DVD Rom Read Problems

[Soneast]

Hi,

My DVD Rom on my old computer is having issues reading my data DVDs that I burnt. I have a plethora of backup DVDs that I burnt with this computer, and have been able to read from these DVDs for as long as I've owned the computer (several years) in fact I used one of the backup DVDs as little as 2 weeks ago to pull some backup data off it.

Now suddenly when I put a DVD (any one of the dozens of backup DVDs that I've made over the years) into the DVD Rom drive, it just sits there, nothing loads up and when I go into "my computer" it doesn't recognize the DVD that I put in there. These are DVDs that I previously had been able to read with no problems. BTW it still reads commercial movie DVDs and plays them fine, it just won't recognize my backup DVDs.

Thanks for any help. This is with windows xp.

 

[RebateMonger]

Burned DVDs are completely different from pressed commercial DVDs and are much harder to read. Also, the burned DVDs degrade over time, eventually becoming unreadable. And error correction is done differently with data DVDs. So if a DVD drive is starting to fail, it's more likely to have problems reading your backup data DVDs than commercial movies.

 

[0roo0roo]

yup, either degrade..or hopefully your drive is just dying
try another pc

 

[Soneast]

Well, since I don't think every backup DVD I have would degrade at the same time, unfortunately it sounds like my DVD drive might be crapping out. Oh well at least they're cheap. Thanks for the help.

 

[theprodigalrebel]

It's probably drying. I had a DVD burner that did the following before it died:
1) Lost write functionality for a week - it would read disk but wouldn't write any discs. Nothing would happen when I tried to burn a compilation - I don't exactly remember if the application would error out or if it would ask me to insert a blank disc.
2) Reading discs became a hassle. Insert disc, hit eject, close tray, eject, close tray - disc contents would finally show up but would stutter like crazy.
3) Ascension to Xibalba a few days later

 

[0roo0roo]

yea they tend not to go dead dead. they just get dodgy.