CD/DVD stopped working on laptop. Samsung cdrw/dvd sn-324f. Linux or Windows XP

Hello,

I have a "generic" laptop (no brand name except "laptop") that I
have used to run Windows XP or Fedora (3,4 or 5) Linux for about 4
years. About a month ago the DVD/CD (samsung cdrw/dvd sn-324f) just
stopped working. Prior to that I never had problems with the device
either reading CDs or DVD or burning CDs under Windows XP or Fedora
Linux.

The drive is visible under both Linux and Windows file managers. I can
load and eject CDs and DVDs. However, when I click on the icon for the
device, the light flashes on the unit and the laptop disk light
flashes - indicating the machine is trying to read the disk.

Eventually Linux indicates error message "Unable to mount Media. There
is probably no media in the drive".
Opening the icon for the CD/DVD under Win XP File Manager no error
message is given but the window that should show the files is empty -
for any format of disk, DVD, CD containing Windows XP, CD containing
data files in FAT32 format etc.

Under Windows XP, Hardware Manager says the device is "working
properly".

If I try to boot the machine from CD with a "memtest" boot program,
the LED on the CD drive and the disk activity light on the laptop just
flashes but the machine does not boot - when CDROM is set higher than
Hard Disk in the BIOS boot sequence..

So, do you think it is worthwhile trying to buy a replacement CD/DVD
(if I can find one) or may the problem be elsewhere on the motherboard
and I should think about an external / USB CD/DVD ?

Thanks

Clive

wrote:

On Fri, 28 Sep 2007 21:23:22 -0700,
in alt.comp.hardware.pc-homebuilt
Clive
wrote:

:Hello,
:
: I have a "generic" laptop (no brand name except "laptop") that I
:have used to run Windows XP or Fedora (3,4 or 5) Linux for about 4
:years. About a month ago the DVD/CD (samsung cdrw/dvd sn-324f) just
:stopped working. Prior to that I never had problems with the device
:either reading CDs or DVD or burning CDs under Windows XP or Fedora
:Linux.
:
:The drive is visible under both Linux and Windows file managers. I can
:load and eject CDs and DVDs. However, when I click on the icon for the
:device, the light flashes on the unit and the laptop disk light
:flashes - indicating the machine is trying to read the disk.
:
:Eventually Linux indicates error message "Unable to mount Media. There
:is probably no media in the drive".
:Opening the icon for the CD/DVD under Win XP File Manager no error
:message is given but the window that should show the files is empty -
:for any format of disk, DVD, CD containing Windows XP, CD containing
:data files in FAT32 format etc.
:
:Under Windows XP, Hardware Manager says the device is "working
roperly".
:
:If I try to boot the machine from CD with a "memtest" boot program,
:the LED on the CD drive and the disk activity light on the laptop just
:flashes but the machine does not boot - when CDROM is set higher than
:Hard Disk in the BIOS boot sequence..
:
:So, do you think it is worthwhile trying to buy a replacement CD/DVD
if I can find one) or may the problem be elsewhere on the motherboard
:and I should think about an external / USB CD/DVD ?
:
:Thanks
:
:Clive

You might try taking it apart and seeing if the laser carriage is
stuck in place or is blocked by crud and can't make it's full travel.

You can use a small blade screwdriver or a toothpick to turn the
carriage's worm drive gears and move the carriage back and forth. I'd
leave the carriage at the halfway point when you put it back together.

This would be a wonderful time to blow the dust out and take a Q-Tip
and re-lube the laser carriage rails and the worm screw. Most of the
time there's a blob or two of grease that's been wiped to the ends of
the rails by the carriage movement. A Q-Tip makes a great grease
brush.



--------------


You beat me to it.

I was going to suggest buying a can of compressed air, opening the drive
door and spraying liberally inside of the drive. I have had this move
dust balls sufficiently to restore my CDROM/DVDROM drives for a year or
two, when I do the same thing again if the drive begins acting quirky or
non responsive. This also works with audio CD players and TiVo boxes.

Unfortunately, a non responsive CDROM/DVDROM is also a symptom saying
that your operating system is due for a reload. Out of all my years of
computing and messing with various optical drives, I've only had one
that truly malfunctioned and needed replacement. The rest were cured
with the can of compressed air, or, if that failed, reloading the
operating system. XP is particularly prone to this type of failure, but
try the compressed air first and repeat it if the first one or two
applications do not yield satisfactory results.

Oops, I said it anyway. G

Ed Cregger