[Retired Tech]

If you click explore, can you see the disc contents, if so, does right clicking any of the files, clicking play / open / run do anything?

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Sorry Keith, when you said load a DVD i thought u meant a normal one (unburnt).

Ive tried loading the burnt one again. Explore is an option, but when i click it it says "Please insert disk in drive d:" again.

[stevo2603]

Sorry Keith, when you said load a DVD i thought u meant a normal one (unburnt).

Ive tried loading the burnt one again. Explore is an option, but when i click it it says "Please insert disk in drive d:" again.

[Retired Tech]

This is for the Auto Run Wizard from Microsoft, run it in case

http://download.micr...240/AutoFix.exe

If you have the Dell Resource CD

* Insert the Dimension Drivers and Utilities Resource CD into the top CD drive

* Close any boxes that open

* Insert any non-burned data CD into the lower CD drive

* Close any boxes that open

* Click Click Start- Turn Off Computer- Restart

* Tap F12 to enter the Boot Menu

* Press 5 IDE CD-ROM DEVICE [press Enter]

* Press 2 Boot from CD-ROM [press Enter]

* Choose the Diagnostics listed for your Dimension system type

* Clicking Express Test will check all the hardware

* If you just want to check a specific hardware item, click "Custom Test"

* Click (for example) CDROM/DVD

* Click the Run Test button

Or

Insert a movie to your dvd drive. (if it starts to play, then just exit)

Reboot your system with the disc in the dvd player.

When you see the Dell logo screen, press F12 (this will take you to the Boot Device Menu)

Arrow down to Utility Partition. (this will bring up the Hardware Diagnostic screen)

Select "Custom Test" (all the devices will be on the left)

Click the + sign next to cdrom/dvd

Select the drive that you want to test.

Hit "Run Tests" at the bottom left

The test might pause, but just wait until it finishes completely. This usually takes about 10-20 minutes and will give you any errors.

Post the error messages

[stevo2603]

OK, im about to do those tests now,
Here is the log file for the windows test i just did...

AutoFix [V5.2.3790.67]
Time [2007-06-08 22:44:26]
Microsoft Windows Version [5.1 (Service Pack 2) <2600>]

Test [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.] - Instance [N/A]:
Result [AutoStart Setting]: OK
Result [The Shell Hardware Detection service is running.]: OK

Test [Policies] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKCU\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Present}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDrives]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [HKLM\...\Policies!NoDriveTypeAutorun]: OK {Absent}
Result [Driver level policies]: OK {
HKLM\...\Services\cdrom!Autorun (Present) <Allows>
HKLM\...\Services\cdrom\Parameters!Autorun (Absent) <Allows>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysEnable (Absent) <Not set>
HKLM\System\CCS\Enum\...!AlwaysDisable (Absent) <Not set> }

Test [Drive Notification] - Instance [D:\, Drive Type: 5]:
Result [Legacy Notification]: Problems
Result [AutoPlay V2 Notification]: Problems {
Service (Silent)
Shell (Deaf) }
>> Repair << [Legacy AutoPlay Event]
Step: No steps to take.
Result: This AutoPlay setting cannot be fixed. Either the device is malfunctioning, or the wizard cannot determine the problem.
>> Repair << [Autoplay V2 Event]
Step: No steps to take.
Result: This AutoPlay setting cannot be fixed. Either the device is malfunctioning, or the wizard cannot determine the problem.

>> Required action: The wizard found problems but cannot fix them -> None

[stevo2603]

The diagnostics utility said the DVD drive passed all tests when the dell cd was in, but could not run the tests when the burnt cd was in.

[Retired Tech]

This another take on it

When you play DVD media, there are two distinct operations occurring. One is the reading of the data off the DVD disc, which is the function of the DVD-ROM drive. The other operation is the data decoding process, which is carried out by decoding software or a separate hardware data-decoding device.

If you are able to read the DVD media, it is very unlikely that the DVD-ROM drive is the cause of the DVD problem. The problem is probably software related (although, if you are using a hardware DVD decoder, this device may also be a possibility). Typical steps for troubleshooting DVD include: verifying your display settings, cleaning out the Windows® startup environment, and reloading the DVD decoding or video adapter software.

Link to downloads in post 8

Do both sets of tests do nothing with a burned disc?

[stevo2603]

Yeah, both tests picked up nothing with the burnt disc.

So you think the problem is software related? How do i go about verifying my display settings, cleaning out the Windows® startup environment, and reloading the DVD decoding or video adapter software?

[Retired Tech]

At the bottom, power DVD if you have it, then choose the adapter driver for your system

http://support.dell..../...tid=&impid=

This is for Everest if you need it

Download and install Everest Home Edition

Run the programme, click + next to computer then summary

Look on the right for display / video adapter

[stevo2603]

i dont have power dvd, by the Everest program came up with this:


Video Adapter Intel® 82845G/GL/GE/PE/GV Graphics Controller (64 MB)

[Retired Tech]

This driver

http://support.dell....p;fileid=137451