DVD drive will onle play some DVD's

[O]

DVD drive will only play some DVD's

It will play some DVD's but not others. Windows Media Center or Media Player 11 simply won't see the disc.
I downloaded the VLC media player and it's the same with that too.
I've tried a bunch of different codecs to no avail.
I'm using Vista Ultimate and all updates are installed.
The DVD's are all original, movies, not burned, region 1.
The DVD's will play in other devices.

Any ideas why one would play and not the other?

 

[dreamcastrocks]

Are the discs not reading dual layer discs?

 

[Chaz]

Did you check for a firmware update?

 

[O]

Are the discs not reading dual layer discs?

That could very well be it. I just looked at a few that won't play and they are DVDL's.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

That could very well be it. I just looked at a few that won't play and they are DVDL's.

Like SirChaz said, a firmware update might work. If that doesn't, you might be SOL. DVD drives are throwaway devices at this point. You can get another for $20.

 

[O]

Did you check for a firmware update?

Yep, I did a firmware update. I've been looking for an updated driver but they don't seem to exist.
It's a;
NEC DVD-RW ND-3520A

you might be SOL.

The story of my life lately.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

I'll find one lying around and hook you up if I can. Give me a day or two

 

[O]

I'll find one lying around and hook you up if I can. Give me a day or two

 

[Covert Rain]

That is the bad thing about old DVD drives. Sometimes the manufacturer stops supporting the drive with firmware updates and will not recognize some discs. I would say it could be that.

The other thing it could be is a problem with the laser design. I had bought a Sony DL DVD burner and it always had problems reading certain discs by certain manufacturers. No matter how many firmware updates or software updates they released it never solved the problem. Many "tech" guys I spoke to believed that this was done on purpose to steer people away from buying blank media from anybody but Sony.

Don't know if that is true or not but it sure worked fine with Sony blank media. I always had problems with that DVD drive to the day I replaced it.