HP CD52 Doesn't Recognize Discs

[ParatoOptimal]

I have an HP cd52 CDRW drive and XP-Pro with SP2.

MY Computer, Device Manager, CDex, Alcohol 120% and Clone CD all acknowledge that the drive is there.

However, When I attempt to burn a disc image from a backup image that was read from my CD-R drive with either Alcohol or CCD, they initialize the CDRW drive but think there is no blank disc present in the drive.

HP Tech Support couldn't help the first two times I emailed them.
This time they mentioned that some burning apps corrupt or overwrite registry entries.
I did install Disc Juggler and used it once. I did install Nero 6 Ultra which I always used in 98SE. This version reports durring install that it has problems with XP. Therefore, I use CCD and Alcohol 120%.

HP Tech Support suggested an extremely lengthy process of deleting registry entries, rebooting and reinstaqlling drivers. XP has HP drivers natively.

HP at first didn't seem to have a clue.
I think this is a laast ditch effort.

By the way, it no longer sees any store-bought music or software discs. The drive light does light and the drive spins.

Does anyone know of this problem and have any sollutions you could suggest?

Thank you

 

[HPTech]

Hi There!

There are some compatability problems with Nero and some of our drives, I will check for you whether this drive falls into that catagory. please try to boot using your windows XP CD to check the drive has not failed in the meantime, thanks.

MikeHP

 

[ParatoOptimal]

Nero didn't report a problem with the drive.
It reported a problem with XP.

I'll boot from my XP CD as instructed but booting from HD seems ok as Device Manager, My Computer and all my disc burning apps acknowledge that the HP CD Writer cd52 is installed.

Burning apps don't see a blank disc in the drive.
XP doesn't see a store bought software disc in the drive.
I can click on the drive in my computer and a window does open but it's empty weather a blank disc or store bought software disc is in the drive.

I use Nero 6 Ultra in W2K.
I use CloneCD 4.2.0.2 and Alcohol 120% in XP.
I also have an old version of Padus Disc Juggler in XP but I've only used it once since I installed it in XP.

I have a dual boot system with W2K SP4 and XP-Pro SP2.
The same problem occurs in W2K.

I primarily use XP and noticed the problem in XP as it worsened over time until it doesn't work in XP at all. By "worsened over time" I mean that it would sometimes see discs but sometimes wouldn't see them until at this point it doesn't see any discs.

I bought this drive just less than or just over a year ago. I don't know where my reciept is if I still have it. I'm not sure if I registered it or not. I'm pretty sure I did as I get email from HP.

I use W2K less than XP. I noticed it to a lesser degree in W2K as it also worsened over time. I haven't tried it in W2K recently to see if it's completely nonfunctional as it is in XP. I'll give it a shot as a test but I fear it's no longer useable.

Could the drive require cleaning and, if so, how do I do that other than by using compressed air?

I removed the drive and installed my old TDK burner as a test.
My old TDK sees every disc in XP and makes good burns.


Thanks again for any help you can offer.

 

[HPTech]

Thanks for your reply.

It does seem unfortunately that the drive is developing a mechanical fault, most proberbly with the laser. There are a few things you can try for cleaning before coming to the final conclusion though

If you have an audio cleaning CD, these work well in PC Drives as well. Failing that, if the unit is Out Of Warranty then you can disassemble the unit to clean the laser head. There is a good site with pics on how to do this [dissasembly]: http://deron.meranda.us/casemod/cdrom/

Using a cotton bud and alcohol-based cleaner, VERY gently clean the cd-rom lens and then re-assemble the unit, and test after that. If the unit is in warranty, you should be able to have the CD-Drive dispatched seperately [if bought as a full tower], if you request it [I can't be without my machine etc].

If they want to capture the machine, they will ask you to do a full format on the machine, to remove softawre issues [which is a pain], but from what you have described here to me I don't think it is a software issue.

Hope this sorts it out and you don't have to replace it.
MikeHP

 

[ParatoOptimal]

I purchased it at Office Max with an incredible rebate deal.
It was a seperate IDE model. It didn't come in a system.
I still have the box with the UPC cut off of it.

I don't have one of those audio CD cleaning discs.
What's a good/cheap one to get?

I think I purchased it last spring.
So, it's either just under or just over a year old.
I've been having this problem since I emailed HP Tech Support around last September. If it has a year warranth, they should have told me to send it in to them at that time. If they have a record of my email and their email (I know I do) they should accept it for repair or replacement now.

I remember everytime I searched HP's site, it was very difficult to find ANY info on this drive. Their drop down menus to choose a drive didn't list it in any of every section I searched. Doing a site wide search with their engine turned nothing up for many searches until I somehow stumbled across the smallest bit of info on this drive.

As of now, the drive is a paperweight unless cleaning it helps or you can tell me the warranty is still good on it and where/who to send it to.

Thanks

 

[HPTech]

Hi there,

Sorry for the extended away bank holiday and that...

If the warranty is good if you contact support directly on the number for your company and state it is for a standalone drive then they will direct you to the right department and the drive should be swapped out for you. They will mail a replacement drive with a returns box, and you simply send the faulty unit back in that, job done.

If it is out of warranty, then I would go the cleaning route and attempt that, hopefully it will rectify the problem for you. If not then I'm sorry there's not a lot else I can do as there is no out of warranty support for that product, I'm afraid. If the product was not registered then I cannot check the warranty any more accurately than the serial number and that goes from manufacturing date which means it'll be out of warranty I'd imagine.

I have passed your feedback onto the Web Team who will discuss whether more information can be made available for the drive on the website as well.

Hope you get it working
MikeHP