Sony d56A dvd rw stopped reading, writing, month old computer

Dell 6000,centrino, xp home, sp2
been through tech support with dell, and they believe its a windows software
glitch, not mechanical, and i need to do a complete restore. before i take
this drastic step, i'm looking for a second opinion. cd rom reads a windows
boot disc, which leads them to the software conclusion. drive makes multiple
noises as it tries to read a cd. some data cd's read after extended period of
time. no music or dvd read. how does this happen? Is this a service pack 2
issue?
If so, its BS that this has not been addressed. I've tried a system restore,
no luck.

in the case of having to do a complete restore, does anyone have advice on
the best way to transfer files, settings etc.? buy an external harddrive?
Outlook settings were especailly time consuming to get set, and i'd like not
to have to do it again.
thanks for everyones help.

No, it is not a SP2 issue. Sounds like you have a
defective DVD-RW drive or the laser lens is dirty.

Try a Laser Lens Cleaner, such as:
http://www.memorex.com/html/products...D=101&opento=9

or
http://www.verbatim.com.au/products/...l.cfm?ID=41838

Troubleshooting PC Storage Devices
http://www.informit.com/articles/art...&seqNum=6&rl=1

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
http://www.microsoft.com/athome/secu...xp/choose.mspx

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

"snappygyro" wrote:

| Dell 6000,centrino, xp home, sp2
| been through tech support with dell, and they believe its a windows software
| glitch, not mechanical, and i need to do a complete restore. before i take
| this drastic step, i'm looking for a second opinion. cd rom reads a windows
| boot disc, which leads them to the software conclusion. drive makes multiple
| noises as it tries to read a cd. some data cd's read after extended period of
| time. no music or dvd read. how does this happen? Is this a service pack 2
| issue?
| If so, its BS that this has not been addressed. I've tried a system restore,
| no luck.
|
| in the case of having to do a complete restore, does anyone have advice on
| the best way to transfer files, settings etc.? buy an external harddrive?
| Outlook settings were especailly time consuming to get set, and i'd like not
| to have to do it again.
| thanks for everyones help.