HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GWA4164B doesnt read disks.
 

Hi there,

Im having problem with the CD/DVD drive. Whenever I insert disks, it doesnt show anything in the D: but instead it keep poping up the message "Please insert disk into D:". Could some1 help me ? I tried to ask on yahoo but the only answer was from a rude guy who told me to *** off and buy a new drive.

Below is some info about the drive, if you need any more please just let me know.
Comp info:
DELL Demension E510
OS WinXP SP2
Bios ver. AO7

About 2 weeks ago, I format my comp, back then the drive still was able to read the WinXP Install Disk, after the format it stops reading things and keep poping the "insert disk into D:" message. I checked in Device Manager, it said the device is working properly, I even deleted the lowerfilter in Registry but it still not working. I tried to uninstall and reinstall the drive but it remains the same. Please help me !!

P/S: I tried to run Diagnos . at start up (F12) and it said it doesnt support the GWA4164B

Since you're getting this error, I assume you were able to re-install windows after the format, which means it was reading discs then. It sounds like you are simply missing the driver for your device.

Here is the list of drivers for your machine:
http://support.dell.com/support/down...n&catid=&impid

It would probably be a good idea to install most of them, as you may run into other issues without them. Even if you don't, you will gain functionality and improved performance with correct drivers installed.

Thanks for your reply, Wilson. But your link is dead i couldnt visit it. Could u please tell me the name of driver for my CD drive ?

Oh, and yes I reinstalled WinXP (my friend did it for me actually) and downloaded most of the drivers from Dell already. (The ones that ask to enter Service Tag and then Comp Model )

Edit: I can visit your link now. There are 11 files in the CD/DVD , i downloaded the one that has the model of my CD Drive, it appeared that I already installed that firmware. Also, this is what appear at D:\ in:

Safe Mode: CD-Drive (D: )
Normal Mode DVD-RW Drive (D: )

I dont know why it appears as 2 different types of drive, Please tell me what do i need to do ?

Btw, it said E113 AO4, is that because my current BIOS is AO7 and the firmware need BIOS AO4 to work ? (I updated my BIOS from AO4 to AO7 after the format+reinstall OS) I just recheck my XP it is SP3 instead of SP2. Please let me know if you need more info about my comp.

This is the report of my comp from Belarc Advisor:
file:///C:/Program%20Files/Belarc/Advisor/System/tmp/(Game-rig).html

Your bios does not affect Windows in any way, so there is no need to worry about that.

Safe mode is not capable of writing cds, thus it will not recognize the drive as an RW type, but instead only as a standard cd drive.

Possibly I have misinterpreted your first post.
You are saying that under My Computer your cd drive appears, I understood that this was not the case from your statement:
"it doesnt show anything in the D:"
but I think I understand what you meant now.

SP3 means that it has service pack 3 installed, this should not affect the workings of any devices.

It does sound like your drive is done or possibly just broken. How did your friend install Windows? Did they use the cd drive to do it? or another method?

The file link you posted is a local file on your computer, thus I cannot access it, you will need to attach it to your next post if you think its information may be useful.

My friend spent 6 hours formatting and reinstalling my comp. He said the virus infected even my BIOS and everything. He used the install disk as well as some anti-virus disks. When I got the new OS installed, everything is smooth. But when I insert a Warcraft disk, it can not read. I inserted other disks, nothing happened, it keep poping up "Plz insert disk into D:"

I prolly tried every method from the internet to fix the Drive, but I think it just broken now. It might just be a concidence that it broke right away after I reinstalled the XP, sigh.