BleepingComputer.com: DVD Drive Won't Read DVDs

Hey,
Recently my DVD burner does not see any DVDs on my computer that I built a couple of months ago. It does not see Movies, Games(that are DVD), Blank DVD-R or DVD-R that I have written information to. I have put in a few different CDs(Game, Audio and Data) and they do get recognized by the drive. My problems all started when I was writing to a Blank DVD. While it was burning, the burn process failed about midway through. After that happened, my problems with the drive not recognizing the DVDs started.

I had done a system restore to an earlier restore point before I had the problems with the drive, but that did not help. So, I undid the system restore. I have also tried uninstalling the drive from the Device Manager and restarted, but that also did not work.

The computer is running Windows 7 Professional 64-bit. The model of the DVD burner is a LiteOn iHAS524-T98 B. The Manufacture Date of the drive is April 2011, so it's not that old of a drive.

Any help would be very appreciated.

Thank You,
Paul

Microsoft Fix it Center Online - http://fixitcenter.support.microsoft.com/Portal

MS Fixit, Optical Drives - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116

Louis

hamluis, on 31 October 2011 - 08:56 PM, said:

I tried MS Fixit. It did not resolve anything. I tried to remove the Upper & Lower Filters in the registry, but there were none. I uninstalled all of the burning software that I had and ITunes, but it also did not resolve anything.

What should I try now?

The simplest indicator is whether the drive will read a bootable DVD to allow the computer to start up, such as a Vista installation DVD or a Linux Live DVD. This requires only the drive to be working and DVD to be selected first in the boot order. If the drive cannot read the DVD to boot from, it is either faulty (usually DVD section of laser failed) or the laser lens could be dirty and need cleaning.

From your description of the drive ceasing mid-burn, I would suspect the laser has failed.

Well,

I tried booting up to the Windows 7 Install DVD. No Luck. So, I guess my drive is on it's way out. Shame that it only lasted a little over 4 months. To be absolutely sure, i will try to clean the laser lens and see if that helps any.

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Hi -
Not greatly surprised, as I searched these models and found a general price around $25 to $30 - Highest Retail cost was $35 -
Although they are considered as a fairly OK unit, at the price, I think they are a short time install replacement unit -
They should be reasonably cheap to replace -

Regards -

Yeah it was a cheaper drive. Guess its time I contact them for the 1 yr warranty on it. Never had any problems with liteon drives before.

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Hi -
I hope you kept the purchase dockets, and they may swap your LiteOn for a similar model
Not 100% sure on warranty but I will check it -

Regards -
Warranty - 1 year limited ?? (found on their site)