Recent problem with DVD-ROM drive

[schotty]

Hi Guys and Gals,
I have a new interesting and different problem.
it started a couple of months ago.
When burning some new disks, I got a CRC error and then the DVD-ROM drive stopped being able to see the DVDs that I put into the Drive. I replaced the drive under warranty and tried again on a different disk. It worked so I thought it was just a faulty DVD-ROM drive. A couple of weeks later, I tried a different disk (I can't remember what it was) so found out about DVDFab Decryptor and the same thing happened. Thinking this was a software issue, I did some searching and found the uninstall the ATA controller and the DVD-ROM drive and reg hack, so proceeded to follow the instructions I found here. It didn't work so replaced the drive under warranty again.
I have now tried Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and the same thing happens. I can see CDs in the Drive but not DVDs. I have an External Sony Burner so tried a different disk (flyFly Disk 4) in it and it came up and I could see the disk, DVD Shrink could analysis it but when Shrink tried to copy it, it came up with a Copy Protection Error.

Can anyone help me out with this?

Thanks in Advance.
Schotty.

[surge0]

Just burn't goblets of fire using DVD Fab Decrypter and DVD shrink and every thing turned out fine. Do you have the latest version of DVD Fab?

[schotty]

Yes, I was using the most recent version of DVDFab Decrypter.
I now can't even play DVDs as the Laptop's DVD-ROM drive doesn't recognise the DVDs. Only CDs. It's really starting to get to me.

[setarip_old]

I now can't even play DVDs as the Laptop's DVD-ROM drive doesn't recognise the DVDs. The DVD laser may either be dirty or out of alignment. Try running a DVD/CD cleaning disc on it. Maxell makes one that sells for approximately $10US...

[VWRacer]

Who is the manufacturer of your drive? Not all drives are equal, and some do have a record of being junk.

Racer

[baxter]

It didn't work so replaced the drive under warranty again.



what does your pc warranty admin say about your returning 2 drives allready?

Do they say this is a wide spread problem?

[schotty]

Yes I thought about the laser being out of alignment so ran a cleaner over it with no effect.
the Manufacturer of the drive is recorded as being COmpaq, made in China.
It was manufactured in Jan 2003 with a part # of 251391-M30.
Factory Id is GR and the DHHS Code is GD

they asked me to return the laptop (I have a 3yr courier pickup warranty) for someone to look at it... He replaced the DVD-ROM drive for the 3rd time, tested it a couple of time and sent it back.

They haven't said anything about it being a wide spread problem.

[setarip_old]

A cleaner or cleaning disc will not remedy a misaligned laser, rather, as its descriptive title indicates, it will clean the laser.

Since your attempt at cleaning the laser didn't improve things, I'd guess that the DVD laser is indeed out of alignment or failing...

[schotty]

Is there anyway I can fix it? Without replacing the DVD Rom drive again.

[VWRacer]

If you've had 2 bad drives, from the same manufacturer, I'd look for a different brand. As of now, the jury is still out on the quality of merchandise Made in China. Personally, I'd look into NEC, or another reputable brand. As long as your drive is under warranty, and the supplier is willing to play the swap parts game, it's your call.

In your OP, you stated you had a Sony external burner. That's your option. The CRC error probably isn't the burner, but copyguard on the DVD. Check that out.

Good luck,
Racer

[schotty]

Hey all,
Well I've been vrewing on this for a couple of days now thinking that over the long weekend for Easter, I'll rebuild the laptop with a different Hard Drive that I have lying around. So install the new Hard Drive, ran the recovery CDs and it fired up fine. Installed all the standard software from the recovery CD and went to load up software from a DVD-ROM.
DVD wasn't recognised.
I'm thinking it's time to call HP again to replace the DVD ROM drive again.
I've just downloaded the new version of DVD FAB Decryptor 2.9.7.6 so will try that with HP & GOF.
Could the Accoros(sp?) encryption be doing something ot the DVD Drive?

[setarip_old]

Could the Accoros(sp?) encryption be doing something ot the DVD Drive?That would be highly unlikely... (It's spelled "ARccOS")

[HardwareGeek]

ARccOS shouldn't cause the drive to not recognize DVDs.

This is a long shot, but have you tried flashing the BIOS of the optical drive and / or the laptop itself?

Can you try and talk HP into replacing your laptop and not just repairing it, since this is the third (?) time the problem has developed? Since replacing the optical does not permanently fix the problem, possibly the problem lies somewhere, in the motherboard maybe.

[setarip_old]

I'll rebuild the laptop with a different Hard Drive that I have lying around.I'm guessing you'll void your warranty by doing so - and H-P may no longer be willing to replace your laptop's burner...

[schotty]

Because the Hard Drive was a geniune HP HDD, it hasn't voided the warranty.(I checked that)
HP don't have a recent BIOS update for the Optical drive. I've spoken to HP about it. They themselves are stumped and it's getting on my nerves. When I spoke to them they said that they won't replace the laptop, they only do that up to 15 days after delivery.
They gave me a BIOS update to do, which I don't think will work considering it's designed for the Video Card but I'll try it.
In the mean time they are sending out a new drive.
Arggg it's annoying.
I'm also thinking about giving up on Shrink to decrypt, because everytime it's happened it's happened when Shrink was decrypting the files and just running DVDFab decryptor to Decrypt then Shrink the output from DVDFab.

[HardwareGeek]

If the new optical drive (& BIOS update) doesn't fix the problem, I would keep working with HP. After they have tried everything they can think of, they ought to replace the laptop. A DVD drive that only recognizes CDs is ridiculous. Don't take no for an answer. Ask to speak to the supervisor. Squeaky wheel gets the grease. Etc., etc. etc.

I'm also thinking about giving up on Shrink to decrypt ... and just running DVDFab decryptor to Decrypt then Shrink the output from DVDFab.
Sounds like a plan.