CD drive won't stay open - closes on its' own

Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2 optical
drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both drives, moments
later they will close on their own. This only happens when Windows is
loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and open the drives, they
stay open), so Windows must be doing something that's causing the drives to
close on their own?

Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to wipe
the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch, there's
no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista version is SP1
already though.

Any ideas?

Thanks
James

Hi, James.

Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so long
since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings, but they
may be trying to start a program or movie.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100

"news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
news:...
> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and open
> the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something that's
> causing the drives to close on their own?
>
> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to wipe
> the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch, there's
> no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista version is SP1
> already though.
>
> Any ideas?
>
> Thanks
> James

Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following. Doesn't
autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray and close the
drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What I'm saying if I open
the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a CD or even touch it in any
way, that the drawer then closes again on its' own. Can autoplay be causing
this?

Thanks
James

"R. C. White" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Hi, James.
>
> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings, but
> they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>
> RC
> --
> R. C. White, CPA
> San Marcos, TX
>
> Microsoft Windows MVP
> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>
> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
>> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and
>> open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something
>> that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>
>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to wipe
>> the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch,
>> there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista
>> version is SP1 already though.
>>
>> Any ideas?
>>
>> Thanks
>> James
>

Why do you open it and not put in a CD? Are you just slow? It's not
supposed to be used for a cupholder.
I doubt it is autoplay settings since they're supposed to tell it what to do
after you close the drive.
Do you have all Windows Updates?
Have you checked the Dell website for driver updates?


"JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
news:...
> Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following. Doesn't
> autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray and close the
> drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What I'm saying if I
> open the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a CD or even touch it
> in any way, that the drawer then closes again on its' own. Can autoplay
> be causing this?
>
> Thanks
> James
>
> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Hi, James.
>>
>> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
>> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings,
>> but they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>>
>> RC
>> --
>> R. C. White, CPA
>> San Marcos, TX
>>
>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>>
>> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
>>> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and
>>> open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something
>>> that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>>
>>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to
>>> wipe the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch,
>>> there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista
>>> version is SP1 already though.
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> James
>>
>
>

Obviously my intention is to put in a CD, however it closes before I have a
chance to do so. Yes I could move faster or just hold the drawer open, but
the point is I shouldn't have to nor risk the chance of having a CD
caught/jammed when the drawer closes and I don't have it in properly, the
drawer should stay open until I tell it to do otherwise. I've been working
with tech support but was hoping to hear if somebody else has seen this in
the past.

I doubt it's the autoplay settings too, unless Windows is doing some scan of
the optical drives constantly and this is causing the drawers to close right
away.

No, no Windows Updates, I wanted to leave the system pristine so that Dell
tech support couldn't say that maybe it was such and such update, although I
plan to push through the available Windows and MS updates unless I see other
options here.

I also have it written to look for driver updates, however the Dell tech was
on my machine remotely and was installing drivers, so you'd think they would
be the latest, but you never know.

Ciao
James

"Eric" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Why do you open it and not put in a CD? Are you just slow? It's not
> supposed to be used for a cupholder.
> I doubt it is autoplay settings since they're supposed to tell it what to
> do after you close the drive.
> Do you have all Windows Updates?
> Have you checked the Dell website for driver updates?
>
>
> "JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following. Doesn't
>> autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray and close
>> the drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What I'm saying if
>> I open the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a CD or even touch
>> it in any way, that the drawer then closes again on its' own. Can
>> autoplay be causing this?
>>
>> Thanks
>> James
>>
>> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Hi, James.
>>>
>>> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
>>> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings,
>>> but they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>>>
>>> RC
>>> --
>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>
>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>>>
>>> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>>>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>>>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
>>>> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and
>>>> open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something
>>>> that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>>>
>>>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to
>>>> wipe the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch,
>>>> there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista
>>>> version is SP1 already though.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> James
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Windows should give you the option of removing any of it's updates
individually if they would cause any problems.
I have seen Windows updates break some stupid apps, but I have yet to see a
hardware problem caused by updates, more likely one would be caused by a
lack of updates.
Very few people choose to prevent Windows updates. Normally if you buy a PC
with the OS already installed, they have automatic updates enabled.
Frequently you'll want the updates because they patch security holes.

"JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
news:...
> Obviously my intention is to put in a CD, however it closes before I have
> a chance to do so. Yes I could move faster or just hold the drawer open,
> but the point is I shouldn't have to nor risk the chance of having a CD
> caught/jammed when the drawer closes and I don't have it in properly, the
> drawer should stay open until I tell it to do otherwise. I've been
> working with tech support but was hoping to hear if somebody else has seen
> this in the past.
>
> I doubt it's the autoplay settings too, unless Windows is doing some scan
> of the optical drives constantly and this is causing the drawers to close
> right away.
>
> No, no Windows Updates, I wanted to leave the system pristine so that Dell
> tech support couldn't say that maybe it was such and such update, although
> I plan to push through the available Windows and MS updates unless I see
> other options here.
>
> I also have it written to look for driver updates, however the Dell tech
> was on my machine remotely and was installing drivers, so you'd think they
> would be the latest, but you never know.
>
> Ciao
> James
>
> "Eric" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Why do you open it and not put in a CD? Are you just slow? It's not
>> supposed to be used for a cupholder.
>> I doubt it is autoplay settings since they're supposed to tell it what to
>> do after you close the drive.
>> Do you have all Windows Updates?
>> Have you checked the Dell website for driver updates?
>>
>>
>> "JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following. Doesn't
>>> autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray and close
>>> the drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What I'm saying if
>>> I open the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a CD or even touch
>>> it in any way, that the drawer then closes again on its' own. Can
>>> autoplay be causing this?
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>> James
>>>
>>> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> Hi, James.
>>>>
>>>> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
>>>> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings,
>>>> but they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>>>>
>>>> RC
>>>> --
>>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>>
>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>>> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>>>>
>>>> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>>>> news:...
>>>>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>>>>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>>>>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
>>>>> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and
>>>>> open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something
>>>>> that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>>>>
>>>>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to
>>>>> wipe the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from
>>>>> scratch, there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the
>>>>> Vista version is SP1 already though.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>
>>>>> Thanks
>>>>> James
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

Definitely agree, it's one of my normal startup routines on a new PC, it was
just I had never seen this particular oddity before and wanted to be able to
say to Dell that it's right out of the box and nothing was updated, so if it
worked in your factory then it should work here (I know they likely don't
use CD's in the factory, but they probably test).

In any case thanks for your feedback, I'll be undertaking more of the steps
we discussed later today. If you think of any possible setting in Windows
Vista that may cause these optical drives to just keep closing on their own
then would appreciate the feedback.

Ciao
James

"Eric" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Windows should give you the option of removing any of it's updates
> individually if they would cause any problems.
> I have seen Windows updates break some stupid apps, but I have yet to see
> a hardware problem caused by updates, more likely one would be caused by a
> lack of updates.
> Very few people choose to prevent Windows updates. Normally if you buy a
> PC with the OS already installed, they have automatic updates enabled.
> Frequently you'll want the updates because they patch security holes.
>
> "JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Obviously my intention is to put in a CD, however it closes before I have
>> a chance to do so. Yes I could move faster or just hold the drawer open,
>> but the point is I shouldn't have to nor risk the chance of having a CD
>> caught/jammed when the drawer closes and I don't have it in properly, the
>> drawer should stay open until I tell it to do otherwise. I've been
>> working with tech support but was hoping to hear if somebody else has
>> seen this in the past.
>>
>> I doubt it's the autoplay settings too, unless Windows is doing some scan
>> of the optical drives constantly and this is causing the drawers to close
>> right away.
>>
>> No, no Windows Updates, I wanted to leave the system pristine so that
>> Dell tech support couldn't say that maybe it was such and such update,
>> although I plan to push through the available Windows and MS updates
>> unless I see other options here.
>>
>> I also have it written to look for driver updates, however the Dell tech
>> was on my machine remotely and was installing drivers, so you'd think
>> they would be the latest, but you never know.
>>
>> Ciao
>> James
>>
>> "Eric" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Why do you open it and not put in a CD? Are you just slow? It's not
>>> supposed to be used for a cupholder.
>>> I doubt it is autoplay settings since they're supposed to tell it what
>>> to do after you close the drive.
>>> Do you have all Windows Updates?
>>> Have you checked the Dell website for driver updates?
>>>
>>>
>>> "JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following.
>>>> Doesn't autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray
>>>> and close the drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What
>>>> I'm saying if I open the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a
>>>> CD or even touch it in any way, that the drawer then closes again on
>>>> its' own. Can autoplay be causing this?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> James
>>>>
>>>> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
>>>> news:...
>>>>> Hi, James.
>>>>>
>>>>> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
>>>>> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings,
>>>>> but they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>>>>>
>>>>> RC
>>>>> --
>>>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>>>
>>>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>>>> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>>>>>
>>>>> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in
>>>>> message news:...
>>>>>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>>>>>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>>>>>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only
>>>>>> happens when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS
>>>>>> screen and open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing
>>>>>> something that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to
>>>>>> wipe the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from
>>>>>> scratch, there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied -
>>>>>> the Vista version is SP1 already though.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Thanks
>>>>>> James
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

OK I ran all the Windows and MS Updates, the problem still happens.

I found a firmware update for one of the optical drives, updated, rebooted,
confirmed it applied, but the problem with the door closing on its' own
persists.

I then swapped one of the optical drives for another drive in another system
(other system runs Vista 32-bit Home Premium), the problem stayed on the
system (that is the drive from the other system started closing on its' own
once booted in the problem system), when I put the drive back in the working
Vista 32-bit system the problem went away, so the problem is definitely on
the Vista 64-bit system, it's not the physical drives themselves.

Thinking that maybe the Dell tech who re-installed the system drivers may
have grabbed an old one or an incorrect one, I wiped / re-installed Vista
again, but even during the Vista setup (where it's expanding/copying files)
the drawer would close on its' own. After the setup completed (didn't
install any patches or even have the network cable connected), the drawer is
still closing on its' own (both drives), and still not doing it in the BIOS
(so only when Windows is loaded).

I wonder... the system came with a botched drive image, the
installer/factory had left their diagnostics (partially in Spanish!)
partitions setup as opposed to the proper image for the system, which is why
the Dell tech had to wipe/re-install in the first place with me. Is it
possible that the 2 optical drives, or somewhere in the BIOS, that they have
it set to some diagnostic mode?

Cheers
James

"Eric" <> wrote in message
news:...
> Why do you open it and not put in a CD? Are you just slow? It's not
> supposed to be used for a cupholder.
> I doubt it is autoplay settings since they're supposed to tell it what to
> do after you close the drive.
> Do you have all Windows Updates?
> Have you checked the Dell website for driver updates?
>
>
> "JJB" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
> news:...
>> Hello RC, thanks for the quick response, but I'm not following. Doesn't
>> autoplay only kick in once you put the CD or DVD on the tray and close
>> the drawer, then Windows looks what's on the CD/DVD? What I'm saying if
>> I open the CD drawer (either of them), then don't put a CD or even touch
>> it in any way, that the drawer then closes again on its' own. Can
>> autoplay be causing this?
>>
>> Thanks
>> James
>>
>> "R. C. White" <> wrote in message
>> news:...
>>> Hi, James.
>>>
>>> Have you checked the Autoplay settings for those drives? It's been so
>>> long since I installed Vista that I don't recall the default settings,
>>> but they may be trying to start a program or movie.
>>>
>>> RC
>>> --
>>> R. C. White, CPA
>>> San Marcos, TX
>>>
>>> Microsoft Windows MVP
>>> Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8064.0206) in Win7 Ultimate x64 RC 7100
>>>
>>> "news.microsoft.com" <GWTestREMOVE-> wrote in message
>>> news:...
>>>> Greetings, running Vista Home Premium 64-bit on a Dell system, has 2
>>>> optical drives (Blu ray burner, DVD burner). If I open one or both
>>>> drives, moments later they will close on their own. This only happens
>>>> when Windows is loaded (that is if I just boot to the BIOS screen and
>>>> open the drives, they stay open), so Windows must be doing something
>>>> that's causing the drives to close on their own?
>>>>
>>>> Note this is a fresh install of Vista, for various reasons we had to
>>>> wipe the system and re-install Vista and the Dell drivers from scratch,
>>>> there's no other updates (including MS Updates) applied - the Vista
>>>> version is SP1 already though.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas?
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>> James
>>>
>>
>>
>
>

On Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:50:33 +0100, JJB <GWTestREMOVE->
wrote:

> OK I ran all the Windows and MS Updates, the problem still happens.
>
> I found a firmware update for one of the optical drives, updated,
> rebooted,
> confirmed it applied, but the problem with the door closing on its' own
> persists.
>
> I then swapped one of the optical drives for another drive in another
> system
> (other system runs Vista 32-bit Home Premium), the problem stayed on the
> system (that is the drive from the other system started closing on its'
> own
> once booted in the problem system), when I put the drive back in the
> working
> Vista 32-bit system the problem went away, so the problem is definitely
> on
> the Vista 64-bit system, it's not the physical drives themselves.
>

How about trying it with only one of the drives installed - just
disconnect one and try it, then reconnect it and disconnect the other and
try it again.
What interface are the connected to, and how are they set (master/slave,
primary/secondary)? What about other drives on the system - i.e. the disk
drives?
Have you tried connecting one of them to a different channel?

Does it make a difference if you open it from explorer/windows, or by
pressing the button on the drive door?

Did DELL sell it with two drives? or did you add one of them yourself?

Put a disk in when it is booting - does it read correctly in windows
explorer?
Does selecting eject in explorer on the empty drive open the empty drive?
Does selecting eject in explorer on the occupied drive open the occupied
drive?



> Thinking that maybe the Dell tech who re-installed the system drivers may
> have grabbed an old one or an incorrect one, I wiped / re-installed Vista
> again, but even during the Vista setup (where it's expanding/copying
> files)
> the drawer would close on its' own. After the setup completed (didn't
> install any patches or even have the network cable connected), the
> drawer is
> still closing on its' own (both drives), and still not doing it in the
> BIOS
> (so only when Windows is loaded).
>
> I wonder... the system came with a botched drive image, the
> installer/factory had left their diagnostics (partially in Spanish!)
> partitions setup as opposed to the proper image for the system, which is
> why
> the Dell tech had to wipe/re-install in the first place with me. Is it
> possible that the 2 optical drives, or somewhere in the BIOS, that they
> have
> it set to some diagnostic mode?
>
> Cheers
> James



--
Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/

Problem is fixed now, while it was still happening after the fresh Vista
install, once I installed all the driver updates (latest ones from the Dell
web site, not from the drivers CD that came with the system), the problem
stopped, and I "think" it was right after installing the Intel Matrox
management for the RAID 1 that comes on that system (but can't swear to it
that it was at this point, think it was though).

I've answered some of your questions below.

Thanks
James

"Alan Montgomery" <> wrote in message
newsp.ux5lrajfosol0i@wol-001...
> On Tue, 04 Aug 2009 13:50:33 +0100, JJB <GWTestREMOVE->
> wrote:
>
>> OK I ran all the Windows and MS Updates, the problem still happens.
>>
>> I found a firmware update for one of the optical drives, updated,
>> rebooted,
>> confirmed it applied, but the problem with the door closing on its' own
>> persists.
>>
>> I then swapped one of the optical drives for another drive in another
>> system
>> (other system runs Vista 32-bit Home Premium), the problem stayed on the
>> system (that is the drive from the other system started closing on its'
>> own
>> once booted in the problem system), when I put the drive back in the
>> working
>> Vista 32-bit system the problem went away, so the problem is definitely
>> on
>> the Vista 64-bit system, it's not the physical drives themselves.
>>
>
> How about trying it with only one of the drives installed - just
> disconnect one and try it, then reconnect it and disconnect the other and
> try it again.
> What interface are the connected to, and how are they set (master/slave,
> primary/secondary)? What about other drives on the system - i.e. the disk
> drives?
> Have you tried connecting one of them to a different channel?
>

They're both hooked up as SATA drives, sorry, don't have the other info
you're asking...

> Does it make a difference if you open it from explorer/windows, or by
> pressing the button on the drive door?

No diff, tried both

>
> Did DELL sell it with two drives? or did you add one of them yourself?
>

Comes from Dell with the drives and hookups all done by Dell

> Put a disk in when it is booting - does it read correctly in windows
> explorer?

Yes it can boot to CD/DVD (which is how I re-installed Windows Vista), and I
can read off of it once in Windows

> Does selecting eject in explorer on the empty drive open the empty drive?
> Does selecting eject in explorer on the occupied drive open the occupied
> drive?

Both work

>
>
>
>> Thinking that maybe the Dell tech who re-installed the system drivers may
>> have grabbed an old one or an incorrect one, I wiped / re-installed Vista
>> again, but even during the Vista setup (where it's expanding/copying
>> files)
>> the drawer would close on its' own. After the setup completed (didn't
>> install any patches or even have the network cable connected), the
>> drawer is
>> still closing on its' own (both drives), and still not doing it in the
>> BIOS
>> (so only when Windows is loaded).
>>
>> I wonder... the system came with a botched drive image, the
>> installer/factory had left their diagnostics (partially in Spanish!)
>> partitions setup as opposed to the proper image for the system, which is
>> why
>> the Dell tech had to wipe/re-install in the first place with me. Is it
>> possible that the 2 optical drives, or somewhere in the BIOS, that they
>> have
>> it set to some diagnostic mode?
>>
>> Cheers
>> James
>
>
>
> --
> Using Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/mail/