also @ TechSpot: Check your bill: AT&T adds new 'administrative fee' to wireless bills

DVD Drive not reading game

Discussion in 'Other Hardware' started by Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008.

  1. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    Recently I just swapped my mom's DVD drive with mine [This morning] And it doesn't read Red Alert 3 ..Which I also haven't been able to read on my old drives due to it having problems so I don't know if it's the disk problem or not. I was able to explore the disk, but I never got past the installation screen saying "The system cannot read from the specified device". I don't really know if it is the DVD region thing, since i heard games don't apply to it, although it has a lock.

    I would appreciate any insight given. Thanks in advance
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #1

  2. Tmagic650 TS Ambassador Posts: 18,768   +62

    Is this why you swapped the DVD drive in the first place?
    Tmagic650, Dec 24, 2008
    #2

  3. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    Umm, My first DVD drive couldn't read game disks at all, this one can read [Just noticed I may have worded title a bit wrong] but I can't really install it.
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #3

  4. Tmagic650 TS Ambassador Posts: 18,768   +62

    Both DVD players may be worn out. Is any one of them a burner too?
    Tmagic650, Dec 24, 2008
    #4

  5. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    The other one was a DVDRW made in 03 I think, The one I got is a DVDRAM [Don't really have an idea what that is >.> ] that she got around 3 months back, so I don't think it would be burnt out.
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #5

  6. captaincranky TechSpot Addict Posts: 8,802   +287

    "DVD-RAM" is a specific format of re-writeable DVD. I think the original forms of it actually ran inside a cage, moch like a floppy disc. DVD-RW and DVD+RW would be the other 2. DVD-RW blanks have been discontinued. I don't know about DVD-RAM, but it's seldom used nowadays. DVD+RW has won this particular "format war", so to speak.
    captaincranky, Dec 24, 2008
    #6
     

  7. Tmagic650 TS Ambassador Posts: 18,768   +62

    The DVDR/W from '03 is most likely worn out. What is the condition of the game CD? Is it a coppied CD or original
    Tmagic650, Dec 24, 2008
    #7

  8. mailpup TS Special Forces Posts: 7,910   +77

    When you swapped the drives, did you reset the jumpers to the appropriate setting? You know, master, slave or cable select?
    mailpup, Dec 24, 2008
    #8

  9. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    -> Cranky, very insightful :D Thank you

    -> Tmagic, It's probably worn out...Thankfully it's my moms now heheh. I got it new from gamestop, so hopefully it's not a bad copy :eek:

    -> Mailpup, snaps...Would that explain why one of my hard drives isn't shown on the my computer list >.>

    Sorry I'm not the brightest computer wiz hahah.
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #9

  10. mailpup TS Special Forces Posts: 7,910   +77

    If the hard drive is on the same IDE cable as the optical drive, yes.
    mailpup, Dec 24, 2008
    #10

  11. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    Okay, so is there anything I need to do? Like making one or the other a master/slave, or going into the BIOS for it as well?
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #11

  12. mailpup TS Special Forces Posts: 7,910   +77

    Typically, you make the drive on the end of the cable master and the drive on the middle connector slave. The settings are changed by physically moving the plastic/metal jumper at the back of the drive to the proper terminals. Tweezers or needle nose pliers can be helpful if you have trouble with big fingers.

    You don't have to go into the BIOS.
    mailpup, Dec 24, 2008
    #12

  13. Sorrow Newcomer, in training Posts: 141

    lol I just finished finding out by Trial and Error, Using my own finger nails =] Surprisingly the disk is actually installing now so I think that may done the trick.

    Thank you all so much, and have a happy holiday! =]
    Sorrow, Dec 24, 2008
    #13

  14. mailpup TS Special Forces Posts: 7,910   +77

    You are very welcome. Merry Christmas!
    mailpup, Dec 25, 2008
    #14
Topic Status:
Not open for further replies.

Add New Comment

Social Login & Guest Posting

TechSpot Members
Login here or sign up for free,
it takes about a minute.
Get complete access to the TechSpot community. Join thousands of technology enthusiasts that contribute and share knowledge in our forum. Get a private inbox, upload your own photo gallery and more.