DVD Drives

Hi folks, I seem to have two computers here with non functioning DVD drives. They are both doing the same thing. If you insert a CD or a DVD they won't do anything (lights blink a few times and that is it). If you click on the drive it says to insert a disk and won't do anything from there. One is my sons computer and the other my lady freind. They both started this at the same time about two weeks ago. I just found out about it today. Both computers have Lite-on DVD RW drives. Both computers are runnng XP Home. One has an Asus board and the other is Gygabyte (spelling?). Everything in device manager appears ok. I have never had a computer or two do this before. Thanks.

Hello again, I got one fixed but the other in my sons machine is showing up as a JLMS XJ-HD 166S. I have no idea what this might be. The optical drive in the other computer shows as a lite-on, as it should. Both drives are identical. Could service pack three have anything to do with this. My sons computer has SP3 and the other does not. I tried uninstalling drivers/drive and it finds new hardware on reboot but goes back to the same problem. Thanks.

From what I'm seeing on Google, it looks like the "JLMS XJ-HD 166S" is a Lite-On:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q...=Google+Search

Presuming that you already tested with another data cable for the DVD writer...
To quickly eliminate the DVD writers as source of issue,
Temporarily remove questionable DVD writer and install a verified working DVD writer in its' place to check.

You may also try one of these:
1. http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060
or...
2. http://aumha.org/downloads/cdgone.zip
or...
3. Go to Device Manager, click a "+" sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
You'll see two items:
- ATA Channel0 (or Primary Channel)
- ATA Channel1 (or Secondary Channel)
Right click on each of them, and click Uninstal. Confirm.
Restart Windows. They'll be automatically reinstalled.

Thanks for the replies, yes I installed a new ribbon cable that did not help. I will have to dig around but I am sure I have a couple of optical drives laying about. As soon as he gets off Tune town I will try your other suggestions.