Mom's CD/DVD Rom won't play CD's or DVD's. Says Device Not Ready

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

Mom's CD/DVD Rom won't play CD's or DVD's. Says Device Not Ready.

Her PC I believe is an Intel DG41TY LGA775 Motherboard + Core 2 Duo E7500 2.93GHz

When I did some diagnostics it told me that the Device is there but not ready:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.1.7601]
Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft Corporation.  All rights reserved.

C:\Users\Susan>diskpart

C:\Users\Susan>e:
The system cannot find the drive specified.

C:\Users\Susan>
C:\Users\Susan>D:
The device is not ready.

C:\Users\Susan>Dir E:
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Users\Susan>

The Optical Drive in question is: HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GH30N

In Device Mgr it says it is working fine.

I need to get Dave over here because Hardware is not my forte.

I am too tired to do this but was reading https://support.microsoft.com/en-ca/help/314060/your-cd-or-dvd-drive-is-not-recognized-by-windows-or-other-programs

 

[Sandman[SA]]

Well, being that the optical drive is past 10 years old, there is a fair chance it could be on it's last leg.  Have you tried hooking it up to another computer?

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

Well, being that the optical drive is past 10 years old, there is a fair chance it could be on it's last leg.  Have you tried hooking it up to another computer?

Naw I haven't but I suspect it is just old. However I brought my external thin burner and it would not play neither ... and it I think is 10 years old as well but works still on my netbook.

[Sandman[SA]]

So if a external USB CD drive is not working on this computer but it works on another, sounds to me like a windows registry error.  Has this windows 7 PC seen any update patches in a while?

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 If that mother board is the right one it might take a quad.  might just have to try(case might not be up to the airflow needed though). but ya I have other dvd drives around. but her system would probably do best with a clean 10 install after upgrading to win10.

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 Might just be time for something different (computer wise for her). I have a lot of options, could probably set her up with a quad system for about $100 if you want to do most of the work (with help offered of course).

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 It could also be the disk if it's a burned cd, they are really prone to cd rot after a few years. Hold the cd in front of a bright light, if you can see pinholes of light through the media, the disk is shot.

[Sandman[SA]]

Okay.  So windows 7 is now legacy and no longer supported.  But you still have a couple of options.

A:  Try reinstalling windows 7 SP1 and hope for the best.
B:  Download and install windows 10.
C:  Try a Linux live version like Ubuntu or Knoppix.

If your planning to stick with windows 7, I would highly recommend not connecting to the internet because it will be vulnerable to attack.

Now FYI, windows 10 does not require a cd key to install it, nor does it require activation in order to keep using it.  But note that some features will not be available if windows 10 is not activated.

Linux live runs from a DVD.  It does not require installation but you can install it if you want.  And it has a look and feel of windows, but without the windows tax.  Linux live is free!  The only drawback to Linux live is you can't really install any programs without installing Linux first.  And it won't run any windows programs.

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

So if a external USB CD drive is not working on this computer but it works on another, sounds to me like a windows registry error.  Has this windows 7 PC seen any update patches in a while?

  Of course. Now just a few days ago it did the FINAL update as now WIndows 7 is at End of Life.

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

Might just be time for something different (computer wise for her). I have a lot of options, could probably set her up with a quad system for about $100 if you want to do most of the work (with help offered of course).

She is paying bi-weekly for her new car (2015  Honda) so right now she can't afford the $100 especially as she has been helping me since I am $400 short on my credit card bill (Ya I am so screwed and no where to get the money from)...

It could also be the disk if it's a burned cd, they are really prone to cd rot after a few years. Hold the cd in front of a bright light, if you can see pinholes of light through the media, the disk is shot.

The CD is not rotten. I do have a question about old DVD's and old burners. I haven't burned DVD's in awhile but now there is DVD + and - and it got me wondering if I using old DVD's to burn with could be an issue. With my Sleep Apnea I have not done any techy stuff and so now am not on top of this.

[KT 💣 KλBoƠM]

Okay.  So windows 7 is now legacy and no longer supported.  But you still have a couple of options.

A:  Try reinstalling windows 7 SP1 and hope for the best.
B:  Download and install windows 10.
C:  Try a Linux live version like Ubuntu or Knoppix.

If your planning to stick with windows 7, I would highly recommend not connecting to the internet because it will be vulnerable to attack.

Now FYI, windows 10 does not require a cd key to install it, nor does it require activation in order to keep using it.  But note that some features will not be available if windows 10 is not activated.

Linux live runs from a DVD.  It does not require installation but you can install it if you want.  And it has a look and feel of windows, but without the windows tax.  Linux live is free!  The only drawback to Linux live is you can't really install any programs without installing Linux first.  And it won't run any windows programs.

Ya I will let Dave upgrade my mom to Windows 10 (She currently has Win7 Ultimate). I will also let him do the DVD Burner thing. Since she can't afford any new hardware just little things for now. She is trying to retire and it is a lot of stress at the moment. I have to help her with the paperwork because of her eyes and arm.

[Sandman[SA]]

I do have a question about old DVD's and old burners. I haven't burned DVD's in awhile but now there is DVD + and - and it got me wondering if I using old DVD's to burn with could be an issue.

CD's and DVD's don't "rot" par say.  But they can become damaged from scratches and dust.  Using a CD lens cleaner once in a while wouldn't hurt anything.  They have had DVD + and - for many years now.  Pretty much any DVD-R with over 8x write speed can support them. 

[One Eyed Wonderweasle]

 About cd's not rotting( the media itself under the plastic), I've had ton's of old burned CD's  get cd rot. haven't had the problem with DVD's though (that I'm aware of).

[Sandman[SA]]

I don't know what this guy is talking about "disk rot".  They are made of plastic which as we all know, takes forever and a week to decay.  It does have a thin metal film on the label side which is actually where data is stored to it and is pretty sensitive to whatever touches it.  Such as chemicals, dirt, finger prints, sunlight and of course, shoes.  The example shown in this guys video caption is the worse case of abuse I have ever seen.  Where did this guy store that CD?  Under the floor mat of his car?

I've recorded some music CD's well over 14 years ago and they have basically lived in a CD changer in the trunk of my car ever since, and they still play perfectly fine.

[Sandman[SA]]

Oh, KT, you may find this interesting.  It mentions using Windows 7 Embedded as a short term option.