DVD/CD drive recognizes DVDs but not CDs - wondering why

I have a computer with a Liteon DVD/CD reader/writer drive. The thing
will read and write DVDs great, but can't tell the difference between a
CD and a maple leaf.

Any ideas why this is and how I'd fix it?

I assume that if the drive itself was bad, it wouldn't recognize DVDs,
and I assume they're harder to read or burn than are CDs.

Howdy!

"." wrote in message
...
I have a computer with a Liteon DVD/CD reader/writer drive. The thing
will read and write DVDs great, but can't tell the difference between a
CD and a maple leaf.

Any ideas why this is and how I'd fix it?

I assume that if the drive itself was bad, it wouldn't recognize DVDs,
and I assume they're harder to read or burn than are CDs.

Not necessarily. The DVD and CD portions use different laser diodes, due to
the different wavelengths.

So, yes, I've seen several that the CD-only portion died but the DVD-only
portion worked fine.

And, yes, there's about 90% to 95% that's identical between the two - but
that last 5 to 10% is ... sometimes crucial.

So, yes, I'd look for a new DVD+-RW drive.

You can buy new LiteOns at Newegg for under 36USD delivered (assuming that
you're in the USA - and with the newserver being a RoadRunner server in
Rochester, NY, I'd say that's a good possibility.)

See http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106042

RwP

In message , Ralph Wade Phillips
writes
Howdy!

"." wrote in message
...
I have a computer with a Liteon DVD/CD reader/writer drive. The thing
will read and write DVDs great, but can't tell the difference between a
CD and a maple leaf.

Any ideas why this is and how I'd fix it?

I assume that if the drive itself was bad, it wouldn't recognize DVDs,
and I assume they're harder to read or burn than are CDs.

Not necessarily. The DVD and CD portions use different laser diodes, due to
the different wavelengths.

So, yes, I've seen several that the CD-only portion died but the DVD-only
portion worked fine.

And, yes, there's about 90% to 95% that's identical between the two - but
that last 5 to 10% is ... sometimes crucial.

So, yes, I'd look for a new DVD+-RW drive.

You can buy new LiteOns at Newegg for under 36USD delivered (assuming that
you're in the USA - and with the newserver being a RoadRunner server in
Rochester, NY, I'd say that's a good possibility.)

See http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106042

RwP



My drive (can't remember what type it is) sometimes has difficulties
recognising CDs.
Try the following. It MAY help.

Go to 'My Computer'
Right click on the CD/DVD drive (D:, E: etc).
Click on 'Properties'.
Click on 'Recording' tab.
Tick (check) 'Enable CD recording on this drive'.

You have to have this ticked to do CD copying. However, sometimes it
also seems to have to be ticked even to recognise the presence of a CD,
and sometimes not. Try it both ways.

Ian.

--

Ian Jackson wrote:
In message , Ralph Wade Phillips
writes
Howdy!

"." wrote in message
...
I have a computer with a Liteon DVD/CD reader/writer drive. The thing
will read and write DVDs great, but can't tell the difference between a
CD and a maple leaf.

Any ideas why this is and how I'd fix it?

I assume that if the drive itself was bad, it wouldn't recognize DVDs,
and I assume they're harder to read or burn than are CDs.

Not necessarily. The DVD and CD portions use different laser diodes,
due to
the different wavelengths.

So, yes, I've seen several that the CD-only portion died but the DVD-only
portion worked fine.

And, yes, there's about 90% to 95% that's identical between the two - but
that last 5 to 10% is ... sometimes crucial.

So, yes, I'd look for a new DVD+-RW drive.

You can buy new LiteOns at Newegg for under 36USD delivered (assuming
that
you're in the USA - and with the newserver being a RoadRunner server in
Rochester, NY, I'd say that's a good possibility.)

See http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106042

RwP



My drive (can't remember what type it is) sometimes has difficulties
recognising CDs.
Try the following. It MAY help.

Go to 'My Computer'
Right click on the CD/DVD drive (D:, E: etc).
Click on 'Properties'.
Click on 'Recording' tab.
Tick (check) 'Enable CD recording on this drive'.

You have to have this ticked to do CD copying. However, sometimes it
also seems to have to be ticked even to recognise the presence of a CD,
and sometimes not. Try it both ways.

Ian.

That is only used if you are using Windows XP to do your CD/DVD writing.
If you are using some other product, that may cause problems to have
that checked.