DVD Drive detected but can't play CDs/DVDs in Windows 7 64-bit

Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
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0
I recently upgraded to Windows 7 64 bit and used my DVD drive to upgrade.

My drive was found by windows and was displayed under device manager but I never checked to see if it actually worked in windows. I then installed the program SPTD 1.60 (SCSI-Pass-Through-Direct 1.60) and after that, my drive showed up with an exclamation mark in windows. This program is required for virtual cd-devices (daemon tools).

So I uninstalled the drive and restarted and it found it again and installed proper drivers. BIOS also shows the drive as well.

However, I am unable to play, view, or burn any files when a CD or DVD is in the drive and can't figure out what the problem is. Whenever I put a disk in, it just spins and can never be read. Whenever I try to burn, Nero just stalls while "checking disk."

Windows shows the drive listed as the following: _NEC DVD_RW ND-3540A SCSI CdRom Device.

The drive is a NEC ND-3540A dvd burner so the listed is correct.

I have also tried the trick to make digitally unsigned drivers alright in windows and also taken off windows burning feature but nothing seems to help.

What is the problem and how do I fix it?

THANKS
 

MadScientist

Platinum Member
Jul 15, 2001
2,169
50
91
I have the same dvd burner and did a fresh install of Win 7 64bit. No problems. Windows installed the necessary driver. Nothing else is needed, except possibly a firmware update if your drive doesn't have the latest. Burner works great with Ashampoo Burning Studio 9.

I'm using Daemon tools lite. No other program is needed to run it.

Suggest doing a complete fresh install of Win 7, not an update.
 

pcgeek11

Lifer
Jun 12, 2005
21,943
4,819
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I then installed the program SPTD 1.60 (SCSI-Pass-Through-Direct 1.60) and after that, my drive showed up with an exclamation mark in windows.

You answered you own question here in the quote.

Remove the SPTD 1.60 (SCSI-Pass-Through-Direct 1.60) and use something that works instead.

pcgeek11
 

Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
I have the same dvd burner and did a fresh install of Win 7 64bit. No problems. Windows installed the necessary driver. Nothing else is needed, except possibly a firmware update if your drive doesn't have the latest. Burner works great with Ashampoo Burning Studio 9.

I'm using Daemon tools lite. No other program is needed to run it.

Suggest doing a complete fresh install of Win 7, not an update.


I did do a fresh install.



You answered you own question here in the quote.

Remove the SPTD 1.60 (SCSI-Pass-Through-Direct 1.60) and use something that works instead.

pcgeek11

I removed the SPTD 1.60 but it still doesn't work.


Any other suggestions?

THANKS
 

MadScientist

Platinum Member
Jul 15, 2001
2,169
50
91
Did you do another upgrade install or a complete fresh install?

By fresh install I meant backing up all your important files, formatting the drive, and then installing the OS.

Did you change any hardware?

From the Quick setup guide:
There are three possible jumper settings: MASTER, SLAVE, and CABLE SELECT (CSEL). When two drives are connected to the same interface cable, one must be set to MASTER, and one set to SLAVE. Alternatively, both drives may be set to CABLE SELECT, in which case the system defines which drive is MASTER and which drive is SLAVE. If only one drive is present, set the jumper to MASTER. The NEC drive ships with a default setting of MASTER.
If you are installing the DVD drive as a second drive, look at the jumper settings on the second drive (already in your system). If the settings on that drive are set to MASTER or SLAVE, set the jumper to the opposite setting. If the existing drive is set to CABLE SELECT (CSEL), set the jumper on the NEC DVD drive to CSEL also.
 
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Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
This looks correct to me. I see this problem at work A LOT! Removing the filters SHOULD fix your problem.


I could not remove the filters because I have Windows 7 and that tutorial was written for Windows Vista. It says to remove "upper" and "lower" filters from that registry entry but that is not present in Windows 7. I also tried following the help tutorial for Windows 7 and tried Windows 7's built in "diagnose problem" which did not help either.

I also double-checked the cable connections (they were on cable select) and also tried switching the cables, removed the other component on the same cable to no effect.

Can anyone come up with any other idea?

THANKS
 

bluwing

Senior member
Feb 1, 2003
342
0
76
Hi,

Do you have another computer to try the drive in? It could be that the drive died...

bluwing
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
0
0
MS: Your CD or DVD drive is missing or is not recgonized by Windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060#win7fix

Note that is KB DOES have Windows 7 instructions, although what they say to do is run the "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter". For XP and Vista, the KB has instructions for removing filters from the Registry. For Win7, the KB says to run a Wizard.

"To resolve this problem on a computer that is running Windows 7, use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. For more information about how to open this troubleshooter in Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-the-Hardware-and-Devices-troubleshooter (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-the-Hardware-and-Devices-troubleshooter) "
 
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Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
Yes I know...I already tried that (posted that in my last message). Windows did not find a solution to the problem. Anybody have any other ideas (I am going to test out the drive in another computer tonight).

THANKS

MS: Your CD or DVD drive is missing or is not recgonized by Windows.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060#win7fix

Note that is KB DOES have Windows 7 instructions, although what they say to do is run the "Hardware and Devices Troubleshooter". For XP and Vista, the KB has instructions for removing filters from the Registry. For Win7, the KB says to run a Wizard.

"To resolve this problem on a computer that is running Windows 7, use the Hardware and Devices troubleshooter. For more information about how to open this troubleshooter in Windows 7, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-the-Hardware-and-Devices-troubleshooter (http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/Open-the-Hardware-and-Devices-troubleshooter) "
 

Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
Ok I tested it out in another computer and it was working fine. When I put it back in the Windows 7 computer, it now detects DVDs fine. The only problem is that it takes 3-4 minutes to detect the files on the drive and play them. It runs extremely slow...anyone have a resolution to that?

THANKS
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
0
0
OK, so it's one of these:

1) Bad drive
2) Bad cable
3) Bad controller
4) Bad DVD
5) OS

Burn a Linux Live CD, boot to it, and see if it's software or hardware.

Are you using a 40-conductor or 80-conductor cable?
 
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Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
OK, so it's one of these:

1) Bad drive
2) Bad cable
3) Bad controller
4) Bad DVD
5) OS

Burn a Linux Live CD, boot to it, and see if it's software or hardware.

Are you using a 40-conductor or 80-conductor cable?

1) The drive is working in another computer
2) I'm using the new cable that the motherboard came with, which I am assuming is 80-conductor but I will double check.
3) The controller's drivers are up to date
4) I tried several DVDs and CDs
5) Maybe?

THANKS, I'll try the linux CD suggestion and check the cable.
 

Questi4111

Junior Member
Dec 9, 2009
8
0
0
I tried several things with no success:

I had an 80-conductor already hooked up to the drive. I removed the other device on the cable and left the DVD drive with cable select which didn't work. I set the DVD drive to master using jumpers and that didn't work. I tried the 40-conductor cable that worked with this drive in my other computer and tried with cable select and master and that didn't work. With all configurations, I tried on the cable at the black end and the closer end to the motherboard.

Nothing has worked so I'm really confused now. Anyone else have any other suggestions?

THANKS