I spent the last 4 hours trying to troubleshoot why my CD/DVD drive does not recognize DVDs. It recognize when I put a mini Driver and User Guide CD for SUB1.1 to Fast Ethernet converter but it doesn't recognize if I put a DVD or an Install DVD for my new MBox 2 for Protools. How do I know if it's an issue with the drive. When I look in Device Manager it says that I have Samsung CD-R/RW SW 2525. Does that mean I do not have a DVD decoder? Please help! I'm frustrated.

CD and DVD use different lasers. You appear to have a bad or out of adjustment laser. Replace the drive.

It seems that what you have is a combo drive only :(
it only recognize DVD reading. no matter what driver you used. need to buy a dvd writer/ that said can write dvd.


Types of Optical Drives and CD/DVDs
Optical drive type Read from CD/DVD-ROM media Write to CDRW media Write to DVD ±RW/R media Write to DVD +R DL media Write label to LightScribe CD-RW Write to DVD-RAM media DVD-ROM Drive Yes No No No No No DVD and CD-RW Combo Drive Yes Yes No No No No DVD±RW/R and CD-RW Combo Drive with Double- Layer support Yes Yes Yes Yes No Yes LightScribe DVD±RW/R and CD-RW Combo Drive with Double- Layer support Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Blu-Ray Disc DVD±RW SuperMulti Drive with Double-Layer support Yes Yes* Yes Yes No Yes *Low speed (4X) and high speed (4-12X) are supported. UHS-RW (24X and 32X CD-RW) is not supported.

NOTE: Some of the optical drives listed may not be supported by your computer. The listed drives are not necessarily all of the supported optical drives.

"...manual driver update..." ... from the device's included driver disk? Or from a web-source? If web-source, how long ago and from where?
"...it found the hardware but was still unable to load driver software..." ... So Windows does recognize it then? Unable to load what .. the driver(s)?
"...Vista just isn't recognizeing my CD-ROM at all" ... ??? If I understand correctly, Windows "device manager" recognizes when its deleted, then refreshed, but Vista doesn't recognize it? By this do you mean it's icon does not show up in "My Computer"?

Lot of questions I know, but it's necessary to define the trouble in order to know which direction to go next.

ASSUMING IT'S RECOGNIZED BY YOUR WINDOWS VISTA OPERATING SYSTEM:

Here are a couple of very helpful and comprehensive software diagnostic tools for you to download at http://www.cdspeed2000.com/download.html. They are both FREEWARE and the same tools licensed to Nero for inclusion in their software products.

Installation: Simply extract/unzip the file to any chosen directory and run the executable (*.EXE).

1. "Nero DiscSpeed". Thoroughly tests speed and performance of your optical drives(s).
Download: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/files/NeroDiscSpeed_41140.zip
- Refer to the program's Help for guidance.
- User guide also available at http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=192563
- Here's a quick shorthand:
a. File > Options > Standard Tests > Choose which tests you wish to run (if unsure, use the default settings), then "OK"
b. Click "Start"

2. "Nero DriveSpeed". Adjust/control your drive's spin /up/down times and noise levels.
Download: http://www.cdspeed2000.com/files/NeroDriveSpeed_300.zip

ASSUMING IT'S NOT:

You need to get the latest and best driver package, then re-install. If you can provide the make/model/series of the drive, I can provide you with a reliable source to download.

Please report back, and in all likelyhood we'll get you some joy.

"Today's the best day of my life...and NOW you're part of it!"

Usually HPs are good with +R DVDs unless things have change over the last year or two.

Whats the model number on your computer?

buy a lens cleaner solution and try...

Did you try a DVD firmware update? Some dvds need new firmware to reconize some DVDs

Sounds like bad media to me. Have you tried a more expensive blank like Memorex?

Geno

try downloading www.slysoft.com thier Dvd player play and burns everything and you can do a trail run for 20 days or so lala linda

Yes your quite right, the solution to the problem is a new writer, although you have to get the same one if it's fitted internally to a notebook. You can update the firmware, thats not a problem, you may be getting confused with bios updates which are a knightmare. I assume you have tried the usual, uninstal and re install of the dvd drive, by uninstalling it in device manager on the cd/dvd drive line and click '+' sign, right click and uninstal, then restart pc to automatically install again. The cd recognition says that the drive capability to read and write dvd has corrupted andfailed, so really the only solution would be a new drive