The CD/DVD drive on my Sony Vaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
inserting a CD the drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice, pause, 2
flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My Computer' and the
Device Manager reports that it is working properly, but when I click
the drive I get a message to insert a disk. It does the same with a
prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a DVD (but wont play them).
Changing the Autorun properties has no effect. The disk spins, the
laser 'tracker' moves in and out and the lens is clean. Any ideas
please??

In
news:c93ac957-fb3f-4315-b14b-84bad8d971b9@k19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com,
Neil typed on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:27:25 -0700 (PDT):
> The CD/DVD drive on my Sony Vaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
> inserting a CD the drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
> and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice, pause, 2
> flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My Computer' and the
> Device Manager reports that it is working properly, but when I click
> the drive I get a message to insert a disk. It does the same with a
> prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a DVD (but wont play them).
> Changing the Autorun properties has no effect. The disk spins, the
> laser 'tracker' moves in and out and the lens is clean. Any ideas
> please??

Sounds like the lasers are gone or starting to go to me. Not much you
can do there. But just in case, you can try a couple of things.

1) Clean the lens. They have cleaners for this purpose.

2) Remove a reconnect the optical drive. As maybe the connector might
just need reseating.

--
Bill
Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2

On 31 July, 14:41, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
> Innews:c93ac957-fb3f-4315-b14b-84bad8d971b9@k19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com,
> Neil typed on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:27:25 -0700 (PDT):
>
> > The CD/DVD drive on my Sony Vaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
> > inserting a CD the drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
> > and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice, pause, 2
> > flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My Computer' and the
> > Device Manager reports that it is working properly, but when I click
> > the drive I get a message to insert a disk. It does the same with a
> > prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a DVD (but wont play them).
> > Changing the Autorun properties has no effect. The disk spins, the
> > laser 'tracker' moves in and out and the lens is clean. Any ideas
> > please??
>
> Sounds like the lasers are gone or starting to go to me. Not much you
> can do there. But just in case, you can try a couple of things.
>
> 1) Clean the lens. They have cleaners for this purpose.
>
> 2) Remove a reconnect the optical drive. As maybe the connector might
> just need reseating.
>
> --
> Bill
> Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2

Thanks Bill

I'd already tried a cleaning kit but it made no difference, neither
did a light swab with isoproyl alcohol. Was going to try a reseat of
the connector but thought I'd wait for replies to my posting first.
Since then I've looked up 'how to'... and it looks like the hard drive
has to come out to gain access to the screws plus a couple more screws
that go through the laptop base. Will let you know the outcome to
close the thread to provide useful info for others!

In
news:036284a8-1304-4abe-9016-a0acd98ae891@s15g2000yqs.googlegroups.com,
Neil typed on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:32:37 -0700 (PDT):
> On 31 July, 14:41, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
>>
Innews:c93ac957-fb3f-4315-b14b-84bad8d971b9@k19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com
,
>> Neil typed on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:27:25 -0700 (PDT):
>>
>>> The CD/DVD drive on my Sony Vaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
>>> inserting a CD the drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
>>> and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice,
>>> pause, 2 flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My
>>> Computer' and the Device Manager reports that it is working
>>> properly, but when I click the drive I get a message to insert a
>>> disk. It does the same with a prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a
>>> DVD (but wont play them). Changing the Autorun properties has no
>>> effect. The disk spins, the laser 'tracker' moves in and out and
>>> the lens is clean. Any ideas please??
>>
>> Sounds like the lasers are gone or starting to go to me. Not much you
>> can do there. But just in case, you can try a couple of things.
>>
>> 1) Clean the lens. They have cleaners for this purpose.
>>
>> 2) Remove a reconnect the optical drive. As maybe the connector might
>> just need reseating.
>>
>> --
>> Bill
>> Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
>
> Thanks Bill
>
> I'd already tried a cleaning kit but it made no difference, neither
> did a light swab with isoproyl alcohol. Was going to try a reseat of
> the connector but thought I'd wait for replies to my posting first.
> Since then I've looked up 'how to'... and it looks like the hard drive
> has to come out to gain access to the screws plus a couple more screws
> that go through the laptop base. Will let you know the outcome to
> close the thread to provide useful info for others!

Well it is worth a shot anyway Neil. It sure sounds like the optical
drive is shot though. So what is the plan? To replace it? Or are you
thinking of one of those external USB drives?

--
Bill
Windows 2000 SP4 (5.00.2195)
Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC

On 31 July, 21:26, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
> Innews:036284a8-1304-4abe-9016-a0acd98ae891@s15g2000yqs.googlegroups.com,
> Neil typed on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:32:37 -0700 (PDT):> On 31 July, 14:41, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
>
> Innews:c93ac957-fb3f-4315-b14b-84bad8d971b9@k19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com
> ,
>
>
>
>
>
> >> Neil typed on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:27:25 -0700 (PDT):
>
> >>> TheCD/DVD drive on mySonyVaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
> >>> inserting aCDthe drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
> >>> and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice,
> >>> pause, 2 flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My
> >>> Computer' and the Device Manager reports that it is working
> >>> properly, but when I click the drive I get a message to insert a
> >>> disk. It does the same with a prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a
> >>> DVD (but wont play them). Changing the Autorun properties has no
> >>> effect. The disk spins, the laser 'tracker' moves in and out and
> >>> the lens is clean. Any ideas please??
>
> >> Sounds like the lasers are gone or starting to go to me. Not much you
> >> can do there. But just in case, you can try a couple of things.
>
> >> 1) Clean the lens. They have cleaners for this purpose.
>
> >> 2) Remove a reconnect the optical drive. As maybe the connector might
> >> just need reseating.
>
> >> --
> >> Bill
> >> Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
>
> > Thanks Bill
>
> > I'd already tried a cleaning kit but it made no difference, neither
> > did a light swab with isoproyl alcohol. Was going to try a reseat of
> > the connector but thought I'd wait for replies to my posting first.
> > Since then I've looked up 'how to'... and it looks like the hard drive
> > has to come out to gain access to the screws plus a couple more screws
> > that go through the laptop base. Will let you know the outcome to
> > close the thread to provide useful info for others!
>
> Well it is worth a shot anyway Neil. It sure sounds like the optical
> drive is shot though. So what is the plan? To replace it? Or are you
> thinking of one of those external USB drives?
>
> --
> Bill
> Windows 2000 SP4 (5.00.2195)
> Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Eventually got round to reseating the connector but no luck. It was a
doddle too! Here's how I did it... Turn laptop upside down, remove
hard drive cover to expose 6 screws. Hard drive stays put so leave the
4 screws alone and remove the 2 screws deep set into the hard drive
recess. Remove 2 base screws that obviously run through the CD Drive
metalwork (turning the laptop the right way up for the last couple of
threads helped). Insert a paperclip into the hole near the ehect
button to release the drawer. Pull on the drawer and out she comes.
The unit is a Sony DW-D56A and there are plenty on eBay from all kinds
of Laptops. Presumably if I chance my luck all I need to do is prise
off the bazel.

On 7 Aug, 15:26, Neil <group_stuff_...********.com> wrote:
> On 31 July, 21:26, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Innews:036284a8-1304-4abe-9016-a0acd98ae891@s15g2000yqs.googlegroups.com,
> > Neil typed on Fri, 31 Jul 2009 10:32:37 -0700 (PDT):> On 31 July, 14:41, "BillW50" <Bill...@aol.kom> wrote:
>
> > Innews:c93ac957-fb3f-4315-b14b-84bad8d971b9@k19g2000yqn.googlegroups.com
> > ,
>
> > >> Neil typed on Wed, 29 Jul 2009 10:27:25 -0700 (PDT):
>
> > >>> TheCD/DVD drive on mySonyVaio PCG-K415S is not working. On
> > >>> inserting aCDthe drive light comes on and the drive whirs 8 times
> > >>> and the light goes out, after a short pause it flashes twice,
> > >>> pause, 2 flashes, pause, 2 flashes. The Drive appears in 'My
> > >>> Computer' and the Device Manager reports that it is working
> > >>> properly, but when I click the drive I get a message to insert a
> > >>> disk. It does the same with a prerecorded DVD and sometimes reads a
> > >>> DVD (but wont play them). Changing the Autorun properties has no
> > >>> effect. The disk spins, the laser 'tracker' moves in and out and
> > >>> the lens is clean. Any ideas please??
>
> > >> Sounds like the lasers are gone or starting to go to me. Not much you
> > >> can do there. But just in case, you can try a couple of things.
>
> > >> 1) Clean the lens. They have cleaners for this purpose.
>
> > >> 2) Remove a reconnect the optical drive. As maybe the connector might
> > >> just need reseating.
>
> > >> --
> > >> Bill
> > >> Gateway MX6124 - Windows XP SP2
>
> > > Thanks Bill
>
> > > I'd already tried a cleaning kit but it made no difference, neither
> > > did a light swab with isoproyl alcohol. Was going to try a reseat of
> > > the connector but thought I'd wait for replies to my posting first.
> > > Since then I've looked up 'how to'... and it looks like the hard drive
> > > has to come out to gain access to the screws plus a couple more screws
> > > that go through the laptop base. Will let you know the outcome to
> > > close the thread to provide useful info for others!
>
> > Well it is worth a shot anyway Neil. It sure sounds like the optical
> > drive is shot though. So what is the plan? To replace it? Or are you
> > thinking of one of those external USB drives?
>
> > --
> > Bill
> > Windows 2000 SP4 (5.00.2195)
> > Asus EEE PC 701G4 ~ 2GB RAM ~ 16GB-SDHC- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Eventually got round to reseating the connector but no luck. It was a
> doddle too! Here's how I did it... Turn laptop upside down, remove
> hard drive cover to expose 6 screws. Hard drive stays put so leave the
> 4 screws alone and remove the 2 screws deep set into the hard drive
> recess. Remove 2 base screws that obviously run through the CD Drive
> metalwork (turning the laptop the right way up for the last couple of
> threads helped). Insert a paperclip into the hole near the ehect
> button to release the drawer. Pull on the drawer and out she comes.
> The unit is a Sony DW-D56A and there are plenty on eBay from all kinds
> of Laptops. Presumably if I chance my luck all I need to do is prise
> off the bazel.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Forgot to mention!!!! With the Laptop on the Quick Launch icon for the
CD ROM is disabled i.e. As the mouse passes over the icons the Icon
Title is displayed and the icon goes bright white with a blue
background. When the mouse is passes over the CD ROM icon it displays
CD ROM but there's no highlighting. Could it still be a software /
setting issue?