topic Re: Optical Drive Problems in PCs & Accessories

Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 18:52:34 GMT

I have an A317S. The optical drive has stopped working and is not shown under 'My Computer' or under 'System Properties/Hardware/Device Manager'.

Any help please?

Thanks

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 18:55:52 GMT

Check that the drive is firmly plugged into the drive bay.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 18:59:34 GMT

Thanks for your reply.

How do I check?

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:01:28 GMT

Usually there's a switch which releases the drive, then just push it back in.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:04:44 GMT

The two switches which open the drive don't work (presumably because the laptop doesn't think there's an optical drive there.) Have opened the drive with a paperclip (as per manual) closed it again and still nothing.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:08:03 GMT

No thats not what I meant
Is that a multi-bay? IE, can you put a battery there instead?

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:19:09 GMT

No, it's just a DVD/CD drive on the side of the laptop. Can't remove the whole thing, just open the drive.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

rich912 — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:22:11 GMT

I am not sure whether the A series has a removable bay but I don¿t think so.
I have experienced this problem on a much older model with a fixed bay and the problem was that the connecting ribbon had come loose as a result of not supporting the tray when inserting CD¿s.
This was only diagnosed and fixed by opening the notebook ¿ something that is not very wise if the machine is under warranty.
A call to Sony is the other alternative.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:26:01 GMT

Still under warrany - only three months old and already had machine replaced once as optical drive kept getting stuck when closed.
Guess it's another trip to the retailer?

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:26:22 GMT

Yes Rich is right, probably best to call Sony on this one, though when you start up, does the light flash? Can you open the drive when it's booting?

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:38:51 GMT

If I press the button on the drive to eject when system is booting, the eject message/box comes up on the screen but nothing happens.

When system has finished booting, still nothing and not on device manager etc.

Is it worth doing a ststem restore?

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 19:40:17 GMT

Doesn't sound promising

I'd do one anyway, they'll probably ask you to do this before they consider taking it in

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Sun, 24 Jul 2005 22:26:25 GMT

Tried the restore with no effect.

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 14:40:13 GMT

Definately something wrong hardware wise

Re: Optical Drive Problems

heelheadover — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:21:59 GMT

Problem has resolved itself!
Turned machine on this morning and optical drive working fine now.

If happens again will ring Sony I think.

Thanks all for all your help

Re: Optical Drive Problems

kee-lo_ — Mon, 25 Jul 2005 22:25:14 GMT

Strange isn't it
Still glad it all worked out for you

Re: Optical Drive Problems

Eugenepang — Tue, 26 Jul 2005 01:56:39 GMT

A317S series optical drive is built in.. i reckon might be some loose wire inside...