DVD-ROM Door Not Opening

[mtrevelino]

I hope that this is the proper place to post this message.
I have a aopen 1648 dvd-rom drive. When I press the "door open" button, I can hear it trying to open. I have to press the button about 20 times to get it to open. This is a fairly new drive that I would hate to trash. Any suggestions on a possible fix.
Thanks in Advance
Mike,
Alexandria, VA

[cynthia]

Could try to reflash the driver - don't hink it will help you. Sounds more as a hardware related error. If your warranty has ended - try to open the case and see if there is anything that can be done to solve the problem.

[Experi-Mentor]

power off your pc.
disconnect only the data cable from the rom.
power on & test if it opens.
if it still fails to open, then some possibles :
the tray sensor is damaged or faulty
time to buy another drive

if it opens without the data cable connected :
master/slave config may need attention, or a conflict between the other drive/device on the same data cable. check the pins on the rom (they maybe bent). or sadly, the interface is shot

[sfheath]

As a last resort:
While the tray is open, carefully unclip the front of the tray and close tray.
You may find when you hear the motor trying to open the tray a gentle pull of the now accessible edge might help.
Not elegant but might get some more value out the device
I'm a college technician - I work on a very tight budget!

[Experi-Mentor]

good point sfheath
as some people have a habit of pushing the tray with their hands & not use the button, the teeth on the tray may be out by one tooth or even offset.
hope it can be removed though

[sfheath]

Originally posted by Experi-Mentor
... some people have a habit of pushing the tray with their hands & not use the button ...

<cough> .. er .. guilty

[mtrevelino]

I plan on looking at it on Saturday. I have a question. I have a extra power supply, can I remove the drive from the pc and plug it in to the power supply on a bench? This way if I do take it apart, it will be easier to "fiddle" with it on the bench. I am hoping that it is only one tooth off.
Thanks for your replies.
Mike.....

[Experi-Mentor]

you can do it that way if you want, but it would be faster just to unplug the data cable from your rom, starting up your pc & testing it this way 1st.
no need to fully start you pc. just get the "bios" (at start-up) screen up. that's enough to test it.

1st unplug only the data cable (grey ribbon cable).

[sfheath]

If your spare PSU is an ATX, then you can't power up without a motherboard to provide the 'soft switch'. I always keep an old AT PSU around for that purpose; it has the old mains switch system

.. and no, I don't keep it specially for this - we still use some ATs.

[Experi-Mentor]

@ sfheath
if i can find my mod atx plug. i will send you the pinouts. this way you can use a atx p/sup without having to attach a m/board (if you want it (???)

[mtrevelino]

Experi-Mentor - YES!!! If you can find the pinouts, I would appreciate it.
Thank you!
Mike....

[Experi-Mentor]

@ mtrevelino
this needs more than just a simple mod plug (sfheath being a tech, would already be aware of that).

[joegib]

You can power up a freestanding ATX PSU by linking the socket holes carrying the Green and an adjacent Black wires on the 20-pin motherboard connector. I use a paperclip or a pair of tweezers pushed into the relevant socket holes. No special fittings required but link the socket connections mentioned before connecting the PSU to the mains.

I generally need to do this when I've been testing a drive, then removed it from the computer (which I've closed up) only to find I've left a needed disk in the now unpowered drive!

[Experi-Mentor]

## I use a paperclip or a pair of tweezers pushed into the relevant socket holes ##

no offence joegib but, this is the kind of approach i try to stay away from.
you may know what you're doing, but to a person who's never done this before, using these methods could result in a nasty outcome

[joegib]

Yes, children shouldn't try this at home. But people who've got a little experience in putting a PC together might find it useful to know -- it's not the kind of thing you'll find in manuals. And in case anyone doubts the technique you can find it referenced in many places on the Web -- here for instance:

http://forums.thatcomputerguy.us/lofiversion/index.php/t1120.html