People still rely on DVD drives to access media or complete installations. And when this drive suddenly stops working, users are left in a state of panic. What causes CD / DVD drives to stop working and how can I fix this problem?
Nothing to worry about. In this post, we’ll take a look at some of the most common problems and how to fix them.
Dirty CD or DVD
Let’s eliminate one of the usual suspects. Try inserting more than one CD / DVD if possible. If the drive reads other CDs, then the first is probably just dirty.
There are cleaning kits designed to keep CDs in their original condition. When wiping a CD, wipe the tracks. Move from the middle to the outside.
If you suspect that the CD-ROM drive itself is dirty, you will need to buy a CD / DVD-ROM cleaner. A cleaning kit will remove dust from inside the drive. The CD tray can be cleaned with a damp cloth. Be sure to read our full article on how to properly clean the inside of your PC.
DVD player not working after Windows 10 upgrade
There have been reports that when upgrading to Windows 10, CD drives stopped working as expected. In this case, check Windows Update and update the driver.
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Windows Update
Go to Windows Settings Update & Security.
Click Check for Updates. Windows 10 will continue to download any updates you missed.
Keeping your system up to date helps keep your hardware running smoothly.
Updating the DVD driver
Right-click the Start button and select Device Manager.
Expand DVD / CD-ROM Drives. Right-click the optical drive and select Update Driver.
Windows will update your driver. Installing updates can fix the problem with your drive.
Windows 10 CD drive not displayed
If your DVD drive doesn’t show up in Device Manager, your cable might be loose. Cables accidentally disconnect when the computer is moved from one location to another.
Check your connections to make sure all cables are connected. Then check if your CD-ROM drive appears in Windows 10.
Otherwise, it could also be a software problem. Check out our post detailing the reasons why the CD / DVD drive won’t show up in Windows, even if the hardware is fine.
Windows 10 DVD Drive Not Working Due to Applications
Some applications or programs may cause your DVD drives to stop working. You can verify this by using the DVD drive in Safe Mode.
To enter Safe Mode, press Windows + R to open Run. Enter MSCONFIG and click OK.
In System Configuration, go to the Boot tab. Under Boot Options, select the Secure Boot check box and click OK.
Then you will be prompted to restart your computer. After rebooting the system, you will enter Safe Mode. See if the DVD drive is working. If so, then there is a program on your computer that interferes with the normal operation of the drive.
Disc ejection power
If the physical button does not allow you to open the drive, you can ask the computer to do it for you.
Force ejecting a disk in Windows 10
Right-click the Start button and select File Explorer. Find your DVD drive in the left pane. Right-click the drive name and select Eject.
Windows will open the DVD drive for you. Remove the disc and close the drive.
Force eject the CD / DVD with a paperclip
Some users are unaware that there is a pin-sized hole in your DVD drive. This is usually next to the eject button. If you insert a paper clip into the hole, the drive will open.
The clip trick is a short term solution. If you find yourself relying on it all the time, you should consider replacing your hard drive.
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