Dvd Drive Issue

[intocomputing2]

Sometimes the DVD drive on our computer desktop doesn't read some discs, and I know the discs aren't damaged since I have tried them on the DVD player on the living room. Why is it that a computer DVD drive can't read the discs while a normal DVD player can? How can this problem be fixed?

[tjet]

What is the make of the player and what format are the discs?

Since your player will play some and not others I am wondering if it is a format or copyright issue and not a problem with the drive or computer.

Edited October 1, 2008 by tjet

[shanenin]

I would just replace it. More then likely it is just a bad drive. You can get a brand new one for about $20.

[Pete_C]

When was the last time you cleaned the drive with a laser lens cleaner?

These look like a DVD with a row of toothbrush bristles on it. They remove the dust and film of air pollution which builds up on the laser lens (since the laser ionizes dust , smoke , and pollutants and gives them one charge and the lens the opposite one).

Even a little dust in the wrong location can scatter the light enough that some disks become unreadable (eventually all will be unreadable until you clean the lens).

Cost is under ten bucks at places like walmart, and you can use the disk over and over .