[Malio]

So I was given a DVD drive from a friend that was broken, and after awhile I figured out that it will only open if it has something in it. It doesn't have to be a CD or a DVD, it also works with one of those fake plastic CDs they give you at the top of CD towers. Any ideas on how to fix this so that I don't have to keep a CD or DVD in it? Has anyone else ever heard of this happening?

It does this on any computer I try it in, and every time the computer recognizes it, and I can access the data on the discs fine. Its only when the tray is left empty that it doesn't open.

This post has been edited by Malio: 13 July 2008 - 02:30 PM

[FutbolDude21586]

I think it's a hardware/wiring problem. Might be best to trash it and get a new one if this was to be a replacement and/or a 2nd drive for you.

[Malio]

I think it's a hardware/wiring problem. Might be best to trash it and get a new one if this was to be a replacement and/or a 2nd drive for you.

I would much rather try to save it, as my girlfriend's computer at the moment lacks a CD/DVD drive, so I was planning on attempting to fix it and return it to her. Admittedly, a new CD/DVD drive wouldn't be expensive, about 20$, but I still wanna see if it can be fixed, because then that 20$ can then go towards buying me a second one for my computer.

[Aevum]

$24 for a LG DVD burner,
http://www.newegg.co...N82E16827136117

you see, most electronics today are disposable, if you sent that drive in to be serviced, they would test it, it would fail QC, it would be trashed, and a new one would be sent out becuase not only the repair, but the actuall shipping and the tech´s wage for the time it would take to repair it excedes the 24 bucks a new DVD burner costs,

[Cybercat]

Why waste 24 bucks? It works as long as you remember to keep a cd in it, right? I don't really see the problem.

[Malio]

Eh, honestly, I just want to fix it so I can say that I fixed it. Plus anyways, I've had this happen twice before, once with my xbox and the other time on my father's computer. So it'd be nice to actually know what the heck is happening.

[Maelgwyn]

Honestly, I would be just a good consumer and purchase another one. It sounds harsh, but it really is NOT worth servicing the unit.

I had a CD that I used to open the tray with a butter knife. Fixed it once then gave up because a better drive costed less than the actual parts to fix it.

[Aevum]

the thing is that most of the parts which control the tray mechanism, even the cogs are plastic, so all you need is a broken tooth or a scratched wheel, and the door mechanism will no longer work properly, and the worst part is that the part that broke is probobly worth 5 cent, but getting it to you as a consumer would cost around 3 bucks, and replacing it by a certified tech would probobly cost about an hour or 2 of his wage, so, eventualy, it costs around 20-25 bucks to repair it, and 24 to but a new one,

but you think, if i could get the part on my own, well first you have to spend an hour taking the drive apart and for that, you need the drive diagrams, basicly the blueprints, which the manufacturer wont sell or give you, and find you have to find the exact cog or lever thats causing the fault, and see if you can find on ebay the piece, pay 5 bucks to have it shipped from china, once you have everything (2-4 weeks later), you can put everything togather to find that you decalibrated the optical unit and its basicly usless, needs to be factory recalibration, meaning that the drive is usless,

[SaintArthur]

Get a paper clip, straighten it out and stick it in the hole at the front of the DVD when you want to open it.
Also have you tried right click and "eject", does it work when its empty?