't suppose you have another machine available in which to install the

drive. When all is said & done the only reliable way to tell if you're

simply dealing with a defective component is to replace it with a known

working one.

 

As you probably know, optical drives are relatively cheap nowadays so at the

worst your replacement cost won't be terribly onerous. My general experience

with Lite-On optical drives has been quite positive - unlike the experiences

you have heard from Malke and I believe others. But obviously the choice is

yours.

Anna