Member Avatar for Naerhu

I have a buffalo DVSM-388FB DVD RAM drive running on Windows XP Pro. If any media is entered (CD, DVD, etc), and the icon for the drive is double clicked in [my computer], it asks to insert disk.

Previous I was able to use the drive only as a everything except a dvd-ram player, meaning that I could download software from cds etc. Now, I dont know what is wrong.

I have deselected the [read write] in the properties section for the drive in [my computer] pursuant to the user manual that came with the drive.

I have also changed the transfer mode in the [device manager] from PIO mode to DMA, also as instructed by the user manual.

Current I have a SATA drive, a working CD-ROM (compaq crd-8402B) as a master and this device as a slave on the Primary IDE (IDE 0).

Also, I have tried to update the drivers with no luck.
Despite downloading the drivers from the Buffalo website, and attempting to update them, the drivers still read
Provider: Microsoft
Date: 1 july 2001
Version: 5.1.2535.0

I dont know if this helps but, I have a Gigabyte P4 Titan GA, Intel 865PE AGP Chipset 8iPE1000 Pro2 Motherboard with the most recent drivers. 3.4 GHz Pentium 4 and 1024 MB of ram.

This drive used to work fine before I reinstalled windows and my new Maxtor SATA HDD disk, so there should be no conflicts with the operating system or the motherboard.

Please help me get to my DVD-RAM working again so I can access my backed up information.

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by bosmedia

Dani AI

Generated

This thread shows a classic split between hardware and Windows-level problems: and describe a drive that Windows sees but will not read media; reports a lens-cleaning fix. The steps below separate the causes and give safe, practical actions to try before replacing hardware or risking data.

First, isolate hardware vs OS. Reboot and confirm the drive is visible in BIOS/UEFI. If BIOS does not see it, suspect cable/jumper/adapter or a dead drive. If BIOS sees it but Windows still reports "insert disk", boot from a Linux live USB (or try the same disc in another PC or an external USB DVD drive) to test independent of Windows. While in Windows, open Device Manager and note the device status; right-click the optical device and choose Uninstall, then reboot so Windows rediscovers it. Check Event Viewer for any related errors under System/Application.

If Windows redetection does not help, address common Windows causes. Back up the registry, then run regedit and navigate to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Export that key, then delete any UpperFilters and LowerFilters values if present and reboot. Also uninstall any third-party packet-writing or burning software (InCD, Roxio, etc.) — these often leave drivers that block media access.

Finally, consider firmware and recovery options. Optical drives use a Microsoft class driver; manufacturers provide firmware updates and vendor utilities for DVD-RAM/packet-writing — follow vendor instructions exactly, since bad firmware can render a drive unusable. If immediate data access is required, try the disc on another machine or with an external USB optical drive. If the drive is old or intermittent after all tests, replacement is usually faster and more reliable than repair.

Member Avatar for virtualoptics

Ihave the exact same problem with DVD-CD-R burner I installed about 3 mon;ths ago. When I put a blank CD (or any CD for that matter) into the drive, the light goes on and stays on steadily. Before, when I inserted a CD, the light would blink as the drive read the status and directory. Anybody solved this problem?

Member Avatar for bosmedia

Same problem I removed drive from computer and removed cover of the drive, blew out the unit using a air compressor
Re installed works like a charm.

Must have been loaded with dust on the lens

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