cdrw/dvd combo not working

[seanmick]

can anybody out there help
the problem is that my cdrw/dvd will not read any disks
this problem only started last week i have used it before to record cd's now every time i put in a disk a message appears saying please incert disk.
I am using windows xp home edition
samsung cdrw/dvd combo sm-332b
32x maxwrite
12x max dvd play combo drive

i called pc world about it they told me to uninstall it and reinstall it it did work for about 5 mins then back to square 1
so if any can help i would very gratefull
seanmick

[NooNoo]

What do you use for burning?

Have you tried an ordinary audio cd and see if that plays?

Do you have a headphone jack on the front of the unit?

[seanmick]

not sure what u mean by burning ?
when i recorded disk's before it was threw windows media player. i have only had the pc for 8 months.i did try other cd's in it but it doesnt reconise any.

[NooNoo]

burning a cd is recording a cd - the data is put there by laser, hence burning.

If it recognises no disks and its under warranty, take it back - because further diagnostic work may invalidate your warranty.

[confus-ed]

called pc world about it they told me to uninstall it and reinstall it it did work for about 5 mins then back to square 1

Well that sounds like a software issue to me, not a 'unit' error ....

because further diagnostic work may invalidate your warranty

Methinks we could test it in dos without invalidating any warranties ......

seanmick : If you don't get any help from pc world other than 'Insert your factory restore disk' .... then post again .... there's more we can do to help ... technical support from the 'high street retailers' is hardly the best in the world !

I can see you are a 'beginner' since you didn't know what 'burning' (recording) was ... so I'll go with Noo's advice , take it back to the shop first ... if they fob you off ... come back & we'll fathom what's wrong & tell you so you can tell them !

[seanmick]

hi there
i phoned pc world again and they told me to tack it back. but because i live on an island on the west coast i canny get it there for less than £100.
pc world say that they wont send out an enginere costs to much so im at a loss.
if u or anyone can help i would be very gratefull.
i was goina put the restore cd in but it wont read it
so im no sure what to do now
HELP

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by seanmick
hi there
i phoned pc world again and they told me to tack it back. but because i live on an island on the west coast i canny get it there for less than £100.
pc world say that they wont send out an enginere costs to much so im at a loss.
if u or anyone can help i would be very gratefull.
i was goina put the restore cd in but it wont read it
so im no sure what to do now
HELP

OK, time to phone the manager and point out how much it costs to "take it back" - see if he will do a postal swap with you for just the cdrw?

Did you get a warranty agreement? Can you force them to attend?

If it won't read the restore cd - I assume you are following the instructions in the manual on how to do a restore... then the cdrw has almost certainly died.

[confus-ed]

Okay then since you are a Scotsman .... we can't have you wasting money .... so the cd/dvd combo won't do anything, at all, read or record ?

What did you do here then ? "called pc world about it they told me to uninstall it and reinstall it it did work for about 5 mins then back to square 1" .... exactly ?

[seanmick]

hi
no it wont read or write and yes it is still under warranty
and i also have another insurance aggrement wich i pay
£8 a month for but they say that it does not cover
the cost of getting the pc there they will however
put a new cdrw /dvd in for free.

[NooNoo]

So will they post it? Extraordinary circumstances and all...?

[seanmick]

hi
ok pc world told me to do the following
go to controle pannel
then system properties
then hardware,device manager
click on cdrw click uninstall
then restart the pc it would the reinstall attomatic
as i said this worked for the first 5 mins
then nothing

[seanmick]

no they say its up to me to get it out there, they are no being to good about it to be honest.

[NooNoo]

Originally posted by seanmick
hi
ok pc world told me to do the following
go to controle pannel
then system properties
then hardware,device manager
click on cdrw click uninstall
then restart the pc it would the reinstall attomatic
as i said this worked for the first 5 mins
then nothing

How many times have you done this?

[seanmick]

hi
i have done this 4 times it worked the first time but not the other 3

[NooNoo]

Well seems to me you got stuck between a rock and a hard place, or in your case Pcworld and the deepblue sea...

If you open your case, you will void the warranty - did you buy an extend warranty?


I am just thinking that it would cost less to buy a new cdrw online and fit it yourself...but that would void the warranty - so it is your call as to what is more important.