# DVD-ROM Problem

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [October 2, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481 "2002-10-02T01:58:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 6\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![cbtcad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/46a35a/32.png) [@cbtcad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cbtcad)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/1 "2002-10-02T01:58:47Z")

</div>

I’m having a problem with my laptops DVD-ROM (thus the thread title). It wont read any kind of CD, but it will read DVD’s. It dosen’t even detect the CD’s in the drive. It makes a wirring and clicking noise, but nothing happens. Can anyone give me an idea of what the problem might be?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/2 "2002-10-02T02:22:55Z")

</div>

I had a similar problem, but with my laptops CDROM. It would read music CDs, but not data discs. I had to go into Windows setup (hold down the F8 key while the computer starts up) and go into the Safe Mode. While there, I had to “remove” the drives from the Device Manager. When I reset the computer, it “found” the drive and installed the correct driver and the problem was solved.

Of course, if you aren’t running Windows, this won’t help.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![xash](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/c6cbf5/32.png) [@xash](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/xash)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/3 "2002-10-02T05:21:43Z")

</div>

strange problem. What OS/Version are you running ? What brand laptop ? What brand DVD-ROM drive ?

try what **Mr. Blue Sky** says and reinstall the drive manually selecting the correct drivers if your OS can’t detect the exact model.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/4 "2002-10-02T14:31:12Z")

</div>

Some aren’t made to recognize cds…I have one like that, is yours that way?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![neutron\_star](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/51bf81/32.png) [@neutron\_star](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/neutron_star)\
**Post date:** [October 2, 2002, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/5 "2002-10-02T16:12:26Z")

</div>

_sigh_

Yet again, handy doesn’t have a clue as to what he’s talking about. I’m beginning to sense a pattern here. :rolleyes:

From the [DVD Demystified FAQ:](http://www.dvddemystified.com/dvdfaq.html#2.4.2)

> [@](#):
>
> **[2.4.2] Is CD-ROM compatible with DVD-ROM?**  
> Yes. All DVD-ROM drives will read CD-ROMs (Yellow Book). Software on a CD-ROM will run fine in a DVD-ROM system.

As far as audio CDs go, the FAQ explains that manufacturers aren’t required by the DVD specifications to support it, but there are no known models of DVD-ROMs that do not.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![kirk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/f9ae1b/32.png) [@kirk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kirk)\
**Post date:** [October 3, 2002, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dvd-rom-problem/130481/6 "2002-10-03T02:04:26Z")

</div>

Older DVD drives can not read CD-R’s.