CD/DVD Drive Issues

[161803398874989]

So I'm working on an Acer Aspire 1690 laptop, running Windows XP. I'm trying to get Win7 on it.

 

Before repartitioning the HDD, the dvd drive (Matshita UJ-345D) worked fine (after I got it working by disabling a bunch of services). However, after resizing the OS partition and re-allocating the gained space to a new partition, the dvd drive has stopped working: it takes in a DVD/CD, then tries to read it (making this "nuh-uh" noise, quite funny) and immediately spits it out. This happens even right after turning on the computer (so while it's still booting).

 

I already tried:

* Updating drivers

* Removing and reinstalling the device

* Using different cds/dvds

* Cleaning the drive with a cloth and a credit card

* Taking the laptop apart, giving the drive an extra good clean and putting it back together.

 

Another thing of note: at first the drive wouldn't work either, but that was fixed by deleting upper/lower filters in the registry. After that it worked fine. However, now it doesn't after repartitioning the HDD.

 

As far as I know, I can't boot from USB on this laptop, so installing Win7 that way is not going to work, probably.

Edited January 18, 2014 by 161803398874989

[lost_soul]

A: Does the drive show up in "Computer/My Computer"? Is there a valid drive letter associated with it?

B: How are you trying to initiate the Win7 install, from within XP (not allowed IIRC) or by booting from the Win7 CD?

 

Sometimes in XP, the "filters" for your CD drive can get screwed up in the registry. This will cause your optical drive not to function, even though you can still boot from said CD drive. If you think this is the case, I can dig up the article/solution for this for you or you can just search for "XP DVD filter registry fix" and you will find it. Like I said though, you have to clean boot from the Win7 CD to install it over XP anyway.

 

https://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

Edited January 18, 2014 by lost_soul

[161803398874989]

Actually, deleting upper/lower filters is what I did last time.

 

The problem is, I can't even boot from CD, because the drive immediately spits out the disc, even right after turning the computer on.

 

It does have a drive letter, and Windows says the drive is functioning properly.

Edited January 18, 2014 by 161803398874989

[PranQster]

You mentioned that you tried different cd/dvds. By that did you mean different manufacturer media, Sony, Verbatim, etc.? Or that you tried different physical discs from the same package?

Also, did you try a different OS, such as a Linux live CD?

If disks are still being ejected, despite manufacturer or OS, I'd say it's a hardware problem with the DVD drive and that it's failing after your re-partition was just a coincidence.

Also there is a chance that the DVD drive is not getting the required power to operate. I'd check the AC adapter with a multimeter for proper voltage for the laptop, usually 18.5v, 19.0v or 19.5v.

Edited January 19, 2014 by PranQster

[161803398874989]

Yeah, different manufacturer media.

I cannot install a different OS because I can't boot from CD. Maybe USB will work, but the problem is at the BIOS level.

 

So I asked someone else, and he said it was maybe the drive letter that mucked things up. I then changed the drive letter of the new partition, but that didn't work. However, I found out about Acer's standard built-in recovery methods. Alt+F10 on boot will give you a screen. However, it complains about the D: drive not being there or something, so there certainly is an issue. Right now I'm trying to restore the partitioning as it was before I changed it and see if it helps.