Optical Drive Won't Recognize Fallout 3

[GPUEnthusiast]

I've installed Fallout 3 on this computer before, but I put some ENB's on it, so I just wanted to run uninstaller and re-install it instead of manually removing the enb's.

This is a legitimate copy of Fallout 3 Game of the Year Edition with two disks. I place the disk in the optical drive and you can hear it spinning, and the Drive E icon in My Computer changes to show that it sees a "DVD-ROM" disk in the drive. It does not know it is Fallout 3, and when I double click on the DVD-ROM it says it is empty.

Every other optical disk I own works fine, I just put in Crysis 3 and it recognized it instantly. The disks are slightly scratched, but no more scratched than when I installed them the first time.

My laptop DVD drive can also detect them and run Fallout autorun... What could be the problem?

Also, another tid bit of info, when I right click the "DVD-ROM" in drive E I have these options: Open, Open in new window, Open AutoPlay..., Scan with MS Security Essentials, Share with >, UltraISO > (calm down, it's for PS2 emulators), Burn to disc, Format..., Eject, Copy, Create Shortcut, and Properties.

Autorun does nothing
UltraISO thinks the disk is empty
Burner says the disk is "burn ready and lightscribe ready", so it thinks it is a completely blank disk.

Additional info: OS: Windows 7 SP1 Home Premium 64 bit (legitimate)
Optical Drive: LG with MoDisc and Lightscribe (BD-ROM, DVD-ROM, CD-ROM)
Hardware specs are in my signature.

 

[renz496]

since other optical drive can read the disk then you replace the one on your PC with new one. it might be able to read other disk but this is a dying symptom for optical drive.

 

[cats_Paw]

There are 3 tricks you can try on the DVD (the disk, not the hardware in the laptop) to get it back working.
Most times this is an issue of either magnetic damage done to the DVD, or a light refraction issue.

If other DVD drives can indeed read it, it is most likely a refraction issue, since laptop dvd drives use a more compact laser.

http://www.wisebread.com/quickly-removing-scratches-from-cds-and-dvds

Here are some things that people try to get the dvd to work well (I never tried those myself, but i would try the toothpaste first, as DVDs have Silver content and toothpaste is used to clean metals, and works for silver).

Personally I only use steam (from my mouth) and a clean cloth and most of the times it works.

 

[GPUEnthusiast]

So I tried the toothpaste, because worst case is it ruins my CD and the game is 14 bucks on steam 😀. IT ACTUALLY WORKED. I used toothpaste and a damp washcloth and gently scrubbed the disk using small circles (just like polishing silver) I then went back over with a clean damp washcloth, and then air dried... I can't believe it, but it works now! Thanks, man!

 

[cats_Paw]

Glad I could help mate. Btw, id make a backup of a image of the dvd just in case. I assume the Toothpaste might wear off over time 😀.

 

[GPUEnthusiast]

Glad I could help mate. Btw, id make a backup of a image of the dvd just in case. I assume the Toothpaste might wear off over time 😀.

Will do. Just made an ISO image of it (one that I confirmed I can also install from)