DVD Recovery

[Rock Charogne]

A favourite DVD has ceased to function! I have two good quality DVD drives - neither will read it! The software just says "device not ready" or "insert cd" - simply not recognised. Drives work with any other CD/DVD - but not this one! Anyone know a software solution ? I have tried DVD recovery software - but that doesn't get very far as it considers the drive to be empty! Oh - and yes - it's a perfectly legit DVD purchased from the distributor! TIA. Rock

[Floydoid]

Have you tried cleaning the disk?

[Rock Charogne]

Yes - and indeed it looks perfect - no sign of any scratches etc - very rarely been used....

[sparky]

Did the DVD work in the same computer / software setup before or only tried before in DVD player?

Have you tried DVD player?

If it is OK in DVD player probably some form of copy protection.

[Rock Charogne]

Used to, Sparky - used to work perfectly in PC and DVD player

Tried it in DVD player - gets a little further - after much graunching gets as far as the menu - but when you select an item it just grauunches and graunches - I listened to it for about 10 mins and then gave up!!!

I suspect I would be able to use one of the Recovery programs on it - but as the drive will not even acknowledge its presence I can't even get past first base

Thanks guys Rock

[steve56]

Had the same with Bergerac once tried twice then put it away for a week tried again it was fine

[Deano!]

I'm no expert but sometimes inserting the disc and turning the machine off, then turning it back on (with the disc inside) can work. Sometimes the machine will not turn off while its trying to read a problem disc. In that case - and do this at your own risk - just unplug the blighter, let it totally stop and then plug her back in.

Never tried this one but...some HiFi nuts claim that freezing their CDs then letting them warm back up to room temperature makes them sound better. I find this ridiculous but then I've never tried it. Perhaps its worth a go with your DVD. Just be sure its fully up to normal temperature and dry of any condensation before inserting it. DVD player's lasers dont like water droplets.