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Asked: 2021-11-10T13:40:20+00:00 In:

Why Won’t Certain DVDs Play In My Laptop DVD Drive?

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I decided I wanted to rewatch my Charmed DVDs the other day. I watched the first disk without issue, and then most of the second disk without issue, but I had to stop half way through the last episode because of real life. I reinserted the disk later, and the drive made a series of weird noises, and utterly failed to play the DVD. I tried again; same result.

I tested it with an Harry Potter Audio Book CD, and it worked fine. I tested it with my Avengers DVD, and that worked fine. I put in the third Charmed disk, and THAT worked fine. I thought the problem was solved, and happily watched my way through that disk, thinking maybe the problem had just been with disk two. Then I tried to watch disk four, and had exactly the same problem as I’d had with disk two.

I tried the Avengers DVD again, just in case it wasn’t playing -any- DVDs, but it worked fine. I restarted my laptop, and tried again with Charmed disk four. Same problem.

I know it is not the disk, because the disk works just fine on my friend’s computer, and I know it is not the DVD drive alone, since it’s perfectly happy to play Avengers or Harry Potter. I just don’t understand why my DVD drive is having such a problem with only these -specific- DVDs, when less than a week ago, it was fine playing them.

Please help.

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    1 Answer

    1. It may be an intermittent fault…; which likely will mean replacing the drive. Equally a lens cleaning disk may help….
      It may be an issue with the lens itself – as in it may be failing – low output; or in effect going on/off as/when.

      There is one lens I(usually) for DVD and one – different colour etc. – for CD. Does the drive play CDs OK?

      If replacing the built-in drive isn’t something you’d like to do yourself… (and provided you know which panel on the base of the laptop to remove) it’s not difficult to replace the drive – usually. Likewise any decent repair shop “ought” to do it for very modest sum… In the meantime an external usb unit would be a good option; they are around for very few £/$ these days. I have Samsung and Liteon usb drives; they work fine.

      The Liteon is my preferred unit as the model I hav has the tray release button on the front; whereas many Samsungs (currently) have it on the top towards the back…

      What make and model laptop do you have; and what make/model dvd unit is installed in it? That info may allow more useful help re’ replacing the dvd unit?

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