Fixing optical drives.
By swak1962
@swak1962 (129)
United States
December 23, 2006 1:08pm CST
Have any of you noticed that when you seek advice or information on websites or forums of why your CD-ROM or burner drive stopped working, the most common responce you get is "Buy a new one."? These people are automatically assuming that you have a hundred dollars in your pocket and that you have hundreds of choices in the local computer outlet to choose from. Others say just send it back to the manufacturer and they'll send you a new one. Not if that drive is over 3 years old! It's obsolete to the company, and the warrenty is expired. And what do you do with the old one? Throw it away? Technology items cost extra to dispose of now-a-days.
My DVD burner quit working on me recently. Since I've had a good 16 months of using it, I really can't complain about it's performance. However, when it stopped working, reporting "tracking servo error" when attempting to burn a CD or DVD with it, I was frustrated because I could not afford to go out and buy a new one, as so many forum sites recommended. Plus, these forums never answered the question of "why" it stopped working. Finally, after searching many different sites, I came across this one that I wish to share with you:
http://www.smial.prima.de/old/howtoget.htm
I opened up my burner drive today, and burned my first DVD disc in 3 months! I thought this might be a good tidbit of information for others who maybe having the same problem I had with their computer hardware.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@blindedfox (3315)
• Philippines
27 Jan 07
Most, if not all, optical drives are NOT user servicable. It is a complicated piece of equipment which can only be meddled with by people that actually knows its internals and have the proper equipment. =) It is always better to leave it to the experts than do it yourself and further alleviate the problem. =)
@swak1962 (129)
• United States
28 Jan 07
Yes, that is true! But not everyone can run right on out and buy a new piece of equipment when it starts failing on us. There's a line from the 1987 film "The Untouchables" which corperations are beginning to adopt. "It's not made to be good, it's made to be bought!" Quality and servicability is no longer an important factor in todays market. Sales and profits are! If you are one of those who can afford to spend $40 to $100 every six months when your hardware equipment fails, well and good, but don't be surprised when the big corperations expect you go just go out and buy a whole new computer for $500 or a car for $10,000 when they no longer function. You say that 'experts' are needed to service these machines. Ok, where are the experts? Are there any in your local area? In your state? In your country? Believe me, I have looked! I have sought out for some business who could actually perform this service, and there were none! All I really found were sites about where they wanted me to 'donate' the failing equipment so that they could repair it, then sell it off to the next person for $50. Again, if your someone who needs the tax write off, well and good....I don't need the tax write off! I need someone to repair what I have! This site was the best I could find, and I thought it would be a bit of useful information that I could pass on.
@kstanley7 (1171)
•
26 Dec 06
As a matter of fact I did notice that but only because you had stated that, then it made me remember all the forums I was on regarding repairing components. Most people tend to state the obvious without thinking. and thanks for the url my friend :) I'll have to bookmark that one :)
@bogdanel (1208)
• Romania
25 Dec 06
I can give you an advice but I'm not 100% shure that will work... Pay very very much attention!!
If it hasn't expired his warranty try to go with Optical drive to fix the problem.. if not, than I'll teach you how to.
Don't touch anything than that optical lens. is that lens witch reads the disk. Try to clean it with an ear stick that cleans your ears :) and before that put that stick in an isopropilic alchool. It will evaporate fast and then the device must work. If not, than must be a problem at some pieces of device. Hope will help you this.
@swak1962 (129)
• United States
25 Dec 06
Yes, most times, the lens of the drive is dirty, and regular cleaning discs don't do the trick. You are correct about not touching the lens itself, for it is a very sensitive piece that can easily be knocked out of alignment. The method you described above with a cotton swab is the best method of cleaning the lens.
@rhie0216 (289)
• Philippines
28 Jan 07
Optical drive have is own life cycle. when it reach is maximum lens usage it will automatically stop functioning. When you buy a new lens for your optical drive it will cost you so much that it is better to buy a new one. My advise to you is try using two optical drives one drive just for reading your cd's and to other for writing. In that way your burner won't get exhausted so much and you can use it for years.
