If the computer does not read the disc. The laptop does not read the disk - what to do and reasons. How to avoid information loss

Updated – 2017-03-04

Windows doesn't see the drive. What surprises does the computer present to us? Going to bed and don’t know whether it will turn on tomorrow? or anywhere at all? This used to worry me all the time too. The most interesting thing is that the surprises are always different. One day, I suddenly discovered that the disk drive icon had disappeared in the My Computer folder on my system. Windows just doesn't see the drive. What to do? First you need to check the drive itself.

The drive tray itself extends and accepts discs, which means the problem is either:

1. in the train,
2. in the drive,
3. in the drive controller.

Most likely the reason is in the drive itself. But it doesn't hurt to check.

If the drive worked normally before, then let's try.

If for some reason it is impossible to restore the system, then we check whether our drive is visible in the BIOS.

If the drive is not detected in the BIOS, then check the cable (cable) that connects the drive to the motherboard. If possible, we replace it with one that is known to work.

I checked the drive with a working cable, but it is still not detected. Then we try to connect the drive to another computer to determine its functionality.

If the drive is working, then enter “ device Manager» ( Start – Settings – Control Panel – System – Hardware – Device Manager) . Check at the bottom on the tab " Are common" in the window " Application of devices » whether the device itself is turned on. If it’s turned off, then turn it on through the same window (just select the entry “ This device is in use (on) ».

Let's see if the entry contains " DVD and CD-ROM drives » our disk drive. And is there an exclamation mark on a yellow background next to the entry?

If there is an exclamation mark next to the drive, then we try to remove the drive driver (double-click on the name of the drive, select the “ tab Driver" and press the button " Delete"). Reboot the computer.

After rebooting, the system should automatically detect the drive and load the driver.

If the drive and cable are working, then this should help, but if not, then most likely you will have to fix it.

Let's try to boot any self-booting disk, having previously set the BIOS to boot from the CD drive. If the boot occurs and the disk opens, but Windows still does not see the disk drive, then we have a problem with the operating system. Here you need to first check the system for viruses, and then delve into .

In the meantime, you can play in the casino for money. Maybe you'll get lucky.

If you are an active computer user, then you have probably encountered the question: “why does the drive not read discs?” Everything seems to be fine, but for some reason a problem arises. There is good news for you - you can fix possible problems yourself. And our guide will help with this.

Therefore, put off buying a new CD/DVD drive and read to the end.

Main problems

If there was a need to classify problems with reading disks, then only two points could be highlighted:

• Hardware problems
• Software problems or incompatibilities

A CD/DVD drive, like any device, can fail. But don’t be alarmed, most hardware problems can be resolved on the spot.

As for software problems, they are very easy to diagnose. Let's say you were setting up or installing new software. And after rebooting the computer, the drive refused to read all or some disks. Here, the first thing you can think about is software incompatibility.

Now that we know the main types of problems, let's look at how to deal with them.

Hardware problems

If the drive does not read discs due to technical problems, the first thing to do is replace the connecting wires. This could be a Sata cable or an IDE cable through which data is transferred. Ides are used in old computers - the technology is already outdated. They look like this:

You need to disassemble the computer. Turn off the power and disconnect all wires. Take care of grounding. Then use a tool to remove the housing cover. Now you should visually determine which cables connect the DVD drive to the motherboard. And then replace them. You probably won't have the parts you need on hand, so be prepared to make a trip to the computer store.

After the new cables are installed, reassemble the PC in reverse order, start it up and try to check disk reading. If it works, great. If not, move on to the next step.

We carry out cleaning

While the computer is running, a large amount of dust collects in its case. It accumulates on all hardware components, including the CD/DVD drive. This may cause problems. This problem occurs especially often among owners of desktop computers. The system unit is located on the floor, in a poorly ventilated place. Laptops are less susceptible to contamination, but they also need to be cleaned periodically.

You probably already guessed that now we will clean the drive from dust. This helps restore his functionality.

The reading laser that the drive is equipped with is responsible for reading the data. And if it is contaminated, then it will perform its direct duty every other time, or will refuse to work at all.

We disassemble the computer again, this time removing the disk drive. The easiest way is to blow it out. If you have weak lungs, you will have to buy a can of compressed air in advance. They are sold in the same computer stores and are used to clean dust from equipment.

For more experienced users, we recommend a thorough cleaning. Disassemble the drive and manually wipe the laser head. In this case, use soft cotton wool, ear sticks or a suitable cloth, first moistened with water or purified gasoline.

What else can you use? There are special cleaning disks. Special brushes are installed on their surface, which clean the laser head while the disk is scrolling. Just place them in the drive and wait a couple of minutes.

Solving software problems

If you suspect that your drive has stopped seeing or reading discs due to problems with programs, think about what software you have installed recently. Most often, the problem lies in programs that allow you to create virtual drives:

• Daemon Tools
• Nero burning room
• Alcohol 120%

With their help, you can work with disk images and connect them to virtual drives. But at the same time, these programs may conflict with an existing CD/DVD drive, preventing it from working normally.

Removing these programs and then cleaning the system registry will help solve the problem. Search the Internet - there are quite a lot of utilities for garbage removal.

Driver problems

A disc reading drive, like any device, needs a correctly installed driver. Accordingly, a driver error may cause your disks to become unreadable.

How can we solve this problem? First, go to the device manager:

Start -> Control Panel -> System -> Device Manager.

If programs for working with virtual drives have left their traces here, they should be removed. We remove all virtual drives. You also need to remove the "STPD" driver. To find it, go to the "View" menu and click " Show hidden devices". After completing these steps, restart your computer and check the result.

Checking the drive parameters

All we have to do is check that the parameters of our DVD drive are correct. It must be configured correctly to read discs.

We return to the device manager again. This time we are interested in the item " IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers". We expand the drop-down list and see several items. Among them we need to find the one that relates to the CD/DVD drive. To do this, we open each of them one by one and go to the " tab Extra options"If we see the inscription" Atapi CD drive", then we have found the one you need. Please note that just below there will be an item " Enable DMA". You should try both options, both with DMA enabled and disabled. If the drive does not read disks in Windows 7, working with the DMA option can often solve the problem.

Video for the article:

Conclusion

Computer hardware has a lifespan. If problems arise, you can try to carry out independent diagnostics and repairs. If this does not help, you will have to purchase new components.

Helps you transfer information between programs.

Why look for information on other sites if everything is collected here?

Why doesn't the drive read? CDs or DVDs and at the most inopportune moment, when we urgently need the information on them, for example: coursework or a diploma.
Or a less critical option: we borrowed a CD with movies and music from friends, came home and unfortunately realized that our DVD drive is not able to read the information on this CD, what should we do in this case? Wait to make a flying saucer out of a CD, we'll come up with something now. First of all, remember that many problems arise, including this one, which can be solved by simply restarting the computer. Friends, if this article does not help you, try looking for a solution in another one.

Why doesn't the drive read?

• From the very beginning, inspect the surface of the CD to see if there are any scratches or dirty spots on it; if there are any, they should be removed with a soft cloth or cotton wool, without applying force, moving from the center of the disc to its edges.
• Note: Friends, the most important thing to know is that many quite serviceable, but capricious disk drives from well-known manufacturers sometimes do not read some stale disks that you stored somewhere, if they have very important information, you do not need to rub them with anything, this way you can make a disk not at all readable. In this case, just go to your friends and 100%, some drive will read your disk, then you just need to rewrite it onto a blank disc from a well-known manufacturer, which in turn will be read by your drive.
• If scratches are visible on the surface of the disk, you can try to polish them with a special tool; if there is no damage and the files on this CD were accessible an hour ago on another computer, then the problem is your drive.
• Maybe you have this problem all the time and your drive does not read CDs or DVDs from time to time, then it is better to replace it. Many times I read on the Internet about miracle products that allow you to clean the laser lens of a disk drive, do not believe it, and especially do not buy it.
  I saw on sale special discs that clean the lens of a DVD ROM from a very well-known company, but for some reason there was no information about such a disc on the official website of this manufacturer.
• Friends, if you decide to disassemble the DVD-CDRW drive and clean the lens (it rarely helps), then know that it is best to blow it with a blower, but under no circumstances wipe it with cotton wool (the fibers will stick); it is also risky to rub it with napkins or brushes and so on.
• They may also recommend you a cleaning disk, but unfortunately a real one is very difficult to find, and the one you buy in the subway will finish off your lens completely.

Over the course of my life, I have come across various disk drives, and some of them, from the very purchase itself, could not from time to time read or write information on DVD+R or DVD-R discs. Sometimes a DVD drive cannot read cheap discs, but branded discs work without problems. So you should know everything about your drive.

What I would like to advise is that when buying a computer, pay attention to all the components, including the disk drive, buy it from well-known and reputable companies, even if they are more expensive.

By the way, you shouldn’t focus your attention on the drive; in most of these cases, the problem lies in the CD or DVD that we carelessly stored.

So, there are small scratches on our CD and we can’t remove them in any way, what should we do?
I will give, for example, one very good and free program that solves such problems, and most importantly, I will show with a concrete example how to work with it. The program is called Non-Stop Copy, you can get it on the official website of the developer: Dmitry Sergeev http://dsergeyev.ru/programs/nscopy/ or on my Yandex.Disk.

If anyone wants to work with paid programs, please, below are links to articles on our site that provide examples of working with,.

In the article I gave a common example of copying a single file from damaged media, but if you need to restore a group of files, check out our article.

I'll start with a short introduction. A friend came to me and said: “Save me, DVD drive does not read I couldn’t download a CD with my daughter’s favorite movie on the Internet, I just picked up viruses.”

My friend has a weak level of Internet training; he works in a managerial position and the only thing he can’t do is find films on the Internet, no matter how long I taught him.

Well, okay, we look at the CD and see strong scratches on it, launch our program and insert the disc into the drive, click Select file and specify our DVD drive,

in my case it is called (D:)

A DVD drive may not read discs for several reasons: 1) the laser head is dirty; 2) the laser head is worn out; 3) the software is to blame; 4) disk problem; 5) the problem is in the hardware. Therefore, if your DVD drive does not read discs, do not rush to buy a new one, you need to figure out what the problem is.

The DVD doesn't read the disc. What is the problem?

First of all, you need to determine the nature of the malfunction. The DVD drive does not read all or only some discs. Check it. If some discs are still readable, then the problem is in the drive; if it doesn’t read at all, it may also be related to the software.

Laser head

During operation, the DVD drive collects dust, which partially settles on the laser head. Due to dust, the DVD drive does not read discs, or reads them, but not all of them. You can disassemble the drive and carefully clean the laser eye of dust using an ear stick.

If you cannot disassemble the DVD drive, then special cleaning discs can help. But quite often, due to excessively hard brushes, there were cases of damage to the laser head. The brushes must be flexible and come complete with lubricant.

You can also blow out the insides of the drive through the open tray using a can of compressed air, as an option.

A worn out laser head is a common occurrence if a DVD drive does not read discs. If the DVD drive is used intensively, and if the discs are heavily scratched, the head can wear out very quickly, even within a year. Usually, due to the recording density, reading DVDs fails first, and then CDs. If the drive is already several years old, then it is better to buy a new one; now they are not expensive.

Software solution

Remember what programs you installed recently, what games your children installed? A common cause of the problem is virtual disk managers such as Alcohol 120% and Daemon Tools. Games can install virtual disks for their own needs, and they can conflict with each other. In some cases, the DVD drive does not read discs after installing the Nero disc burning program.

To make sure that this is the problem, remove these programs and look at the result. But deleting may not bring results unless you roll back to an earlier state of the system when everything was still working.

If everything works, then we dig into the problem in this direction: we try other analogues, other versions, leaving only what is necessary.

In the case of “alcohol”, try unchecking the “Force other programs to detect disks as CD-ROM or DVD-ROM” checkbox in the program settings.

The second cause of the problem may be a driver conflict. To solve the problem, we need the “Device Manager”.

To enter Device Manager, press Ctrl+Alt+Del at the same time

After removing the above-mentioned software, virtual drives may still be present in the device manager in the “DVD and CD-ROM drives” section. Delete them via the right-click menu, reboot and look at the result.

The next thing you can do is go to the “View” menu and select “Show hidden devices.” In the device tree, find the “SPTD” driver in the “Non-plug and play device drivers” branch. Remove the driver and reboot. This is all an inheritance from virtual disk drives.

If it doesn't help, move on. In the “IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers” section, among two or four controller channels, you need to find the one to which the DVD drive is connected. These four channels can be called differently, for example “Primary IDE Channel” and “Secondary IDE Channel”, or “ATA Channel 0” and “ATA Channel 1” as in my picture. Open each one in turn and look at the “Device Type”. We need to find a channel with a device type of “ATAPI CD drive” or something like that.

If it works with the option disabled, then check the box again, reboot and check. We leave the working option, but it is highly desirable that the “Enable DMA” function is enabled. In some cases, this is the only way to get a DVD-ROM to work in Windows 7.

Sometimes updating the drive firmware helps. You need to look for new firmware on the manufacturer’s website and strictly follow the instructions for installing it.

The problem is in the hardware

First of all, I advise you to simply unplug and insert the power plug and IDE or SATA cables, or even replace the cables with known working ones and change the power plug to another one.

Reading a bad disc

To read a bad disk there are special programs, for example Non-Stop Copy. Programs try to read the bad sector many times with different parameters, and if nothing works, they simply skip it and move on. In this way you can save everything you can. As a rule, for audio and video the loss is not noticeable.

What to do if DVD ROM does not read discs? The computer freezes when a disc is inserted, or when copying a movie or music, an error appears. So what is the matter - a scratched disk or the disk drive is to blame. Let's look at the causes and methods of eliminating these computer malfunctions.

If previously the disks were read normally, but after the next reboot the computer cannot read more than one disk, then most likely the reason is in the software or, more simply, some installed program conflicts with the DVD drive.

If you're having problems with one drive but other drives are working fine, try these solutions. Please note that your console does not require repairs or updates to resolve this issue. Solution 1: Make sure the drive is clean and defective.

Clean the disc with a soft, clean, slightly damp cloth. Hold the disc by its edges without touching the top or bottom surface. Solution 2: Playing the disc on another console will help you determine whether the problem is with the individual disc or the disc drive on the console. Try the disc on a friend's console or at a retail location that can test the disc.

If the computer does not read only some discs, then the problem is in the drive itself, but we will try to fix even this problem ourselves; we will discuss this below. First, let's see if it's possible that the problem lies in the operating system.

For reference, the problem may be not only with reading disks, but also with writing them. The instructions below may be equally effective in resolving both problems.

My disk boots but has not been installed

Solution 3: Previous section. In this article, we will show you how to solve the problem. After all, you want to get your data quickly. The main rule in this situation is to remain calm and act analytically. In most cases the cause is harmless. Our practical article shows what you can do in this case. Obviously nothing happens after connecting an external storage medium, which could have many reasons.

Determining the reason why the drive does not read discs

In the worst case scenario, the hard drive is actually faulty and can no longer be used.

• Connection problems, such as a mechanical problem.
• The wrong driver is being used for access.

Software conflict

In the event of a software error, the drive stops reading discs immediately, rather than gradually getting worse and worse. This may be preceded by an installed program or toy. Programs for creating virtual drives often conflict with drivers installed on the computer for DVD-ROM drives. The most popular of these programs are Alcohol 120%, Daemon Tools and Nero. We simply remove these programs and undo the changes they made through System Restore. Let's go to Control Panel => Action Center => System Restore and select the date to which you should restore. Select a date when the drive was still working without problems.

Check your external hard drive connection

Each technician will also start working on the hardware while analyzing the hardware problem. If the hard drive is detected, then most likely the first port on the computer is faulty. Especially with cheaper plates, their quality often leaves much to be desired. The cable may be broken and therefore a stable connection cannot be established. Be sure to connect the AC adapter. And make sure it's turned on. Check the indicators on the plate and power supply.

• Get an alternative cable.
• Many external hard drives are not the cause of the power cable.

We look at the result; if the problems have disappeared, then the remote program is to blame; if not, we move on.

Driver error

The drive may not see the disks due to errors in the driver. By pressing the key combination “Win ​​+ Pause”, open the device manager from the menu on the left.

In the list of devices, we delete virtual drives, if this did not happen after uninstalling the programs that we met above. Right-click on the virtual drive and select “delete” from the drop-down menu. To completely remove the traces left behind, we need to find the driver " SPTD" and delete it. To display it, turn on the " Show hidden devices" on the menu " View" You will be able to view the changes after restarting your computer.

The control is simple. Bring up Computer Management, preferably by typing the term into the search bar. If the drive needs to be found here, but no drive letter is assigned, right-click the item.

• From the Data Storage submenu, select.
• Then all connected hard drives are displayed.

If the problem does not disappear after rebooting, proceed to the next step. In the task manager, go to "", and among the devices with the name " ATA Chanel"We need to find the one that is responsible for the CD-ROM. To do this, you need to open the controller properties and go to the “Advanced parameters” tab.

The line “Device type” should contain “”. See if there is a check mark next to the item “ Enable DMA", try starting the system both with the function enabled and disabled. This method often helps to get the drive to read discs in Windows 7.

If the wrong one is used, it leads to problems. The entry "Edit environment variables for this account" also appears as a hit.

• Type "Environment" into the search box in the Start menu.
• Click "Create".

• Open Device Manager.
• In the View section, select.
• Devices or drivers that are not activated will not be available.
• Now find the model name of your entry.

If the drive does not read only video DVD discs, then perhaps the wrong region is selected in the drive settings. In order to change regional settings, go to the task manager and open the properties of the DVD-ROM. Go to the “DVD Region” tab and select your region, but if the “Current Region” line is set to “Not Selected,” then it’s better not to change anything.

The disk or file system is faulty

However, make sure that you only really remove the drivers that you know are no longer needed or are causing the problem. To ensure safety, restart the system and reconnect the external hard drive. Often the problem is fixed. If the drive is now recognized but you still can't access your files, you may have to face the truth that the drive is indeed faulty. Then we just reformat. The function is achieved by right-clicking on the disc entry in Explorer.

CD drive problem

All DIY drive repairs come down to replacing the IDE or SATA cable from the drive to the motherboard. You can also try connecting a different power connector; usually the power supply has a couple of free connectors. And the last thing that remains for us is to clean the disk drive laser.

To clean the laser head, remove the drive cover and very gently wipe the laser with a cotton swab.

If the drive still doesn't show up in Device Manager, the drive may also be mechanically faulty. In this case, you have no choice but to buy a new record. Before troubleshooting, first make sure that the drives you are using work with your computer. Inserting a disc of a non-standard size or shape into a drive that is not designed to accommodate it may damage the drive.

Standard round disc 120 mm

Examples of non-standard or formatted drives that are not supported

Do not use acetone, alcohol or other aggressive liquids. Instead of the expected result, you will lose the drive forever. The best choice would be water or, as a last resort, high-quality gasoline for lighters.

If you don't want to risk disassembling the drive, you can purchase a special cleaning CD that will also effectively clean the laser eye of accumulated dust.

Accepts discs, but discs are not readable or are automatically ejected

If the disc is curved on both sides or in the center, do not use it as it may get caught in the drive. If you have difficulty inserting the disc into the device, or if the disc stops in the middle of the disc, look closely at the disc for marks that may be interfering with the disc. If you can't find the bright shortcuts on the disc, try loading it a few more times. Try inserting a different drive to see if the problem is caused by a specific drive. Make sure you insert enough of the disc to engage the drive mechanism. You have to insert almost the entire disk to activate the disk and remove it. If you do not insert the disc all the way, the device will reverse and eject the disc. Give the disc a second or second to accept the disc when it is fully inserted. Reset.

Do not eject discs or discs are ejected slowly

• Check the disc to make sure it is flat.
• You can do this by placing the disc upside down on a flat surface.
• Do not use discs with objects attached or suspended.
• Make sure the device is not turned upside down.
• Select System Information from the menu.
• Remove the label if possible.
• If the disc does not eject, try pressing the eject key on your keyboard.

To understand the reasons why the laptop does not read disks, it is necessary to analyze the situation - how exactly did the malfunction occur? What events preceded the problem?

If the computer has been in use for a long time, it is logical to assume that the power of the laser beam has decreased significantly over time. In this case, the drive usually first stops writing information to discs, and after a few months it becomes impossible to play back.

If you can't use a shared drive

If you enabled the option to request permission before using the drive, click Accept on the computer that is sharing its optical drive. Summary: External hard drive not recognized or appears on your computer or drive?

Hard drive overview is not displayed or recognized

Some types of disk drives have an option to increase laser power. For this purpose, there is a special adjustment screw on the body. The problem is that laser amplification will force the equipment to work in a forced mode and this will soon lead to the final destruction of the laser source.

If the discs are not only unreadable, but the tray does not open at all, it can be assumed that there is no power to the device. There could be several reasons for this.

Make sure your external hard drive appears under Disk Management

When you find that your external hard drive is not showing up on your computer, you first need to open the Disk Management tool and make sure that it shows up in Disk Management. This will help you determine why your hard drive is not recognized and find the right solution to display or locate the missing drive.

Make the hard drive recognized and appear on the computer in different cases

When the hard drive appears in Disk Management. If you see your external drive listed in the Disk Management window, this means that the drive is not showing up in your computer window because it does not contain partitions. To backup or restore data to an external hard drive is not recognized.

• The contact in the connecting wires is broken. You need to turn off the computer, perform an external inspection, disconnect and reconnect the power and data cables.
• Malfunction of the motherboard or south bridge.
• The tracks on laptop boards are very thin and often burn out. A short circuit most often occurs after liquid gets on the laptop keyboard. Burnt tracks and contacts can be detected by visual inspection. Some advanced users even repair gaps in tracks on the motherboard themselves.
• If the laptop has not been recharged for a long time, the battery may not have enough power to operate some of the computer's power-consuming devices properly. To check this version you just need to connect the charger to your laptop and wait a while.

The disk drive could break, and not only at the laser level. The test is usually carried out by installing a known-good analogue or installing the problematic unit in another computer.

Software problems

Sometimes a situation where the laptop does not read discs is caused by the operation of certain applications, such as Nero. If any virtual disks were previously created on the computer, the system could switch to them, and the physical drive would seem to disappear from the general list of connected equipment.

To find out if the drive is connected, you need to open Control Panel and view the list of connected devices. If the problem is with your disk management software, the physical drive may not be listed in the hardware list, but virtual disks will be shown.

To begin with, you can try simply removing the virtual disks and turning on the physical drive. Perhaps after a reboot, reading DVDs and CDs will be restored.

The next probable reason is that the device drivers are not working correctly. How can you reinstall the drivers if the drive does not read and it is impossible to use the set of files from the Windows installation distribution? All that remains is to look for the necessary drivers on the Internet. The best way is to go to the official website of the manufacturer of the type of drive that is installed on your computer.

If you are not sure which drivers are required, you can go another, simpler route. Download and install a special program from the Internet that automatically analyzes the computer system and checks the availability and relevance of drivers.

The utility itself will check the availability and functionality of drivers and then automatically find and install them. As an option, you can run the Windows OS automatic update system; in the overall process, the latest drivers for the optical drive will be installed.

Problem with BIOS settings

For some reason, the laser drive was disabled at the basic BIOS settings level. Go to CMOS settings and check. If it says that the drive is unavailable, you just need to re-enable it by selecting Enable instead of Disable from the drop-down menu. Then restart Windows. Even easier is to reset the BIOS settings to default. If you did not do anything special with the BIOS settings, such an operation will not harm the performance of your computer.

The computer is infected with viruses

If you are an active Internet user, like to visit little-known sites, often install new programs, follow links in emails, the likelihood that your computer will receive a portion of malicious viruses is very high.

First you need to check the system. Enable antivirus scanning. After removing infections, the antivirus usually prompts you to restart the operating system for a final repair.

If after an overload the disks are still not readable, it could very well turn out that your digital horse got a really serious illness that severely destroyed the operating system. Viruses often destroy important system files and disguise themselves as their names.