IS my CD-RW Dead?

[AnitaPeterson]

Hi there,

Out of the blue, I started having trouble with my Lite-On (bought for Christmas 2001, maybe burned 200 CDs with it)...

Last night I started recording a CD, following the usual procedure in Nero, and I realized after 5 minutes that the progress bar is not moving from 3%, and that the LED is not flashing. I had just recorded something else before, and had left the drive to cool off for 30 minutes... (I always burn at 2x, since it's audio)...

Upon restarting, I discovered much to my dismay that no matter what CDs I put in the Lite-On, it will try to access them (judging by the sound) for 30 seconds and then spit them out. Even the CD-ROM lens cleaner, which I tried thinking that the drive might be dirty, was ejected... It won't read anything.

Should I try to open the case, or is it dead and I'll just have to get another? And why the *&^*&6# did it die just like that?


*edit* if it's dead, what should I buy? the stores in town have Lite-On, LG and very expensive Plextors (twice as expensive as tghe other two)

 

[DurocShark]

Ouch. Sounds like the read laser went south... Probably just a diode or something, but unless you're an electronics geek like me, it isn't gonna be worth messing with.

You can open the case, make sure the head is travelling freely, and inspect the lens. Those cleaner disks don't do much more than sweep any loose dust off the lens. There may be something else on there you can get to with the case apart.

These drives are pretty cheap nowadays, so I wouldn't spend too much time on it.

Of course, do basic troubleshooting first: Test the drive in another PC, etc.

GL

 

[AnitaPeterson]

what were those sites with reviews of CD writers? All I can remember is CDmediaWorld.com

 

[jacktesterson]

My guess is your cat got hungry and decided to use your CDRW drive as bait for a mouse, because of the wires and dust, which attracts mice. Then the cat pounced the mouse and ripped the wires in the back of your CDRW drive. Then the cat pooped on your keyboard. Im sorry to inform you of this incident, but I am the devil

 

[microAmp]

Originally posted by: AnitaPeterson
what were those sites with reviews of CD writers? All I can remember is CDmediaWorld.com

http://www.cdrlabs.com

and thanks for CDMediaWorld one. Was looking for more earlier.