My DVD-RW drive can't read certain discs!?

Question

Ok, my DVD drive works fine it reads CDs and DVDs but there are some CDs or DVDs that it can't read! For example when I put Tomb Raider Anniversary in my DVD drive works perfectly! But when I put Silent Hill 4 or Resident Evil 4 my DVD drive struggles and tries to read them for about a minute and then it gives up! I don't know what the problem is! When I try to run these discs on another computer they work fine! So it's not the discs! Its the DVD drive! Somethings wrong with it! I have Optiarc DVD RW AD-5170A....

If no one can help me can someone at least guide me to a website where I can post this question?

Answer 1

Your problem is likely the firmware on your DVD drive.    The methods of encoding a DVD have changed over the years, in some cases to allow for greater anti-copy security, and in others just to improve the performance.

The two DVD's that you are having trouble with, may be using an encoding that your DVD drive is not set to read.  Thus it gives up once it has tried all the methods it has available.

In some cases, you can download a firmware upgrade for your DVD drive that will allow it to read these new formats.   I would check out the support section of the manufacturers web site to see if firmware updates are available for your drive.  

I must warn you that there is always a risk when you upgrade firmware, that if something goes wrong, you could make your drive a paperweight.