Someone Please Help Me!!

Averx916 · Oct 29, 2005, 09:52 PM

Okay I've had this computer for about two years and i have a Samsung DVD - rom SD 616T that stopped working. It wont read DVDs anymore but it reads everything else. I have tried upgrading the fireware asking dell for support and everything i just cant get this thing to work. It worked before i deleted everything on my computer. Im guessing that was the problem and now it only reads cds but not DVDs. Could someone please help me ive been trying to figure out how to fix this problem for about a year!

Spazite · Oct 29, 2005, 10:09 PM

Have you tried cleaning the lens? What about window updates, are you cought up on them?

CDsDontBurn · Oct 29, 2005, 10:33 PM

dude. DVD roms are cheap now-a-days. You can pick one up for less than $40 (USD).

Geminiwave · Oct 29, 2005, 11:41 PM

you can pick a dvd-rom up for less than $20 dude

anwyay I had a similar problem. The DVD lazer is probably broken. You might try cleaning it, but its probably just broken.

Get a CD\DVD cleaner thing. It'll be a CD with a brush on the bottom of it. Anyway pop the CD in and let it spin for awhile.

SFOSOK · Oct 30, 2005, 05:55 AM

On my last comp my Dvd drive just stopped reading Dvds. So I go online and track the company down and every person on their forums who had the same model I did had theirs all break down within a week of each other...

It just happens sometimes dude and you can do much bout it but get a new one.

**MIG-31** · Oct 30, 2005, 06:12 AM

This has happened once before myself also......luckily enough it went just in time to swap it for free.....under the warrenty...

If no update have worked such as new or re flashed the firmware then it is a physical fault....it would be quicker to replace it...

Averx916 · Nov 3, 2005, 01:08 AM

Well i dont wanna spend any money on a new dvd drive. But i have all the windows updates and everything. Windows installs a driver for it but it still dosent read dvds. If i do buy a new dvd drive wat should i buy that will work with my computer i never install a device in my computer before. Also how can i tell if the dvd lens is broken? and yes i downloaded all kinds of firmware but they still dont work but when i load it up to install is it suppose to say windows 98? Are you guys sure? cause i know this thing works just wont read dvds for some reason. It cant be broken it just cant be!

Averx916 · Nov 3, 2005, 01:11 AM

i dont think i ever cleaned the lens. but when i put in a dvd it reads it and then stops and says "please insert a disk" maybe it is the lens ill go to buy a dvd cleaning thingy

Dyre Straits · Nov 3, 2005, 01:28 AM

It's most likely the drive itself. I have a whole closet full of worn out CD and DVD rom drives. It just happens.

Replacing one is very easy. Just follow the instructions that come with a new one. (I'm almost positive a new one is going to be the only option if you want to play/read DVD disks.)

Averx916 · Nov 3, 2005, 05:31 PM

OK ok ok... fine i guess i have no choice but to replace it ugh! Well... em... what DVD drive do i buy? i want one thats less then 50 bucks and has good speed. Anyone know a website i could buy one at with a paypal account? Im not buying anything from ebay.

Averx916 · Nov 3, 2005, 05:35 PM

oh yea also i had this drive for about two years total and the DVD rom stop reading dvd right after i formatted the computer. Then it stopped working i asked Dell if they would help me out but they said sorry but that will 200 dollars. I was like f**k that and then they said i could pay a 100 dollars i just hanged up after that. BS man DELL IS BULL!!!

Rasta Monsta · Nov 3, 2005, 05:51 PM

Check this bad boy out.

That is a kick ass, high quality unit for only $58. . .free shipping, too!

rasta

P.S. When you get it, check back & we'll tell ya how to put it in.

Dyre Straits · Nov 4, 2005, 12:29 AM

I don't know if there's a MicroCenter near you or not, but, they have Sony DVD Burners -- OEM packages -- for $39.99. So, it can burn CDs, DVDs, and show your movies, too.

**Asmoday** · Nov 4, 2005, 12:53 AM

thread moved

swimtech · Nov 4, 2005, 10:54 PM

This happens a lot...

As a reminder, DVD players have a dual LED laser assembly due to the large difference in pit density and size which requires laser light of different wavelengths to read - so it is common for the laser diode that reads DVDs to go away and leave the laser diode that reads CDs working - or vice versa...

soloz2 · Nov 5, 2005, 10:44 AM

If you want a good cheap DVD rom drive then look no farther than:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827131410

I bought one of these for my bro last year, and when his psu died and he didn't want to buy a new one I used it for a few months. He made me give it back to him now... but to make a long sotry short, We've been using it for a year now and it works great. it isn't the quietest drive on the market, but it's probably the best price/performance you can get.

If you want to try a DVD burner there are a few that don't cost much.

I have this one:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827151091

this one is highly rated:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827152047

I personally think that Plextor and NEC make the best burners. But you'll pay a premuim for a Plextor drive. Mine cost about $125 I think. I got the Samsung to replace the Lite-on DVD drive that my bro took back and I wanted Nero. Overall, it's a pretty decent drive. I've had it for a couple months now and It hasn't fried any discs on me yet.

Oh, and i believe that newegg does accept paypal.

Rasta Monsta · Nov 6, 2005, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by soloz2

But you'll pay a premuim for a Plextor drive. Mine cost about $125 I think.

$58, link up above.