Dell Vostro 1500 laptop will not recognize DVD player

Are you able to use the drive to boot to cd's like the Windows install disc? If that doesn't work it's likely the drive is defective and will need to be replaced. Also, if the drive is removable try removing it and reinstalling it to reseat it on the board.

If you are still having problems recognizing the drive after doing the steps suggested by renazonse, I would download and install the most recent firmware for your model of dvd drive. You may need to pull out the drive to find out the model number than download the proper firmware software for your drive. The firmware for the drives is found on the Dell website: http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&os=WW1&osl=en&SystemID=VOS_N_1500&catid=-1&impid=-1 The firmware updates the chip on the DVD drive itself, this is a one time update. For example if you reinstall the operating system you would not have to reprogram the chip on the dvd drive.

Try running this Fixit from Microsoft.
http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Please see my article here.

https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Laptops_Notebooks/A_3421-Diagnosing-a-bad-CD-DVD-Drive.html  .\

Try the registry fix.

Some additional information: I have access to a second Vostro 1500 with a working DVD drive with the same DVD drive model number.  I physically swapped DVD drives between the two laptops.  The problem stayed with my laptop.  That is, my DVD drive worked fine in the second Vostro laptop and the "working DVD drive from the second Vostro produce the same error in my laptop. So my DVD drive is a "functioning " drive.
I have tried the "remove upper & lower filters" registry entry with no solution. Problem remains

I will try the Fixit from Microsoft suggested by edbedb.

Thanks

did you try if it runs from a bottable cd, like knoppix?
that ensures it  (and the controller) are ok
ftp://ftp.uni-kl.de/pub/linux/knoppix/KNOPPIX_V6.2CD-2009-11-18-EN.iso

Update on troubleshooting:
web tracker ---

I downloaded the firmware update from Dell site. Could not install because I received the error maessage the drive could not be found. Not too surprising, since Windows will not install the drive. NOTE: I receive an error code of "39" not "29" when Windows tries to install the drivers.  My typo.
I will try the " remove the drive and boot up" this weekend. Will report

nobus ---  Drive does not install, I can not read any CD or DVD.

Thanks

It's possibly an issue with the logic board connector to the drive...if it doesn't see it to boot discs during post, with 2 different drives, then there is something up with the connector and the board may need to be replaced.

To solve this Code 39 error, follow these instructions:
NOTE: After removing these registry keys and rebooting, it may be necessary to reinstall any CD or DVD recording applications.
1) Close all open programs
2) Click on Start, Run, and type REGEDIT and press Enter
3) Click on the plus signs (+) next to the following folders
•      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE
•      SYSTEM
•      CurrentControlSet
•      Control
•      Class
•      {4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
4) This folder is the DVD/CD-ROM Drive Class Description in the registry. Look for any of the following names in the right hand column.
•      UpperFilters
•      LowerFilters
•      UpperFilters.bak
•      LowerFilters.bak
5) If  any of the above keys shown in step 4 are listed, right-click on them and choose Delete

6) After deleting the keys, close the Registry Editor

7) Reboot your computer

8) Open My Computer and check to see if your CD or DVD drives have returned. You may also want to open Device Manager and verify that the yellow exclamation and error code on the CD or DVD drive is gone.

did you try booting from a bootable cd?
that will show it still works - if not, it is bad

known good drive does not work in this laptop, so it does not appear to be a problem with the drive. sbaggett tried a known good drive in this laptop and he still has the same problem. He tried this drive in another machine and it works fine, so I doubt it is a problem with the drive itself.

in that case it is a motherboard problem = new mobo, unless you find a bent pin on the connector, and can fix it

Jan 11 --- Update
I tried the suggestion of removing the DVD drive and booting.  No change in the DVD results or errors reported.

I also did the “show hidden devices”.  No new text was displayed relating to the DVD drives.  Two new “yellow !” were revealed under the  Non-Plug and Play Drivers entry.  There is a yellow ! next to the   “Network Control Manager” and “Serial” entry. Clicking on the Network Control Manager, then the General tab shows the text  “ This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed.  (Code 24).

Clicking on the Serial , then General shows : the same “ This device is not present, is not working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed.  (Code 24).

I did not see a way to uninstall and install either function.  

I am not sure if there is a connection with the DVD drive problem, but they (also) need to be repaired.

Isn’t there a boot time recovery console function called “SFC” or “SCF” that will check the installed XP system files for errors.?  

Suggestions?

Thanks,

did you run knoppix?  that would show hardware or soft problems
and sfc is run from within windows - not at boot

you can try running  chkdsk - but you risk getting off worse with bad hardware

To run the sfc to repair system files, click on the windows start icon, go to run then type:  sfc /scannow
If when running the application it will try to repair the corrupted files, if it can find replacements that is fine but if it is not able to find a replacement file to fix a corrupted file it may ask for the Windows installation disc. If that is the case you may be in a delima if the dvd drive is not working properly. I still try anyway as this may solve your problem. You may have to re-install some windows updates and service patches after this is run.

web tracker,
I have been doing some reading about using the SFC to check/ repair system files.  I have WIN XP PRO SP3 and I have the original XP install CD. The original Install CD probably has SP1 dated files (computer is about 2.5 years olld), and I do not have access to the CD drive.

So, seems like I need to download the Win XP  PRO SP3 I386 files and install (overwrite)  the C\I386 folder so if SFC finds a bad file it can update with SP3 dated files. Does this make sense?

I have looked around Microsoft WIN XP website and did not find a way to down load a complete I386 folder, much less the WIP XP SP3 I386 complete folder. Do you know where I can download the "official "WIN XP PRO SP3 I386 files (about 400 Megs of files) ?

Thanks

looks like i'm neglected here...plse say so - then i'm off

Yeah it would be hard to install the files if the drive is not working. Not sure where you can download the whole win xp pro I386 files as if this was available to just anyone there would be lots of people who would download it to install their os illegally, of course they would need a product key to do so. I am only aware of one Micro Soft place where it can be downloaded but you have to have technet membership to access the ability to download this type of software. Just wondering if you followed the advice of Nobus, testing the system with a self booting disc, for example a linux disc, as this will verify that the drive and drive slot connectors (where the drive is plugged in) are working properly. Or even you can try booting the system using the windows operating system disc will verify that the slot is working. You should be able to use the drive outside of windows.  I know that you mentioned that you tried this drive in another laptop and tried a known good drive in this computer, and the problem follows this computer, but we need to know that the connector on the mobo is working on this laptop.

You can also try using an external cdrom, if you can find someone that has the drive, then you can try using your os to do the sfc /scannow command.

web tracker and (nobus)

Thanks for the tip about trying the WIN XP original install CD or a linux disk. I did not make the connection between WIN not installing the DVD drive and a "bootable" CD not needing an "WIN installed Drive". Will give it a try and report.

fine  - waiting results

 
web-tracker
I have access to a second Vostro 1500 ( the one I swapped DVD drives) the is XP PRO SP3. Could I copy the I386 files from that computer to my Vostro 1500?

You can try to copy them to a usb stick and put them on your laptop that is giving you problems.

you never tried booting a knoppix cd -  did you?  that would tell you if the hardware (mobo + controller) are able to read a cd

nobus
Will be trying to boot from original WIN XP PRO CD this weekend. Will report.
Thanks

that is ok - but note that the Knoppix cd lets you copy data to other disks (usb), access the net, etc..too
very helpful imo

web_tracker, nobus,

Good news and bad news.

Good ---- I was able to read and load the original WIN XP cd and the Knoppix cd. I let the WIN cd load files 'till it wanted to start a new install, then I hit exit.  I let the Knoppix cd completely install and open the "home page", poked around a little and exit.  (Migh want to come back to the Knoppix, some interesting things).  What this says is the DVD interface to the motherboard is good. So that solves the non-windows or hardware interface.

Bad.  I transferred the I386 files fron the second Vostro to my Vostro (Has to set up a C\386 folder and redirect the registery to look at the C:\ for the I386 files).  Ran SFC /scannow, whhich took about 30 minutes to finish. No errors or information reported; SFC just finished and the progress bar went away.
Did a restart and all of the previous errors are still present. Install of DVD drive finishes with an error code 39, still two entries in control panel , non plug and play section.  In effect SFC had no affect.

One thing I did notice -- the "Good Vostro" which installs a DVD  did not have the "Network Control Manager" and "Serial " entry in the non plug and play sectioin of the controla panel.  may be an indication there is no relation to falure to install DVD.

So ---  Any suggestion on next troubleshooting steps?

Thanks,

If you know now that the DVD drive works, and you have your windows disc, I would be tempted to back up your data and just do a full operating system reinstall. I would download and backup the most recent drivers for this system as well.

You mentioned that you had a similar laptop that you swapped dvd with. If this is a similar model of laptop, I would like to try an experiment. Remove the hard drive from the system that is working and place it in this computer to see if it boots up, and recognizes the dvd drive. If it does maybe you can make an image of the drive and then place the imaged drive into this system, a lot less work then reinstalling the os, drivers, applications. You will still need to reinstall any backed up data.

Update,

Will try the hard drive swap. Second Vostro will be available this weekend. Still looking for other way to solve problem. Re install of OS is a real pain.

web-tracker, nobus,

Did the hard drive swap --- my "bad" Vostro hard drive for a "good" Vostro hard drive that will recognize a DVD drive ( for what it is worth the DVD drive in the "GGood" Vostro is identical to my model number).

The failure to install the DVD drive "followed" the hard drive.  My 'bad" hard drive would boot OK in the Good laptop, but would not install the DVD drive.  Like wise the "Good" hard drive, boots OK in my "Bad" laptop and installs the DVD with no problems.  I put everything back to normal and the failure to install DVD drive is now back with my laptop.  So, that confirms there is a file or driver problem with my OS.  I think making an image of the "good" hard drive and overwriting my hard drive is out.  The installed programs and other files are too different.
I would like nobus to expaine a little note about removing the network controller file.  I tried to find a way to disable and or remove but did not see a way.

I has a long technical help session with Dell Technical support.  They did all the things we have tried and came up with the same answer ----  code 39 error when trying to reinstall the DVD.  They came to the conclusion the DVD driver was corrupted and not being reinstalled.  That the DVD driver was part of the basic XP PRO OS files and there was not a separate drive to be installed.  They said there was no way to isolate the Microsoft DVD driver from the OS files so that it could be installed separately.  That seems strange to me, but I have not been able to find separate MS  DVD drivers.  Dell said there were two options:  Do a complete OS reinstall, with all the pain of OS updates and application reinstall + updates.  Or try a " repair" using the XP install update repair function available on the install disk.  They cautioned to use a XP PRO install disk that had SP3 since I have XP PRO SP# installed.  The install disk that came with the computer is XP Pro probably with SP! or SP2, certainly not  SP3.

So to do the repair route, I need an XP PRO install disk with SP3. I an not sure that exists.  Any suggestions?  I have heard about "slip streaming" service packs into the XP install disks but have not researched the details. Have not had a chance to find out what my friend GOOGLE has to say.
That's the update. Suggestions appreciated.

Yes now that we have a confirmation that the problem is a corrupted dvd driver, this is a driver that is native to windows xp, and therefore it is like the Dell tech mentioned extremely difficult to isolate the driver from the xp cd. Yes you can try to do an os repair using the XP service pack 3 disc, if you can get your hands on a copy. I do have a copy but lot of good that does for you. Anyway, you can do a operating system repair with the version that you have, you just will have to reinstall the service packs. Just make sure you do not try to do a repair with a retail version cd if you installed an oem version, then not only will it ask you for a product key, it will also corrupt your user profile and cause data loss.

You can try to slipstream the service pack 3 into the os disc. These websites will tell you how.
http://www.howtohaven.com/system/slipstream-xp-service-pack-3.shtml
http://www.winsupersite.com/article/product-review/slipstreaming-windows-xp-with-service-pack-3-sp3.aspx

I would always back up your data before doing an os repair, just  in case something goes wrong during the repair and your operating system gets totally corrupted. It is always best to be on the safe side by backing up your data. A repair usually is a good option because it will normally leave all your data, applications, and drivers in tact (it will repair the corrupted drivers).

>>  I would like nobus to expaine a little note about removing the network controller file  <<   why - ?  not sure where i suggested that?

forthe dvd driver, you can try this : open device management, and right click the DVD drive>select properties>Driver>details note the driver file name, and location.
then copy that one from the good into the bad one and test

good idea, why didn't I think of that..... lol

You probably will have to open device manager and click on the dvd drive and install new driver, you will then point it to the location of new driver you copied from the other drive.

nobus,

To answer your question; on Jan 16 (see above) you posted:

nobus:ok - it"looks" like a software problem - if you like to be 100% sure, swap the drive with the "good" vostro
and you could uninstall the network control software for a test, or disable it at startup with msconfig.

Do you have more detail on "......uninstall the network control software for a test..........."

Thanks

i posted that because you posted =  "One thing I did notice -- the "Good Vostro" which installs a DVD  did not have the "Network Control Manager" and "Serial " entry in the non plug and play sectioin of the controla panel.  may be an indication there is no relation to falure to install DVD."
only you can see what software it is -  look under programs

if you find it - you can also disable at startup with msconfig

nobus, Thanks for the additional information. I will look into the network controller.

Also, there are 4 files( 3 .SYS in Windows\system32\drivers and one .dll in Windows\system32) listed under driver details in device manager.  I will rename the 4 exixting files ...OLD and then copy the same files from the good Vostro and place in same directory . Reboot and see what happens.

web_tracker: Have been reading the slipstream postings ---good stuff. The howtohaven site seems to indicate I can copy the unique install (forgotton word he used) from my Vostro and add to the slip streamed CD to "customize" the slipstreamed disk to my Vostro.  Making the slipstreamed disk with SP3 seems fairly straight forward but tedious.
I would use the slipstreamed disk to do a "repair install" of xp on my Vostro.
Any words of wisdom on running the "repair install?
Thanks

all wisdom here :  http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm      

nobus --- Thanks for the link to the XP repair install.  Also, I replaced the 4 driver files with the files from the "good" Vostro.  Same results, my problem remains, so it must be a software glitch some where else in the OS.  Very frustrating --  seems like such a simple problem.  Looks like the "repair install " is the only other solution other than a completely new OS install.

web_tracker, nobus ,
I closed the question, thanks to both of you. I will continue to work the problem and would like to keep you informed of the final solution. Is there a way to contack either of you other than posting here  on the closed question?

see my profile - but it can take some days then
note that i prefer a contact here (i'm daily here)

Click on the link to my profile name to see me e mail addy.