Yrag, IPlural, or any other gurus, please help me.

from WinCustomize Forums
I recently had to do a complete system restore on my rig because of some worms let loose by my kids. Long story, but I completely wiped the harddrive, reformatted, and reinstalled WinXP Home along with all the original software, then updated everything through MS security update CD and MS Windows update. Then I installed Norton System Works along with all the updates for that, including AV definitions. Ran all checks, everything seemed fine. I also installed, updated and ran Spybot S&D 1.3 and AdAware 6.0. Found some manufacturers spyware and deleted that, but otherwise my system appears to be clean and error free.

Except for one thing. My DVD-ROM, a Pioneer DVD-116, will no longer recognize DVD''s. It will recognize and run Music CD''s, Photo CD''s and Data CD/R & CD/RW. But when I Insert a DVD it won''t recognize that a disc is in the drive. I ran the MS troubleshooter without success. The Device manager test says the device is working properly. I tried uninstalling the device and letting Plug-n-Play reinstall, but still no luck. I also tried manually starting the DVD from WMP and Intervideo WinDVD but still the same problem. I get a message asking me to Insert a DVD. It doesn''t matter which DVD disc I use either, having tried about 20 new DVD discs after checking to make sure they would read on another computer.

I went to Pioneer''s site to update the driver, but they have the same driver as I do as the newest version. I also ran System Mechanic 4.0i and all the Norton checks on windows and all reported nothing wrong. So I am completely stumped. The DVD worked perfectly before the restore, and works in every other way except for playing DVD''s now. The only other thing I can think of is possibly a bad codec or maybe a missing Activex control or something of that nature, but I''m not sure where or what to check. Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance for reading this far and anything else you might suggest.

Brad aka Shameless
[Message Edited]
wincustomize
12,045 views 25 replies
Reply #1 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Did the drive come with a disc or anything? Have you downloaded those drivers from the site anyways?
Reply #2 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you by chance, have an nvidia motherboard? In any case open Device Manager and under IDE controllers, look at the properties for your DVD Rom. It must be 'Multi-Word DMA 2' or better. It sounds like Windows just isn't finding the DVD Decoder file it needs to run the DVD.
Sins of a Solar Empire: Rebellion
Reply #3 from WinCustomize Forums Top
A DVD should recognize with the ease of a CD, so short of the hardware being bad, I can only suggest that some software is conflicting with it. Go into Safe mode, and check the Device Manager and see if it sees it as a Pioneer DVD or says something else. You could run msconfig (Start/Run "msconfig"). Select ive starup turning off all startup software and services....

I just thought of something. Can it read the DVD Data? You can use my computer to navigate into a DVD disc, even a video disk, and see the files on it (should be a couple directories like video_ts and audio_ts or something like that).

Well I kind of rambled, try the msconfig. It will take a while. After you disable you renable each one and reboot and see what happens.
Reply #4 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Brad, install the WinDVD decoder for WMP and see if it plays in WMP. If it does then your install of WinDVD is bad (although, manually installing the Decoder may start kick both) .... try this first: click on
C:\WINDOWS\system32\Dvdplay.exe and see if it plays. If it doesn''t your missing a codec pack...I''ll get a link for you.







[Message Edited]
Reply #5 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok... first, the drive is the original factory drive and there were no installation discs. All the install/restoration files are on a separate partition on the hard drive which I can only access through a system restore program outside of WinXP.

yrag...I don't have an nVidia motherboard. This is an hp Pavilion with a P4B-LA board. I can't find anything under IDE controllers referring to the DVD drive in device manager. Under IDE controllers I have entries for Intel Bus Master IDE Controller, Primary IDE Channel, and Secondary IDE Channel.

I have a separate entry for the DVD-ROM in Device Manager. I can't find anything there that would indicate whether the device is "Multi-Word DMA-2 compliant or better. All I see is a driver listing which tells me that it is a Micrsoft Driver, dated 7/1/2001, version 5.1.2535.0, and that it is signed.

The drive does read data from everything except DVD's. Even if I try to check it with explorer, it won't show a disc in the drive if the disc is a DVD. If I put any kind of CD in the drive, everything works properly.

Lastly, clicking on DVDplay.exe has the same result, a message asking me to a disc in the drive. (Yes, there was a good DVD in the drive at the time.)

And thanks again guys for the help. Sorry I took so long getting back to you... the girlfriend and kids had a surprise party for me.



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Reply #6 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Hummmmmm...a party oh...errr..back to the task.

Several things...how are your drives set up. Hard drive/master CDROM/slave...you get the idea...I need to know how your IDE MB connectors (Primary and Secondary) are setup. Another thing is what version of DirectX is installed? Look in Display Properties for that (if you can't find it there then run this: C:\WINDOWS\system32\dxdiag). Most forget to update DX when they do a re-install (should be 9.0b). And finally, what version of WinDVD is installed? (it's either OEM w/the drive or you bought it)
Reply #7 from WinCustomize Forums Top
ok... for this machine, there is only one hard drive with two partitions on the Primary IDE channel. There is a CD-RW writer as master with the DVD-ROM as slave on the Secondary IDE channel. The DirectX version is 9.0b (4.09.0000.0902) WinDVD is OEM version 3.1 DXVA.
Reply #8 from WinCustomize Forums Top
That's a really old version of WinDVD, but if it worked before it doesn't matter. Go into Device Manager/IDE Controllers/ Secondary...tell me what the transfer mode is for both CDROMS.
Reply #10 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do two more things before we go in a different direction. Open WMP/Tools/Options/Devices, click on the DVD drive and Properties. See (you'll know) if everthing looks correct. I am correct that this is only a DVD player and not a DVD Writer, aren't I?

Also, if it's an OEM the chances are excellent that SB or ADware took out files that will disable the WinDVD install. If you set both to restore then restore both and try it (you might have to re-boot). If not re-install WinDVD. WMP (Windows) does not have a native DVD decoder, so the only way it can use or run a DVD on your system is with a second party proggie...that would be WinDVD...so that's where the problem is...
Reply #11 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Going through WMP/Tools/Options/Devices>DVD player>properties everything looks fine. And yes, this is only a player, not a DVD writer.

I''ll try restores and reinstalls next and get back to you tomorrow. Thanks much for your help, Gary. We''ll have to get together sometime. Drinks on me.
[Message Edited]
Reply #12 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Do you have Broadband and is that e-mail addy correct?
Reply #15 from WinCustomize Forums Top
hmmmm...I have a 10MB file...you want it or not.....
Reply #16 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I'm in SW PA, Gary... people here think cable is what you use to winch coal cars.


Reply #18 from WinCustomize Forums Top
You got it....Happy Birthday
Reply #20 from WinCustomize Forums Top
No problem...AOL bounced the .EXE, so I'm going to do it right this time and ZIP it. Un-Zip it when you get it.
Reply #21 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I really....really love AOL...they bounced that too... You have mail...follow instructions
Reply #22 from WinCustomize Forums Top
I really love AOL too... lol... thanks Gary, I got it all. I really appreciate it. Unfortunately, that didn't do the trick either, so I think it's time to head off to the hardware store. The drive is three years old, so it's probably time to replace it anyway. I'm just baffled as to why it would work for CD's and not DVD's. But I'm tired of messing with it, so I'm just gonna replace the drive.

I sincerely thank you for all your efforts to help, though. And the offer for drinks still stands. Y'all have a good day.
Reply #23 from WinCustomize Forums Top
My pleasure...always happy to help peeps spent their money...
Reply #24 from WinCustomize Forums Top
It is always just possible that the demise of the DVD hardware was coincidental with the reformat, etc.....nothing worse than assuming it was a software problem when it may have been a 'sympathy' death of the drive...
Reply #25 from WinCustomize Forums Top
Yeah...I think you're right. As he gave me the info off his machine and it was all correct, it was leaning more and more to the hardware. I wanted him to try the DVD decoder I sent him just to make sure, but I think when it's all said and done, it's the drive.

Sounded like he wanted a new one anyway ..