Is My DVD Drive Dead?

[JosephBAdams]

While burning some CDs in iTunes on my two year old DVD-RW drive (NEC model ND-3550A), iTunes reported that an "error [had] occurred while attempting to burn a disc." Before this error message popped up, I had successfully burned at least five or six discs over the previous hour.

My drive is listed in Device Manager with no errors, but in Windows Explorer I get a "Please insert a disc" message when I double-click the drive to view the files on a full, working CD.

I've deleted the drive and reinstalled it, but I still get a "Please insert a disc" message every time that I try to view the drive. Obviously, iTunes still refuses to burn to blank discs, as it tells me to "insert a blank disc."

How can I confirm that my drive is dead?

Also, if I need to replace it, I would like to get a DVD burner that also plays Blu-Ray discs. Any suggestions on that front in the sub-$100 area?

Thanks!

 

[C1]

Bet you hosed your ROM filters. (Probably have unsigned driver too.) Checkout this thread:
http://forums.techarena.in/xp-hardware/606626.htm

Sounds like you want buy a new drive anyway, but you should be able to still keep & use the current one if you go thru the trouble to fix it.

 

[JosephBAdams]

I have a driver "GEARAspiWDM.sys" in addition to "cdrom.sys."

No idea how to get rid of the former.

 

[Paperdoc]

Have you tried using am optical disk drive cleaner? Sometimes it's just an accumulation of dust.

 

[michaelmast]

Well, im agree with you all guys, but i think in order to chance the DVD just use cleaner and them if not work better for you change it..

 

[JosephBAdams]

I'll try that next.