help with dvd/cd-rom drives

i have a gateway laptop with windows vista and my drive just stopped working.when i put in a cd or dvd nothing happens...its like dead! im pretty good with computers but i have no idea what to do.when i go to device manager it has the caution thing by the player so something is wrong...the drive is HL-DT-ST DVD-RW GWA-4082N ATA Device if that helps.THANKS

 

okay i'll try that.thanks

 

darn! it didn't work...it said it was not successfully installed.

 

I seem to have a similar problem, only the device manager says there is nothing wrong. I have thought that maybe the registry needs editing but I don't know for sure or even what changes would have to made. What can I do?

 

no,i don't know how to do that either..

 

I tried a system restore and it didn't help my problem at all.

 

didn't help me either..
im gonna start screaming now

 

yea error code 39

 

thanks but i don't want to risk losing all my stuff.
i'll just have to take it somewhere i guess..i really don't know what im doing.

 

I don't seem to be getting any error message. I think it might be a problem with the laser. Is there a way I could clean the drive?

 

OR you can use a cotton bud dipped in rubbing alcohol (like ethanol, not wine) and wipe the laser in a circular motion for 10 seconds. Repeat with the dry end of the bud to ensure no residue is left on the laser.

 

Neither of those things worked. I have a feeling that I have to replace the burner.

 

What exactly is the problem? Does your drive not read any discs, such as blank and commercial, or is it just blank media you are having a problem with?

If the former, your drive is most likely dead/dying after the previous suggestions failed. If the latter, you need to update your firmware or try some new blank media.

 

my dvd/cd-rom still isn't working but im gonna go to the gateway site and download a new driver but i don't know what one to do....how do i know?