DVD-ROM died.

Car1gt · 07-18-2007, 02:03 AM

So, I've only had it for about 2 months now, which makes this all the more frustrating.
It would be the Lite-On DVDRW LH-20A1S SATA device.
I put a disk in and it does nothing.
A quick check into the Device Manager notes that "Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)" which to me sounds like windows glorified way of saying "Your shit broke." to me.

I have tired downloading the newest Firmware from Lite-On, but it won't even open because it doesn't recognize I eve have a drive connected.
Also, I have opened up the case and tried even changing which port I have the SATA plug in and still nothing.

The trick is that it works when connect to my older rig, so the device still works, just the drives are borked.
It has, obviously, worked since installation.

Is there anyway to fix this without buying a new one?

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 02:20 AM

Hum. Have you checked if the system recognizes it in bios? You are sure the connector is staying solidly connected on the DVD/CD side? (Some of those Sata cables can be kinda loose and floppy.)

Which version of Windows do you have? Did said version recently get an update?

Have you tried contacting Lite-On? Like calling a phone number to get a tech support peep to help you?

Sounds like it's a driver issue / OS conflict.

Hum... this model doesn't appear on the Lite-On site. That's not a good sign.

evilsofa · 07-18-2007, 02:23 AM

Are you able to make a boot CD or DVD, or have a boot CD or DVD like an OS install disk? If you can make one on your old rig, you can make a boot CD of Memtest86+ 1.70, here (link downloads a .zip of an ISO to be burned to CD or DVD). See if the new machine will boot from that drive. If it does, then it may be a driver issue.

What motherboard do you have? You may wish to try updating the motherboard drivers.

Have you installed anything like Daemon Tools or other applications which get involved with disk operations? Have you installed a game with Starforce protection? See here for a list of programs that install Ring 0 drivers (which might be interfering with the DVD drive) and for a Starforce removal tool.

Edit: oh yeah, and did the drive ever work on your new computer and then stop working, or did it never work at all on the new computer?

Car1gt · 07-18-2007, 02:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

Hum. Have you checked if the system recognizes it in bios? You are sure the connector is staying solidly connected on the DVD/CD side? (Some of those Sata cables can be kinda loose and floppy.)

Which version of Windows do you have? Did said version recently get an update?

Have you tried contacting Lite-On? Like calling a phone number to get a tech support peep to help you?

Sounds like it's a driver issue / OS conflict.

Hum... this model doesn't appear on the Lite-On site. That's not a good sign.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106057 It's the one that is current in Fozzik's recommended list.

I am using Vista 64-bit. I believe a recent update has happened prior to me noticing it had died.
The old computer that it worked on was XP.

No, I haven't called any numbers yet through Lite-On. I was seeing if I could possible get a solution by other means first.

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 02:33 AM

That's what I was afraid of. Doing some research (Foz and I have both been recommending it for a while) it appears that said drive is not only no longer listed on the Lite-On official site, but the other models with it's primary number do not list Vista in the certifications. It may be that it either isn't 64-bit compatible, or doesn't have Vista drivers.

I do note that a slightly more expensive model does carry the Vista cert, the LH-20A1L-06 at $40. What may need to happen is that you verify with Lite-On that it isn't compatible with Vista, and if so, NewEgg should be able to swap you out for the other drive. (Though, at a 15% restocking fee and you will probably wind up paying for shipping. That's going to be like $12 lost and you may want to consider just paying the $40 for a brand new one.

)

My bet is that it isn't compatible with Vista. (Someone on a different board mentioned that there was just a Vista auto-update that gimped something they had that previously worked as well.)

Car1gt · 07-18-2007, 02:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rabb1t

That's what I was afraid of. Doing some research (Foz and I have both been recommending it for a while) it appears that said drive is not only no longer listed on the Lite-On official site, but the other models with it's primary number do not list Vista in the certifications. It may be that it either isn't 64-bit compatible, or doesn't have Vista drivers.

I do note that a slightly more expensive model does carry the Vista cert, the LH-20A1L-06 at $40. What may need to happen is that you verify with Lite-On that it isn't compatible with Vista, and if so, NewEgg should be able to swap you out for the other drive. (Though, at a 15% restocking fee and you will probably wind up paying for shipping. That's going to be like $12 lost and you may want to consider just paying the $40 for a brand new one.

)

My bet is that it isn't compatible with Vista. (Someone on a different board mentioned that there was just a Vista auto-update that gimped something they had that previously worked as well.)

What makes that weird that it worked flawlessly up until, as far as I noticed, a week ago (though, could very well have been longer, I don't exactly use it everyday). What a bummer that is. Maybe there will be another Vista Update and it will magically start working again...

rabb1t · 07-18-2007, 02:48 AM

Maybe, ya never know. I'd say contact Lite-On and see what they have to say about it. If it really is a Vista incompatibility I'm sure they've gotten other reports.

In the mean time, I've changed my page to list the one with the Vista cert (though the systems page won't be updated till the 22nd, cause I already updated that to the new builds on my HD

) and I tossed Foz a heads up in a PM so he can switch his as well.

Sadly, we are in a bit of a growing pain period with Vista and things like this may pop up now and then. Thankfully, this is with a very low cost part relatively speaking.

Car1gt · 08-27-2007, 10:09 PM

Bump and all that.

So, that previous driver never did start working again (shocker), so I finally got around to ordering a new one. I ordered the one in your guys recommended lists; http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827106072 a few days ago that is Vista Certified. I just got it today, opened it, plugged in, turned on the PC.

" Device driver software was not successfully installed. "

It's not the SATA port on the board because my HDD is SATA and plugged into the same square. It's not the cable either because I've changed the cable out.

And the Lite-On site doesn't show any firmware updates for it.

Am I boned? I've glanced through the BIOS but I don't honestly know what I'd be looking for in there anyway.

akuthia · 08-27-2007, 11:50 PM

basically in the bios you're looking for something that's gonna list ide/sata devices, and see if its listed in there. chances are, if its not, it's a connection somewhere along the way. does it open up if you hit the eject button?

Car1gt · 08-28-2007, 01:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by akuthia

basically in the bios you're looking for something that's gonna list ide/sata devices, and see if its listed in there. chances are, if its not, it's a connection somewhere along the way. does it open up if you hit the eject button?

yes, it opens when I hit eject.

rhagz · 08-28-2007, 01:11 AM

Try plugging it into a different SATA port, switch it with the HD if you have to. Sometimes they can just go bad.. it's not unheard of. Power surge or short could cause one to burn out.

Car1gt · 08-28-2007, 01:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagz

Try plugging it into a different SATA port, switch it with the HD if you have to. Sometimes they can just go bad.. it's not unheard of. Power surge or short could cause one to burn out.

It also shows up in the BIOS.

akuthia · 08-28-2007, 11:22 AM

definately sounds like it's driver issues at this point, did you comepletely remove othe old one before installing this one?

Tomcrit · 08-28-2007, 05:36 PM

Did you try Evil's suggestion to see if it will boot an OS disk or any bootable disk like memtest, as this will eliminate windows drivers.

Car1gt · 08-28-2007, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tomcrit

Did you try Evil's suggestion to see if it will boot an OS disk or any bootable disk like memtest, as this will eliminate windows drivers.

What would that mean if it can boot from a disk?

rhagz · 08-28-2007, 08:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Car1gt

What would that mean if it can boot from a disk?

It would mean that the drive works and the system recognizes it but Windows doesn't like it.

akuthia · 08-28-2007, 10:31 PM

well i think thats already been mostly deteremined by the bios recognising it, although i suppose its possible the laser is dead...

Car1gt · 08-29-2007, 02:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rhagz

It would mean that the drive works and the system recognizes it but Windows doesn't like it.

The newer one is even listed as Windows Vista certified. This is all sorts of screwed up. I haven't actually tested it, other than having a disk in there and noticing when it turns on that it gives me the option to boot from disk. Which, I would think means that I could.

I had forgotten to un-install the drivers when I got the new one, however, I put the old one back in, Uninstalled Drivers, and then put the new one in. It says it's there but again, drivers are corrupted.

Is the only fix, which is the only thing I can think of, formatting windows out in case something did go haywire along the way? I mean, the drive worked when it was new, and I'd wager the new one would be the same. If that is the only way, that really sucks.

What I have tried so far;
Bought a new DVD drive.
Changed the SATA cord.
Changed the SATA slot used.
Uninstalled previous drivers.
-
It does show up in BIOS.
Pretty sure it could boot from a disk.
The drive is Vista Certified.
Random hardware hates me.

Car1gt · 08-29-2007, 02:45 AM

Holy shit. I fixed it. Or, rather, I found a fix. I finally found the right google search wordage to find it.

It actually required edited your Registry. However, there is a download that does it automatically.

http://www.vistahelpforum.com/showpo...81&postcount=4

Worked. So simple. So much wasted time.

akuthia · 08-29-2007, 12:31 PM

just as an aside, im not sure if you were the one posting the reg or after that. but dont ever snag a reg file like that, either do the fix yourself, find a program that will ASSIST in doing reg changes, or take it to someone you trust.