How To Properly Troubleshoot Your DVD Drive

You really enjoy those dvd movies and games andremovable storage".If your drive is present, highlight the
the last thing you need or want is to experiencedrive, right click and select properties. Click on
problems with your dvd drive.To prepare for theproperties and you should see "this drive is working
possibility of having your dvd drive leaving you out inproperly".If you see another message such as "this
the cold one morning, we will discuss problems thatdrive is not working properly", you may be able to
may cause dvd failure as well as the procedures youupdate the device driver.If the drive is not present in
should take to correct these problems.As with allMy computer, reboot the computer and access the
drives, be sure to double check the failure. If the dvdcmos setup.In the cmos setup, the dvd drive should be
drive will not read the dvd, try running another dvd inpresent.The drive may not be properly installed or one
the drive.Make sure the dvd has no scratches and isof the cables have become disconnected if the drive
clean.Visually inspect the drive if the drive is externalis missingIf you check the drive cables and are certain
and if the drive is enternal, check the computer. Checkthey are connected correctly, it may be that the data
to see if the computer has good ventilation to helpcable is faulty and the drive controller may be at fault.
keep it cool. Here are the common dvd problems withAnd we can't overlook the fact that the drive itself
their solutions.DVD DRIVE HAS NO POWERFirst...Formay be bad.DRIVE HAS POWER BUT WILL NOT
external drives that have no power,first check to seeREAD DVDFirst..try another dvd since a dirty or
if anything or anyone has caused the power cord toscratched dvd may not play. If the new dvd fail to play
become unplugged. Rule out the wall outlet by pluggingas well, check to see if the operating system is
in another device such as a radio and see if itrecognizing the driveClick on My Computer and
plays.Second...If you've proven the wall outlet to behighlight the dvd drive. Right click and select properties.
good, but you still don't have power, check the surgeThe statement "This device is working properly" should
protector for any signs of damage. If the surgebe present.If not or you see another message, try to
protector is good, check the cord.Third...If you're certainupdate the device driver.In the My Computer screen,
the surge protector or wall outlet is providing power,highlight the dvd drive,and select the Properties screen,
double check the cord by plugging it in a few times. Ifselect Drivers, and then select update device
no power is present, you will have to replace the corddriver.Another cause may be the Windows Registry is
or the drive itself.Internal dvd drives receive theircorrupt. You can use software utilities such as PC Bug
power from the connector from the power supply. TryDoctor to repair your registry. Download this free
another connector to the drive. if the internal dvd driverepair utility at make a backup of your registry with
still does not receive power after using anotherWindows 98, just go to Start, select Run, enter
connector, the drive is faulty.DRIVE HAS POWERscanregw and click OK. This will run
BUT TRAY WON'T OPENYou may experience theScanregw.exe.Restore your registry in Windows 98
tray failing to open. Should this happen, press theby typing scanreg / restore at the Dos Prompt. You
button a couple times to see if it will open. If the traycan also use.Winrescue XP at is a neat little utility for
fail to open, reboot your computer and try to open thebackup and restore of Windows XP.The dvd drive or
tray.When rebooting the system,notice the monitor towriter is an awesome storage and data backup
see if the drive is recognized by the computer. Somedrive.Use it to the fullest to enjoy music, video, audio,
systems will not display installed hardware duringand more. Understand everything about this drive
bootup. If this is the case, you will have to access yourbefore something goes wrong.Should your audio die on
BIOS to check if the dvd drive is being registered.Youyou,check the dvd to be sure it is not dirty or
can also try the manual eject button on the drive todamaged. Look at the audio cable for signs of
get it to open. Use something very small but firm tolooseness.Inspect this cable to be sure it is inserted in
press in the pinhole in front of the drive to open thethe connector completely and that is indeed inserted in
tray.Shut the computer off and unplug it. Usethe correct connector.If you have a dvd drive, take the
something like a long paperclip to insert in the pinhole totime to visit the support web site and download the
open the tray. The tray may open a couple inches andlatest device drivers or patches to keep your drive
you can grab it with your fingers to open itrunning at peak performance.Copyright 2006 Otis
completely.DRIVE IS NOT RECOGNIZED BYCooperOtis F. Cooper is solely dedicated to boosting
WINDOWSBe sure the operating system isthe knowledge and confidence of every computer
recognizing the drive by clicking on Myuser. Use his informative articles and videos to
Computer.Windows XP will show "drives withunderstand all about the drives in your computer.