Saturday, January 7, 2012
Update! Drive Writes to CDs!
Looks like my DVD RW can write at least to CDs. At first it wouldn't even recognize any blank disks, but then I shut the computer off and restarted it, and then I put in a blank disk. Worked like a charm! Might try it with some DVDs for a test run later on but I am allowed to use my roommate's laptop for backing up important stuff onto DVD Rs, so I'm not too worried right now. It's gonna be so nice to get all this clutter off my computers. Maybe then my Sims games will start working more smoothly, and I'll even possibly be able to get The Sims 3. How I go about getting it, I'll leave up to your imagination.
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Fixed DVD RW Tray That Would Not Close All The Way
Today I had a nasty problem with a DVD RW drive that would not close all the way. Now, the computer with the DVD RW drive that I'm using is an older model, an hp that was made probably around 2003-2005. However, it works great and is very dependable. It has a few problems like broken hinges which I fixed and will write about later on, and a couple bad USB ports but still it has two good ones which is a plus. But anyway, back to the problem drive.
I opened the drive just fine and put a disk into it as usual, then tried closing it, but it would not close all the way - it would become stuck, but would slide open just fine. For quite awhile I would try and try to find out what was going wrong with it. If I tilted it up when putting it in, I would hear a funny snapping sound. Looking inside, I could find nothing wrong with it. I even searched Google looking for some answers, but found none that were very reliable.
Finally, after searching, and some poking and prodding, I decided to just force the drive tray closed. It's one of those cheapo trays that you have to close manually. I heard something coming loose, and found that it could close further. Finally I was able to close it all the way but when I opened it up, something had come loose and was rolling around in the console. To prevent any damage to the system, I turned the computer on its side with the drive open and gently emptied out a small metal rod and a spring. The drive could now close easily but I would have to open and close it manually since it will not pop open like it used to. The hard part was removing a loose screw that was inside the slot and could potentially damage a disk or the lens. It took some effort but I was able to push the tray down enough to where I could slowly pull out the screw using a pair of scissors with rubber handles in case there was any danger of getting electrocuted.
With the screw out, I could close the tray safely.
I tried putting a disk in to see if it would read it, and went to "My Computer", then clicked on the first CD icon that I saw. It gave me the error message telling me to put a disk in the drive. I tried a few diagnostics and even searched Google again but didn't really find anything that helped. Then I looked at the My Computer window again and noticed that there was no Drive D. Did a few more diagnostics and Google searches, then finally decided to try turning off my computer and then turning it back on.
While the computer booted up, I heard the familiar sound of the DVD RW drive working, which I hadn't heard earlier. Once the desktop was open I went to "My Computer" but it was loading a bit slowly and had that flashlight icon that means the computer is searching for stuff. So I closed it and opened another folder, then went to the menu item "View" and then "Explorer Bar" and chose "Folders". It showed all the drives, plus the DVD RW Drive with the CD I was trying to use. I was in business!
Now, the drive at the very least reads disks. I don't know if it will read DVDs or do any writing just yet, but I'll keep you guys posted.
If this helps anyone, I will be very happy because in this economy, we gotta save every dollar we have!
Laterz!
I opened the drive just fine and put a disk into it as usual, then tried closing it, but it would not close all the way - it would become stuck, but would slide open just fine. For quite awhile I would try and try to find out what was going wrong with it. If I tilted it up when putting it in, I would hear a funny snapping sound. Looking inside, I could find nothing wrong with it. I even searched Google looking for some answers, but found none that were very reliable.
Finally, after searching, and some poking and prodding, I decided to just force the drive tray closed. It's one of those cheapo trays that you have to close manually. I heard something coming loose, and found that it could close further. Finally I was able to close it all the way but when I opened it up, something had come loose and was rolling around in the console. To prevent any damage to the system, I turned the computer on its side with the drive open and gently emptied out a small metal rod and a spring. The drive could now close easily but I would have to open and close it manually since it will not pop open like it used to. The hard part was removing a loose screw that was inside the slot and could potentially damage a disk or the lens. It took some effort but I was able to push the tray down enough to where I could slowly pull out the screw using a pair of scissors with rubber handles in case there was any danger of getting electrocuted.
With the screw out, I could close the tray safely.
I tried putting a disk in to see if it would read it, and went to "My Computer", then clicked on the first CD icon that I saw. It gave me the error message telling me to put a disk in the drive. I tried a few diagnostics and even searched Google again but didn't really find anything that helped. Then I looked at the My Computer window again and noticed that there was no Drive D. Did a few more diagnostics and Google searches, then finally decided to try turning off my computer and then turning it back on.
While the computer booted up, I heard the familiar sound of the DVD RW drive working, which I hadn't heard earlier. Once the desktop was open I went to "My Computer" but it was loading a bit slowly and had that flashlight icon that means the computer is searching for stuff. So I closed it and opened another folder, then went to the menu item "View" and then "Explorer Bar" and chose "Folders". It showed all the drives, plus the DVD RW Drive with the CD I was trying to use. I was in business!
Now, the drive at the very least reads disks. I don't know if it will read DVDs or do any writing just yet, but I'll keep you guys posted.
If this helps anyone, I will be very happy because in this economy, we gotta save every dollar we have!
Laterz!
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