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reading problems w/ Samsung SN-308n

Discussion in 'PC hardware help' started by Blakean, Dec 15, 2004.

  1. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    Hi!

    I'm having problems reading any disc from this particular drive, embedded in my Dell Inspiron 8200. It's been a mediocre drive at the best of times, but now it's quit working altogether: the motor tries to read disc information, but fails.

    The thing is, this happened only last night, after the drive got really loud reading a DVD-r data (not movie) disc. Could something have burst or come apart? It struggles to read, but ultimately fails.

    This thing needs to replaced, but in the meantime, I'd like to be able to use it.

    Any ideas would be welcome.

    D.
     
    Last edited by a moderator: Dec 15, 2004
  2. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    try to clean the laser lens with a cd/dvd disk cleaner & see what happens
     
  3. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    Hey, thanks for the response.

    I cleaned the lens, with no effect. I believe it's the mechanism, since it shifts back-and-forth. It's just strange that it happened right after the very loud hum.

    D.

     
  4. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    all things come to an end, is dell a laptop
     
  5. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    Yeah, it's a laptop I purchased in 2002.
     
  6. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    you might be able to get replacement/upgrade from dell
     
  7. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    There is a firmware update, but I can't use it since a floppy drive is needed. It's all quite absurd.

     
  8. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    how big is update. if able to fit on to floppy disk than you could copy onto hd, reinstall cdrom & do the firmware update from hd
     
  9. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    It's actually a Winzip self-extractor that closes itself down when it realizes there isn't a floppy disc drive. Is there a way to get around this absence?

     
  10. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    how big is files when unzipped, will it still fit on disk
     
  11. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    The zipped file is 527k. How big the unzipped file is, I have no idea (though I assume it would fit on a floppy disc), since it won't let me unzip it: I do not have a floppy drive.
     
  12. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    can you download from net onto laptop.what is name & link to file as i see if i can download it explode it & possibly email it to you
     
  13. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

  14. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    got the files, 2 files used, 601kb. pm me your email so can send to you
     
  15. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    ddp:

    I haven't heard from you since I sent my email address. Perhaps you didn't get it?
     
  16. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    no i didn't, just checked both here & oe, nothing
     
  17. Blakean

    Blakean Guest

    This is probably just an exercise in perseverance at this point--the drive is probably past the threshold of oblivion. But my email address is d_sanin@hotmail.com, and i'll give the files a try if you still have them.

    Thanks.

     
  18. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    delete your email address of post do a pm with it as you could get spammed
     
  19. ddp

    ddp Moderator Staff Member

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    email sent with 2 files at about 5:06pm
     

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