Computer people please help

[3muttsandaboston]

My computer is fairly new. I got it christmas of 2006. It has windows xp. Well my problem is the dvd drive. It is supposed to be a cd/dvd readable writable drive but it only reads cd's it doesn't read dvds. Recently I got a new cd/dvd drive and it also only reads cds but not dvds so I don't think it's a problem with the drive. Can anyone help me?

[Sirrahsim]

If you are trying to watch a movie DVD you will not be able to unless you have a special plug in. Many cd/dvd drives come with the plug ins but mine, for example, did not. What happens when you put a DVD in?

edited to add: A plug-in is basically a piece of software that you download for a fee. It is not something that you physically plug in!

[Hellow]

If you are trying to watch a movie DVD you will not be able to unless you have a special plug in. Many cd/dvd drives come with the plug ins but mine, for example, did not. What happens when you put a DVD in?

edited to add: A plug-in is basically a piece of software that you download for a fee. It is not something that you physically plug in!

Actually, an plug-in is found for free online mostly. Did you install the software that came with your cd-rw/dvd drive? There are multiple reasons this could be caused by: Malfunction in the cd-rw/dvd drive, bad connector, defective card, the list goes on. I cant give you an exact diognostics unless you provide the exact specifications: Memory, CPU, CD-RW/DVD drive maker, Computer brand, and year computer was made.

[Sirrahsim]

Actually, an plug-in is found for free online mostly. Did you install the software that came with your cd-rw/dvd drive? There are multiple reasons this could be caused by: Malfunction in the cd-rw/dvd drive, bad connector, defective card, the list goes on. I cant give you an exact diognostics unless you provide the exact specifications: Memory, CPU, CD-RW/DVD drive maker, Computer brand, and year computer was made.

the plug in that I am referring to is not freeware. If you are using a freeware version then you are stealing.

[3muttsandaboston]

When I put a dvd in and click on the drive in my computer it says "Please insert cd into drive D" How do I find the right type of plug-in for my problem. I don't want to have to pay for something and then it be the wrong thing.

[Catty1]

Do a re-install of your CD...I hope you still have it.

Or Google "Plug in for (brand of) CD/DVD Windows XP". You should be able to find one.

You might even find one on the Windows site itself.

Good luck.

[3muttsandaboston]

Thanks for the info. My computer is a:
Emachines, microsoft windows xp, 2006, 160 gb hard drive, dvd-rw drive. I was hoping the new dvd drive that I got would come with something to help me but it just came with roxio. I really don't want to reinstall everything since that will erase all my pictures and everything.

[G535]

Some of the newer DVD burners require an 80 wire cable instead of the old 40 wire cable. What sort of DVDs have you tried in it?

[3muttsandaboston]

the burnable dvd-rw types and normal movie dvds.

[DrKym]

the plug in that I am referring to is not freeware. If you are using a freeware version then you are stealing.

My husband designs and builds freeware.it is NOT stealing hence the Freeware if you are repeatly using shareware that can be considered stealing.

Freeware is JUST that free.........

[G535]

For playing movie DVDs you'll need player software, something like Power DVD and for reading DVD-RW disks you probably need packet writing software. Google for free versions of both.

[3muttsandaboston]

I have dvd players on my computer the problem is my computer doesn't recognize dvds when I put them in.

[Jessika]

the plug in that I am referring to is not freeware. If you are using a freeware version then you are stealing.

Freeware is not stealing... freeware is software created by someone that owns the rights to that software and gives it away for free. There is no one software for every aspect of your computer... there are literally hundreds of programs that all do the same thing, some freeware, some not. Freeware is not stealing

I just recommend installing drivers, if not then reinstall them. If nothing else..... check your cable. You could have a bad cable (the cable that hooks the CD drive to your computer).

But from what you have described, it sounds like a driver issue. When you got your new CD/DVD ROM, did you uninstall the previous drivers for the old one? Try that, because they could be conflicting with the new drivers.

[3muttsandaboston]

How do you uninstall the drivers?

[G535]

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/308012

Seems to be a lot of DVD problems with XP, there are some answers in the above MS article.

I have recently installed LG DVD burners in three of my pcs and only installed the version of Nero that came with the drives, XP and Vista already had the basic drivers for the hardware.