[flyer]

This is a problem for the (so called) computer experts.

At work, I have an HP Pavilion a1211n. Lately, the DVD drive only reads\writes on CD. It doesn't want to recognize DVD at all.

When I look into the computer specs, it seems like there is only a CD drive in the computer, so I dowloaded and re-installed a new DVD driver, but it doesn't solve the problem. The computer seems to think it's having a CD drive intalled instead of a DVD drive.

If anybody can guide me to a solution to this problem, it would be greatly apreciated.

Thanks everybody.

Buy a new DVD writer.

[Ari]

It looks like this is a common problem with a lot of HP models - try cleaning the lens on the drive. Also, search microsoft support - there seems to be a few solutions there, too.

[wildman]

This is a very common problem.

A dvd drive is really a combination dvd-cd drive and they are essentially independent of one another so they can fail independently of one another.

Usually the dvd side fails first because it is built to much closer tolerances than cd so it becomes functionally a cd drive. So your operating system sees only a functional CD drive and functions accordingly.

Also sometimes only the ability to write fails first and the drive can continue to read.

They are cheap get a new one.

I'm well familiar with this because my work requires I keep running four DVD R/W drives at once. Right now one of my older DVD drives is starting to become flaky and loosing the ability to write in DVD mode.

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Last edited by wildman; 04-09-2010 at 06:53 AM.

[flyer]

Thanks guys for looking at my problem and explaining the "why".

[res3567]

Buy a new DVD writer.

Same problem on my laptop except it it doesn't reconize the DVD/CD drive at all.....so I had to by an external unit like graphics said.......