HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GSA-T20L ATA Device Problems on Windows Vista Systems
I’ve had a problem on my system for a couple of months. When I first encountered the problem, the only new software I had loaded in weeks were Microsoft updates. I had moved everything in my startup folder to a new folder to improve my system performance.
My System would boot up slowly, and when it finally did start, I couldn’t use my DVD drive. The drive was not listed in Device Manager and scanning for hardware changes did not find it. Pushing the eject button would not eject the disk in the drive, the drive activity light would not blink and the drive would not spin. I’m a gamer and this was a real pain. Most games require the installation disk to be found in the drive before you can start the game.
I tried the normal things I’ve always done when I have this sort of problem.
1- I restored my system to a time when the drive worked (System Restore).
2- I updated my Windows files (Microsoft Update).
3- I downloaded and installed the latest drivers and software updates from my computers
Manufacturers site.
4- I scanned for hardware changes (Device Manager).
5- I checked my systems BIOS setup found nothing wrong, but choose to load the default setting to
Eliminate anything I may have missed.
6- The default on the system BIOS turned on my systems startup messages.
None of this corrected the my problem, but I made a discovery that gave me hope. The startup messages listed the drive, so I knew the drive and drive controller were functioning on some level. While playing around, I also discovered that if , while in Device Manager, I pushed the eject button then scanned for hardware changes, the drive would pop open. I had reached the limits of my expertise, so I Googled the problem.
Using Google, I found that this sort of problem was relatively common. My problem shows up with several drives and many computers, most drives with the problem are Lightscibe capable. Many mentioned error codes, I had none.
1- Microsoft recommend downloading MAT MrFixIt. This did not help me but it looks promising for people with similar problems.
2- Microsoft claimed that the problem may be caused by CD/DVD writing software issues (Roxio,Nero, I-tunes, etc.). I only had 1 of the listed programs, I uninstalled it and still had the problem.
3- I visited a number of Websites that claimed to have a solution. Most were trying to sell Registry Fixers and Driver Updaters. I trusted none of them.
4- I visited a number of Blogs that offered advice. The advice covered the fist 6 items I listed plus a few I thought might be risky. One involved editing the registry and if you want to try that your on your own. I would not mess with the registry unless I had a good system image and a bootable recovery disk. Will your system boot from an external drive??? Check before you try it. One I’m sure would work was “Buy a Mac”.
I finally discovered something that would help. I had spent hours searching the web and needed a break. I set my computer to hibernate. When I returned and resumed the computer, I heard the drive spin up. I checked and the Device Manager saw the drive. The driver was provided by Microsoft, dated 6/21/06, version 6.0.6002.18005. I ran MrFixIt and it was happy. Oh joy! I rebooted and no drive. I hibernated for about ten minutes, resumed and my drive was back. The drive would read, write, but not label. I went to LightScribe - Downloads and downloaded and installed their software for windows and now I can label. This final step seems to have completely solved my problem. I no longer have to do computer gymnastics to use my drive. Hope this helps with your problem.
I’ve had a problem on my system for a couple of months. When I first encountered the problem, the only new software I had loaded in weeks were Microsoft updates. I had moved everything in my startup folder to a new folder to improve my system performance.
My System would boot up slowly, and when it finally did start, I couldn’t use my DVD drive. The drive was not listed in Device Manager and scanning for hardware changes did not find it. Pushing the eject button would not eject the disk in the drive, the drive activity light would not blink and the drive would not spin. I’m a gamer and this was a real pain. Most games require the installation disk to be found in the drive before you can start the game.
I tried the normal things I’ve always done when I have this sort of problem.
1- I restored my system to a time when the drive worked (System Restore).
2- I updated my Windows files (Microsoft Update).
3- I downloaded and installed the latest drivers and software updates from my computers
Manufacturers site.
4- I scanned for hardware changes (Device Manager).
5- I checked my systems BIOS setup found nothing wrong, but choose to load the default setting to
Eliminate anything I may have missed.
6- The default on the system BIOS turned on my systems startup messages.
None of this corrected the my problem, but I made a discovery that gave me hope. The startup messages listed the drive, so I knew the drive and drive controller were functioning on some level. While playing around, I also discovered that if , while in Device Manager, I pushed the eject button then scanned for hardware changes, the drive would pop open. I had reached the limits of my expertise, so I Googled the problem.
Using Google, I found that this sort of problem was relatively common. My problem shows up with several drives and many computers, most drives with the problem are Lightscibe capable. Many mentioned error codes, I had none.
1- Microsoft recommend downloading MAT MrFixIt. This did not help me but it looks promising for people with similar problems.
2- Microsoft claimed that the problem may be caused by CD/DVD writing software issues (Roxio,Nero, I-tunes, etc.). I only had 1 of the listed programs, I uninstalled it and still had the problem.
3- I visited a number of Websites that claimed to have a solution. Most were trying to sell Registry Fixers and Driver Updaters. I trusted none of them.
4- I visited a number of Blogs that offered advice. The advice covered the fist 6 items I listed plus a few I thought might be risky. One involved editing the registry and if you want to try that your on your own. I would not mess with the registry unless I had a good system image and a bootable recovery disk. Will your system boot from an external drive??? Check before you try it. One I’m sure would work was “Buy a Mac”.
I finally discovered something that would help. I had spent hours searching the web and needed a break. I set my computer to hibernate. When I returned and resumed the computer, I heard the drive spin up. I checked and the Device Manager saw the drive. The driver was provided by Microsoft, dated 6/21/06, version 6.0.6002.18005. I ran MrFixIt and it was happy. Oh joy! I rebooted and no drive. I hibernated for about ten minutes, resumed and my drive was back. The drive would read, write, but not label. I went to LightScribe - Downloads and downloaded and installed their software for windows and now I can label. This final step seems to have completely solved my problem. I no longer have to do computer gymnastics to use my drive. Hope this helps with your problem.
