Member Avatar for mamcjreynolds

I have a problem w/my DVD Drive. It is recognized by the computer, but will not read DVD. I have swapped teh DVD ROM with another on and I get teh same result. It has tobe in the software/computer. I have gone into the Reg Edit and deleted the upper and lower class. nothing is work Please help

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Separating playback problems from device-level failures is the first step. ’s VLC suggestion rightly addresses codec/player issues, and ’s malware check is a sensible safety step. When different physical drives show the same symptom while Windows still lists the device, the fault usually sits at the controller/cable/power level or in the Windows driver/filter layer rather than the optical pickup itself.

A compact, ordered diagnostic sequence that isolates hardware vs. software:

  1. BIOS/POST: confirm the drive is detected before Windows loads.
  2. External OS test: boot from a Linux live USB or Windows PE and try a known-good commercial DVD and a burned DVD. Reading discs outside Windows isolates the problem to the OS when they work.
  3. Cables and power: swap the data cable, try a different SATA/IDE port and a separate power connector. For older IDE drives, confirm jumper settings. Multiple drives failing in the same machine shifts suspicion to cabling, port or motherboard.
  4. Windows layer: in Device Manager, remove the optical device entry and the IDE/ATA channel entries so the OS redetects them on reboot.
  5. Software conflicts: remove virtual-drive and packet-writing drivers (burning suites, SPTD drivers) and check Event Viewer for I/O or driver errors; run System File Checker to rule out corrupted system files.
  6. Firmware and optics: update firmware only from the drive maker (with caution) and consider a gentle lens clean if the drive reads some discs but not others.

Useful quick commands to run from Run (Windows XP-era): 

devmgmt.msc
eventvwr.msc
sfc /scannow

Because already attempted registry-level fixes and tried different drives, focus next on controller/cable/driver checks and Event Viewer logs. I/O errors generally point to hardware; driver/filter error codes point to software. As a practical fallback, an inexpensive external USB DVD drive will restore functionality while deeper troubleshooting continues.

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Member Avatar for Selwyn

HELLO
Have you made sure it is not a codec error as i can be sure that windows media player can't find the codecs so it won't play the dvd.
My suggestion would be to try vlc media player it is 100 times better than wmp & has all the codecs intergrated into the program already so no need to be downloading loads of stuff.
I recently tried to play a dvd on a pc i tried 4 different dvd drives & in the end found it was windows media player.
I installed vlc media player then inserted my dvd in & it plays fine.
Give it a try mate.

Member Avatar for mamcjreynolds

I have tried CCCP and another Codec player. I believe that VLC is on my machine. I will check when I get home. My concern is that there is a conflict between the DVD and another program. Problem is I don't know where to begin. I will double check my Codec when I get home. Is anyone aware of a program that would tell me if there is a conflict between hardware/software?

Thanks

Member Avatar for sittas87

Run a good anti virus program like superantispyware pro.seems some files are corrupted or infected

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