dvd

[jdl]

Hello, I'm not sure I'm on the correct forum? My old computer has a dvd slot, it will play a cd but not a dvd. I thought dvd players would play both.
?

The computer is an old Del. XP home edition-- the hard drive came out of a newer computer, I don't know if that is relevant, the computer works fine.

The dvd is text not movies or music. I didn't know if there was free software, I might be able to download, all I want to do is read the info on the disk. when I try to run the dvd, a message pops-up, saying maybe disk isn't formatted, the computer can't read it. This disk will work on other computers but, if it won't work on mine, I can't use it. Any ideas. thanks

[DaveLembke]

I'd open the system up and report back with the model# of the DVD Reader such as Hitachi 506B etc so we can know exactly what we are up against. Also...does Windows show this as a DVD or CD drive in My Computer? If it says CD Drive then Windows may think that it can only handle CDs or infact maybe this drive is not DVD? I have seen some combo drives misread  the DVD / CD-RW drives in which Windows thinks that the hardware is a CD Rom and not a DVD Rom... Make and Model of the specific drive is needed to assist you better.

[jdl]

Thanks for the reply.

I went to (my computer) link, there is a box that says dvd. When I try to run the disk, the lite is on for the driver for several seconds, when it goes off, the title under the dvd box switches to cd.

I went to device manager, clicked on dvd/cd and it read, NEC DV-5700A. thanks

[Broni]

Try one of these:
1. Uninstall the drive through Device Manager.
Restart computer. The drive will be automatically reinstalled.
or...
2. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060
Restart computer.
or...
3. Download, and run Restore Missing CD Drive patch
Double click on cdgone.zip to unzip it.
Right click on cdgone.reg, click Merge.
Accept registry merge.
Restart computer.
or...
4. Go to Device Manager, click a "+" sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
You'll see two items:
- ATA Channel0 (or Primary Channel)
- ATA Channel1 (or Secondary Channel)
Right click on each of them, and click Uninstall. Confirm.
Restart Windows. They'll be automatically reinstalled.

If the above doesn't help, you need new drive.

[jdl]

I tried your first suggestion, it still didn't work.

I have another computer that the mother board is out. I swapped out the dvd driver, everything works now. thanks

[Broni]

Cool