Laptop won't read DVDs

[HeadKrobe8789]

I have an HP Compaq Presario CQ62 that I've had for about 2 1/2 years. Over the past year, my DVD seemed to have gotten faulty. (I had my laptop sent away to get fixed by the warranty company for something else and, when I got it back, the DVD drive wasn't working properly.) It had trouble reading DVD-ROMs but nothing else was really wrong with it.

Over time, it got worse. At some point, it wouldn't let me burn anything to disc stating that the disc couldn't be formatted. Whenever I'd put a DVD-ROM into the drive, I'd have to keep taking it out and putting it back in until it would read.

As of today, my laptop won't read DVDs or DVD-ROMs. It will still read CD's. I've tried running diagnostics and all that but everything says that my DVD is working properly and up-to-date. I've tried cleaning it. I saw something about uninstalling it and rebooting but I'm afraid that I won't get it back if I do that.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[bennie101]

Try getting a cheap dvd cleaner disk also you need software to read dvds such as movies I am in fear you got a crappy dvd drive if its a Compaq its probally a mitsumi or something like that since your not willing to crake your case open which is rather easy and replace your drive, you can buy online around 50 bucks or so not looking at newegg. I would cut my loss and think about a new laptop since the one you have is nearly 3 yrs old and even the 50 plus dollars and to have a tech install a dvd drive would probally be close to 100 or more, and I am sure the laptop at this time isn't worth that cost. Btw vlc media player is free on the net and it will play dvd movies and such and if you have ever heard of dollar tree stores in the usa they sale a cheap arse dvd cleaner for only a buck goodluck!

 

[mbreslin1954]

You'll have to either order a replacement from Compaq/HP and replace it yourself (I'm guessing the drive would cost you between $60 - $90), or buy a new laptop. You should be able to find new, decent HPs, Lenovos, or Dells on sale at Micro Center (if there is one near you) for $299 or $329 or thereabouts, and they'll be much faster than what you've got now. Or buy an external, slim, USB DVD burner (around $39 or more on sale). But to pay someone else to replace it would, as bennie said, cost about 1/3 the price of a much faster and newer laptop.

 

[nukemaster]

I have seen DVD drives at the end of life stop reading dual layer dvd's but still read single and CD's fine.

This is just that, end of life.

As the above user says, replacing a notebook DVD drive is easy(many cases just one or two screw(s) holding it in then it slides out and has to be removed from a caddy that holds it. That has 4 screws).

 

[HeadKrobe8789]

I did get one. It won't even read it to play it.

Try getting a cheap dvd cleaner disk also you need software to read dvds such as movies I am in fear you got a crappy dvd drive if its a Compaq its probally a mitsumi or something like that since your not willing to crake your case open which is rather easy and replace your drive, you can buy online around 50 bucks or so not looking at newegg. I would cut my loss and think about a new laptop since the one you have is nearly 3 yrs old and even the 50 plus dollars and to have a tech install a dvd drive would probally be close to 100 or more, and I am sure the laptop at this time isn't worth that cost. Btw vlc media player is free on the net and it will play dvd movies and such and if you have ever heard of dollar tree stores in the usa they sale a cheap arse dvd cleaner for only a buck goodluck!

 

[nukemaster]

Q-tip and gentle rubbing alcohol is your last option.

I think the drive has just had its day.