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Question

Why aren't the DVD or CD drivers working on my Presario?

Nov 30, 2014 3:40AM PST

Compaq Presario sr1250nx. Both DVD and CD drivers 'work properly' according to the device manager, and show up under 'My Computer', but when any disc is put into either drive, nothing appears. The computer doesn't seem to 'see' them. They try to run, then stop, the green light blinks, then it shuts off. Everything seems plugged in when I take the side of the computer off. Now what?

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Re: CD and DVD
Nov 30, 2014 4:27AM PST

Device manager only says the drivers (software) are OK. But that says nothing at all abut the drives (hardware).

Things to try:
1. New drives. If those work it's solved.
2. See if you can boot from a bootable Linux disk (try it on another PC, so you're sure it's bootable). Be sure the BIOS is setup to boot from the disk! If that works, and the drives work inside Linux also, it's a Windows issue. Unlkely, but since it's so easy to test, it's a useful step.
3. If you can't boot any bootable disk from the new drive, or you can boot Linux, but they don't work there, either replace the motherboard or use an external (USB) drive.

Kees

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Answer
did they both quit working at the same time?
Nov 30, 2014 5:07AM PST

I suspect not?

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Answer
There's a lot to cover.
Nov 30, 2014 5:12AM PST

To test the drive I put any of my bootable CDs and set the PC to boot from CD. If that fails it's my setup issue (didn't get the bios right or missed a keypress) or the drive has failed.

If the CD boots I'm looking at the usual but as there is no OS noted I can't proceed.
Bob

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More information now
Nov 30, 2014 10:22PM PST

I ran an online diagnostic tool for DVDs, and the disc title actually showed up after! But there was a message that the DVD couldn't be played since there's no DVD decoder. (I have windows media 11). So I downloaded another player...now the title won't show up anymore by the drive. Back to square one? Windows XP. (I tried downloading 8 but it didn't work.)

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install VLC for windows
Nov 30, 2014 10:42PM PST
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That's exactly what i did
Nov 30, 2014 11:44PM PST

I installed VLC. Then the title wouldn't show up anymore on next to the drive.

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VLC is a player.
Nov 30, 2014 11:51PM PST

And does not "intergrate" with Windows Explorer to show titles, etc. In fact, Microsoft's changes to Windows Explorer extensions and more mean we should see less and less integration. I won't bore you with why this is.

The stock Windows 8, most versions won't deal with Video DVD, BluRay and such. We can use VLC Player to stand in for most media but it appears you want more. Nod to playback software such as PowerDVD.

More free versions at http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/3-free-ways-play-dvds-blu-ray-windows-8-1/
Bob

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Is this IDE cable?
Nov 30, 2014 11:55PM PST

shared to two CD or DVD or combination of such? If so, then I'm not surprised at the problem.

That was a common problem during days of IDE cables, especially the 40 pin variety.

I used to solve that problem by putting the middle IDE plug into the motherboard and the ends on the optical drives, it cut down on cross interference between the data flowing in the wires, the only place they met then was at the motherboard IDE port.

Another way is to be sure you have each optical drive on separate 40 pin cables (one may be shared with the hard drive), or using an 80 pin cable with CS settings on the drives.

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And even another way is...
Dec 1, 2014 1:44AM PST

...to ditch this old, inherited computer and go surfing for the rest of cyber Monday.

Thanks everyone for your comments...because this computer wont even support my wireless wpa2 router, and I need to awkwardly hook up a short cord between the router which then suspends a few feet above the ground to the back of the hard-drive which is turned around backwards at the very edge of the desk, (and I have kids who then try to jump over the whole thing since it is in their playroom, afterall), I'm limited in what I can do.

OK, no kiddie dvd's for them.

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till then
Dec 1, 2014 3:32AM PST

unplug one of the drives, see if the other will work then.

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Dated equipment
Dec 1, 2014 3:49AM PST

You may chase around trying to fix this via some s/w method but usually anything that gets old will start to falter or fail. Your system is XP and that suggests the drive(s) have reached their useful age. Find another to replace and more than likely being IDE type as well becomes a search too. I wouldn't get too fired-up if you use another working drive from another PC. What all the others stated will cover your issue, but a h/w failure seems more than likely here.

I found using a proven burned CD/DVD of Ubuntu "live CD" as a good test once its the 1st boot device or selected from boot menu. good luck

tada -----Willy Happy

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'Reached their useful age'
Dec 1, 2014 4:02AM PST

I feel the same about myself sometimes Wink

Thanks for the Ubuntu tip.