Hardware or software problem?

[hourb12]

I have a Compac Presario desktop with a 160G hard drive, 3400+ processor and a HL-DT-ST DVDRRW GWA-4164B drive that will not see a DVD of any flavor.
The drive reads and writes cd's all day long. It is supposed to read and write DVD's but for some reason I get a message telling me to insert a cd when there's a fresh DVD in it. My reasoning is that if it reads a cd it should read a dvd so I think it's a software problem. Can I get some input on this one? Appreciated in advance!

 

[sminlal]

It's possible that the red laser has burned out. There are separate lasers to read and write CDs (infrared laser) and DVDs (red laser), so if one burns out then that type of disc is no longer usable.

 

[hourb12]

mbauerhour@aol.com

[spoiler][quote][/quote][/spoiler]

It's possible that the red laser has burned out. There are separate lasers to read and write CDs (infrared laser) and DVDs (red laser), so if one burns out then that type of disc is no longer usable.

Appreciate the info, I took the drive apart and only saw one laser, but I don't know enough about them to fix it anyway. I went with a Plextor drive because I don;t have SATA capabilities. Roxio software included.

 

[hourb12]

Best answer selected by hourb12.