Left DVD in drive while moving PC

[loosley]

I accidentally left my Windows 7 install DVD in the drive when I took down my PC from its usual spot on the shelf to install a couple of new hard drives. Do you think I damaged my DVD drive or the Windows DVD? I looked at the DVD and it didn't look scratched, and I was able to install Windows from it. Do you think my drive got damaged somehow?

 

[soest009]

Basically leaving media in an optical drive while moving should not damage any components.
When media is put into a optical drive the media is being hold / picked up by two round sort of plates that fit within the center hole of the media and the plastic space holding it in place.
Unless you turned it upside down or shaken the drive heavily the media has next to no possibility to fly around in the drive.

It looks similar to this:
http://www.electronic-spare-parts.com/catalogue/audio_spares/ksm_360a.html
So you have an idea how it is being held in the drive.

 

[compulsivebuilder]

It's better not to leave the disc in the drive, but if it worked for an install, it sounds like you didn't do any damage this time. The risk isn't so much one of damaging the disc, as it is the chance of damaging the drive - the laser read head is fragile.

 

[soest009]

It's better not to leave the disc in the drive, but if it worked for an install, it sounds like you didn't do any damage this time. The risk isn't so much one of damaging the disc, as it is the chance of damaging the drive - the laser read head is fragile.

Off course you should try to refrain from leaving media in drives when moving, but if so the chances of damaging parts is next to 0 unless you go frantic with the case.
And yes the laser head is fragile, but still needs to suffer a direct hit on the glass part or it's suspension for immediate damage and that is very difficult for parts loose in the drive.
For example, i have seen drives that had media shattered to bit's in the drive itself under high speed rotation and the lens suffered no damage at all.

 

[loosley]

Thanks. Do you think I should check the DVD drive somehow? Or is installing Windows a good-enough test to verify its functionality?

 

[soest009]

If something was wrong with the drive or the disc itself you should have already notice that during your windows installation from that disc.
As you mentioned everything was normal, so there's your answer right there.

 

[loosley]

Best answer selected by loosley.