[svanetti]

Hi,

Not sure if this is the best forum for this post, but here goes...

I use a Dell Latitude D630 running Windows XP Pro for work because I need to use some diagnostic apps that won't run under Windows 7. Everything was fine until last Thursday, when I started having trouble with the CD/DVD drive. It seems to read every pre-recorded disk I throw at it - store bought music CDs, home made music CDs, data CDs, store bought DVDs as well as my copied backup DVDs.

My job requires me to download trace logs from the system I work on and burn them to CDs. These CDs are sent back to the manufacturer with the failed parts that I've had to replace. The problem is that the drive won't recognize blank CDs anymore. When I drag a PDF file, for instance, from the desktop to the drive icon, I get a dialog box that says, "D:\ is not accessable. Incorrect function". I've tried 3 different manufactures' disks that I know worked flawlessly in the past, and I've also tried a different drive, all with the same results.

Device Manager shows the drive working okay. I deleted the drive from Device Manager and let the system reinstall it upon reboot, but still the same problem. I even tried a system restore to 2 weeks ago.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this is happening? I really need to get this resolved pronto.

Thanks,
Steve

[compnovo]

svanetti, on 19 November 2012 - 07:50 PM, said:

Hi,

Not sure if this is the best forum for this post, but here goes...

I use a Dell Latitude D630 running Windows XP Pro for work because I need to use some diagnostic apps that won't run under Windows 7. Everything was fine until last Thursday, when I started having trouble with the CD/DVD drive. It seems to read every pre-recorded disk I throw at it - store bought music CDs, home made music CDs, data CDs, store bought DVDs as well as my copied backup DVDs.

My job requires me to download trace logs from the system I work on and burn them to CDs. These CDs are sent back to the manufacturer with the failed parts that I've had to replace. The problem is that the drive won't recognize blank CDs anymore. When I drag a PDF file, for instance, from the desktop to the drive icon, I get a dialog box that says, "D:\ is not accessable. Incorrect function". I've tried 3 different manufactures' disks that I know worked flawlessly in the past, and I've also tried a different drive, all with the same results.

Device Manager shows the drive working okay. I deleted the drive from Device Manager and let the system reinstall it upon reboot, but still the same problem. I even tried a system restore to 2 weeks ago.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this is happening? I really need to get this resolved pronto.

Thanks,
Steve

Judging by the age of your laptop I think it's safe to assume the DVD drive is failing. That's the bad news. The good news is that they are inexpensive and easy to replace, although the bezel probably won't match the one on the Dell optical drive. Here's an example from Newegg:
http://www.newegg.co...82E16827106371R

[LiveBrianD]

I wouldn't be surprised if the CD burning optic is dead. (there are different ones for CDs and DVDs, and I think reading and writing)

[svanetti]

This drive is a CD/DVD combo drive. I've already replaced it with another CD/DVD combo drive. Still the same problem with both drives.

Steve

This post has been edited by svanetti: 20 November 2012 - 06:03 AM

[ElfBane]

You've tried a known good combo drive? I mean a brand new one or one from another lappy that worked?

[svanetti]

No, but today I gave one of the drives to a friend and he's going to test it in his laptop tonight.If he says the drive tested good in his system, I'll probably try replacing the system board. I already have one that I swapped out of this laptop several months ago. Was trying to resolve a different problem, but the system board wasn't the problem, so it should be good.

Dell was trying to get me to re-install Windows, but I doubt that's the problem, besides, I didn't have a recent backup and didn't want to chance mucking things up more than they already are.

Come to think of it, I may have the original drive in tact somewhere. A couple of years ago, I swapped out the original drive for an SSD. If Windows is the problem, the original drive should allow it to work.

Guess I have my work cut out for me tonight.

Thanks again for the advise,
Steve

[svanetti]

All fixed! In the drive property page, there's a tab labeled Recording. On that tab is box to "Enable CD burning on this drive". Somehow it became unchecked. Checked the box and all's well again. How it got unchecked is a mystery to me - I didn't even know that tab existed. 2 weeks ago everything was fine, was on vacation last week, this week it wouldn't work.

Must have been those damn gremlins again

Steve