DVD Burner won't recognize DVDs

[IAmNotAPirate]

I have Windows XP Pro SP2 and an Optorite DD1205 DVD Burner.

Just today, I ripped a movie, everything went fine. Then I started Nero and started to burn, then got power calibration error.

I've read up on PCE and it talks about bad media or dirty laser. Tried a couple other brands. Pretty sure media is not it. Tried compressed air to clean lens.

Then I shut the PC down and restarted. Popped in audio CD and it plays. Popped in DVD movie (original) and it doesn't recognize.

Since it is able to recognize CD's but not DVD's, I don't think its a power supply or loose connector issue. So its either my drive is crapping out on me or I got a dirty lens.

Any suggestions?

[bazooka]

You may need a dvd decoder.

What program do you use to watch dvd's?

[IAmNotAPirate]

I don't think its software related. When I load a DVD, it won't recognize it, meaning when I open up the DVD Drive in Explorer, there is nothing there.

It's like it tried to read it, failed, and gave up.

And not sure what a DVD Decoder is?

[bazooka]

A dvd decoder is what allows you to watch the movie.

Are you using PowerDvd, WinDVD or what program are you using to watch dvd's?

If you do not know what it is, then why do you immediately rule it out as though I am wasting my time trying to help you?

[IAmNotAPirate]

PowerDVD

And everything has worked before for 3 months and then today, just kaput.

And sorry if I came off like I did. But even if PowerDVD were working, wouldn't the DVD files show up in explorer. With a DVD in, when I open up the drive, there is nothing

And I've tried a Data DVD and still nothing. When I open up explorer and look at my drives, it says DVD-RW Drive, but once I put in a DVD and fails, it says CD Drive

[bazooka]

PowerDVD

And everything has worked before for 3 months and then today, just kaput.

And sorry if I came off like I did. But even if PowerDVD were working, wouldn't the DVD files show up in explorer. With a DVD in, when I open up the drive, there is nothing

And I've tried a Data DVD and still nothing. When I open up explorer and look at my drives, it says DVD-RW Drive, but once I put in a DVD and fails, it says CD Drive

If it was a data dvd, then you would see a disc name or a number.

The disc itself might be scratched. The laser could have gone out.

It could need cleaning. I don't mean a can of compressed air or a cleaner disc. I am talking about taking the drive apart and cleaning the lens.

There could be any number of possibilities.

[IAmNotAPirate]

Well, I'm going to install my CD-R/DVD Drive combo and see if that can recognize the DVD

[jimmalenko]

I remember reading one of Lordsmurf's posts that said that UDF Discs don't always show up in Windows Explorer or My Computer, but you should still be able to open them in software players. this post might help.

[IAmNotAPirate]

Well, it's dead. POS Optorite drive.

Oh well.

[FJ Merlin]

This recently happened to my burner as well. I have a Sony 4x internal DVD +- RW burner. I'm not sure of the model number but I know the DVD ID # is DVDRW IDE1004. I have a built at home PC with an AMD mother board running Windows 2000. My burner is the only IDE drive other than my HDD and the burner is on its own channel set to Master.

Usually I use DVD Shrink to compress, then Nero to burn. All of a sudden, the other day it wont read or write DVDs, of any kind. But yet I can still burn and/or read CD-Roms.

I've tried the following steps to resolve this issue

1. Deleted the drive from Hardware manager and rebooted the computer. PC booted back up and the drive was there again, even though I didn't see any messages that stated it found new hardware.
2. Downloaded new firmware. I was on the oldest version of firmware so I went to iomagic.com (as directed by the disc that was included with my Sony drive). I went from oldest to newest and none worked, but I know they took cause I ran the Nero DVD info tool and the firmware was updated there as well.
3. I uninstalled all burner related software and reinstalled it (including pinnacle, Nero, DVD Shrink, Intervideo Win DVD). Pinnacle and Intervideo are the programs that came with my burner and Intervideo is the program that auto started whenever I would put a DVD in the drive. This does not happen anymore.
4. I also ran a registry checker program and the NERO cleanup tool to completely remove Nero from the PC. (I originally had the demo version of Nero and have since gotten the full version. I thought this might cause the problem so that's why I ran the NERO clean up tool). Before I even reinstalled any programs I tried just viewing a DVD (original and burned) and Windows did not see anything in the drive. The drive comes up in the list but when I select it, it says "device not ready". However I can still view CDs (burned or original).
5. After reading through all these posts and guides I found the DMA setting mentioned in another thread, I went home and checked it out. My Secondary IDE was set to IP or IO or whatever it is, I changed it to DMA and rebooted and still, nothing.
6. This problem started shortly after I installed some spybot software, so I uninstalled the spybot software (after I undid all the changes it made). I then reran the registry checker and rebooted....same thing.
7. Tried reloading the ASPI Nero driver, when I did it said it was already installed. I cant find any drivers on the net for my drive in specific, it says the drive doesn't need drivers.

I feel as though I've exhausted all my possibilities but I wanted to make sure by consulting with the pros (you guys). I don't want to believe the drive is bad, I've only had it for a few months, so I wanted to make sure I tried everything software related before buying the new drive. Any other suggestions? I appreciate any help you guys can provide me with.

Also, this is my first post. Ive spent a while lurking around here reading posts, FAQ and the guides. This site helped me to begin my burning hobby. I was hoping I wouldnt have to post for help but I guess I was wrong
I didnt mean to hijack this thread so if I should create a new thread for it, let me know.

thanks again

[lechtin]

Same thing happenned to me with a Sony DRU710-A. In the middle of burning a CD, got power calibration errors. Never read or burned a CD after that, music or data. Diagnosis: crapped out laser. Burning and reading DVDs still worked as it uses another laser (different wavelength).

[FJ Merlin]

DAMN YOU LASERS!!! I guess its time to get a new one...oooo, that also gives me an excuse to get something better!!!

[handyguy]

Try writing at 1x & work up from there if you get PCE's.

[IAmNotAPirate]

Are you the same handyguy from Fatwallet.com?

[louthewiz]

Was the movie resident evil 2 by any chance?

[monstercaper]

I have had the same experience with my computer not recognizing the DVD's...it will recognize older DVD's but not Resident Evil Apocalypse or I Robot...I tried all possible avenues to fix this error but no good has come of it...my computer just cannot view these disc's...and no...it's not the laser, scratched disc, all my firmware was up to date, and I have all the current up to date DVD decoder's (DVD Shrink, VOB Blanker, DVD decryptor, etc). I have done everything to just watch the movie on my computer but nothing (and it is a store bought DVD and it plays fine in every DVD player I have put it in but not my computer). So my friend you may just be out of luck with these discs.

[zanos]

I have only gotten power calibration errors using memorex discs with media ids of ricohjpn and prodisc s03. I have no idea why this happens with only memorex.

[fritzi93]

I feel for ya. My rebadged Sanyo crapped out on a CD last week, no more CDs no way, no how. Did everything I can think of. Funny thing, it still does DVDs flawlessly. Thanks to Lechtin for the explanation.

Got a BenQ to replace it, so no worries, I'll pop in an extra combo drive when the Sanyo finally gives up.