CDRW & DVDRW drives not behaving

[Marge]

What to do?  The CDRW & DVDRW drives on my PC have been playing up.  When I try to use blank CDs or DVDs (whether writeable or not) neither drive recognises the blank is in there.  I can run music CDs and film DVDs no problem, it is just blanks that aren't working.

My PC is about 4 years old and I am using XP.  Any ideas?

[Dom]

Have you tried using a different batch of blank CDs or DVDs? Perhaps you could also try a different brand of CD and see if that helps. Also, try sticking the CDs/DVDs that don't work into another PC or laptop and see if they can read them.

Failing that, you could try re-installing the drivers for the CD drive and see if it helps.

Failing that they might just be knackered and you may have to buy a new one. Still, a DVD writer for a desktop PC is less than £20 these days.

[Marge]

I had no idea new ones are so cheap 

... I do have a problem with the drive doors not always opening and having to resort to using a safety pin end to jimmy it open.  Would this be related to the wonky drives?

[Dom]

Yeah the doors can get stuck sometimes. In fact, my brand new Sony drive sticks for a second, and sometimes I have to press the button twice before the drive pushes open the door and slides open.

That shouldn't have anything to do with CDs or DVDs not burning though. Usually when a drive doesn't recognize that a CD or DVD is in the drive it's because it just doesn't like that particular batch, or even brand, of disc, and swapping to another brand usually sorts it out.

If it doesn't, though, then there are some nice cheap drives on Ebuyer that'll set you right. Just be sure to check whether your existing drive is IDE or SATA. (Or at the very least, as most drives are SATA these days, just make sure you've got a free SATA slot on your motherboard. They're usually orange, about a centimetre long, and usually come in pairs. They look like this.)