DVD-RW Drive problem! HELP!!

Hey there everybody!
My DVD-RW drive quit recognizing a DVD, but still sees CD-R discs.
What could be wrong?
The laptop is a W4620.
Do I need a new DVD-RW drive?
If so, where can I get one?
Emachines and their warehouse don't have them.
The guy at Emachines used the remote assistance feature to try to get the
drive to respond, but it wouldn't.
Help!
Thanks!

 

i am having the same problem. i have a e machine m2105. ever since i installed vista my Power dvd does not work. i spoke to CyberLink and they said that my older version of Power dvd is not vista compatible. i downloaded the newer version of pwoer dvd and it still does not work. i later found out that the dvd drive is not compatible. go figure. i dont know where to go to get a newer replacment drive for my machine that is compatible. if you should finda source,please notify my and i will do the same for you. Microsoft and all these companies really know how to give it to the consumer. finding parts for a laptop is sooooooo hard. good luck in you search for a remedy.

 

?????optical drive is "almost" optical drive, except for some really thin laptop. the watch out part is the bezel that covers the drive. one might have to tweak it. other than that, go get what ur pocket can dole out and just swap it (2 screws underneath for the emachines/gateway and u can just slide it out)

cheers ...

 

Do you mean that all I have to do is buy any internal drive and it will fit?
Any brand?
Thanks for your help.

 

yep - stay away from the "slim" drives, and make note as where ur eject button is located, then u can pretty much get the correct replacement. if there is any help, ur machine is the same as gateway m320 series

cheers ...

 

I have looked all over for a replacement drive and not found one (yet).
Can you direct me to a site where I can buy one?
Many thanks!

 

Look in Device Manager and check the model number of your existing optical drive. Google for the number and you should find the specs somewhere.

Almost all notebook ODDS are slimline 1/2" (12.7mm) thick and conform to a standard shape and size. The ones to avoid are the "super-slim" which are 3/8" (9.5mm) thick.

While you are in Device Manager, look at the advanced settings of your IDE channels to find a channel with a transfer setting of Ultra DMA mode 2. There are normally two channels and the ODD is on the second one. If it has one channel for itself then it is easy to replace. On some notebooks the ODD shares the Primary IDE channel with the hard disk. In that case you need to find an optical drive which will work as the slave. This is more difficult and needs more research to get the right part or flash the drive's firmware.

John

 

Mine stopped working after I installed the ATI TV Wonder USB 2.0
I figure there is some weak firmware for the drive or something and is sensitive to random programs/software you put on your computer.

It would recognise cd's, but only install some programs that were made by microsoft, otherwise it never worked correctly. DVD's rarely worked, unless they were old, but I could never burn from it after my install.

I dealt with this problem for 2 years before I got Best Buy to replace the laptop for me under their lemon policy from the service plan I purchased