1. The most common cause of a CD or DVD drive that is not functioning is that it may not be connected correctly. If the drive is a removable internal drive, be sure that it is properly installed in the computer. If it is a external drive, make sure it has been securely plugged into the wall or power strip and that the USB or FireWire cables are properly connected to the drive and to the computer.
2. After confirming that the drive is connected properly, if it still does not seem to be functioning, try checking the Device Manager. To do this on a Windows-based computer, go to the “Start” menu, type “devmgmt.msc” in the search bar, and then select Device Manager from the list of results. Look for the “CD-ROM Drives” section for the drive in question; if it has a yellow exclamation point beside it, then it is not functioning properly.
3. If there is an exclamation point visible in the Device Manager, troubleshoot the CD/DVD drive by following these steps (Note: The following steps apply to Windows-based computers only. For Mac OSX computers, please consult your user guide or online manual):
a. Right-click on the CD/DVD drive in Device Manager and select Uninstall.
b. Restart your computer.
c. Once Windows has restarted, go back to the Device Manager and check if the drive has reappeared. If so, it is working properly. If not, continue with the next steps.
d. Look for an updated driver for the drive from the manufacturer’s website. Download and install the driver.
e. Restart your computer and check the Device Manager again; if the drive appears, it is now fixed.
4. If the steps above did not fix the drive, it is possible that the hardware itself is damaged and needs to be replaced. Depending on the age and model of the drive, it may be easier and more cost effective to just buy a new drive.
5. If the CD/DVD drive was working previously, and now it is not, then a different issue may be causing the problem. Check if the drive is receiving power by connecting a small light bulb to the back of the drive. If the light bulb lights up, then the power supply is functioning properly.
6. It could also be the result of a software conflict. Try temporarily disabling any CD/DVD emulation software (e.g. Alcohol120%, Nero Burning ROM, etc.) that you may have installed. If this resolves the issue, then you will need to uninstall and reinstall the software to get it working correctly.
7. If the drive was recently moved from one computer to another, then it may not have the correct drivers installed for the new computer. First check the manufacturer’s website for updated drivers. If none can be found, you may need to manually remove the old drivers and install the new ones.
8. Another possibility is that the CD/DVD drive needs to be cleaned. Over time, dirt, dust and fingerprints can accumulate on the surface of the disk, making it difficult for the drive to read discs. To clean the disk, use a lint-free cloth and a cleaning solution specifically designed for optical drives. Be gentle and do not scrub too hard as you may scratch the surface of the disk.
9. If none of the above steps resolve the issue, then the CD/DVD drive may be defective. Contact the manufacturer of the drive to inquire about a replacement.