Just recently, putting DVD-movies in my PC has resulted in stuttering playback, regardless of the playback software. Also, the mouse and general responsiveness of the PC stutters. Does the drive need replacing? Or maybe is it the power cable going to the drive? In fact, the power ribbon with all the big four prong connectors for the drives - can any of them be put into any of the drives? If so, I might try swapping them over, see if that makes a difference. My CD-R drive seems fine.
DVD stuttering
Miscellaneous Forums/General Discussion/DVD stuttering If I were to replace it, what's the opinion on this drive?
http://www.quietpc.com/uk/components.php#dvd
(I'm on a mission to silence my PC!)
I've found that DVDs burned on a PC (have tried a variety) rarely play in a domestic DVD player, but those burned on a mac are very reliable. Is there something in this? Maybe it's a software thing?
http://www.quietpc.com/uk/components.php#dvd
(I'm on a mission to silence my PC!)
I've found that DVDs burned on a PC (have tried a variety) rarely play in a domestic DVD player, but those burned on a mac are very reliable. Is there something in this? Maybe it's a software thing?
I'd have a go at defragging your hard-drive.
Okay, I'll do that. Actually, I tried to the other day and because I have less than 15% space left it said it couldn't, but maybe it actually said it would take longer. Thanks for the advice.
I might still replace the drive, as it's only a DVD reader, so the opinions on the above mentioned drive would still be useful.
I might still replace the drive, as it's only a DVD reader, so the opinions on the above mentioned drive would still be useful.
Instead of using the built-in and not very good defragging tools, get PerfectDisk. The difference is unbelievable.
Another thing to try is scan for virii / spyware.
Another thing to try is scan for virii / spyware.
If I were to replace it, what's the opinion on this drive?
I think you'd be wanting a Plextor instead. Mr tricks,
I have a similar problem on my laptop dvd drive. plug in an external dvd recoder (LG external is fabtastic) and it works fine. The laptop is a Dell and is 3.25 years old.
Put in a DVD which I burned myself and it won't play it after about 5 mins.
Don't know if that helps?
IPete2.
I have a similar problem on my laptop dvd drive. plug in an external dvd recoder (LG external is fabtastic) and it works fine. The laptop is a Dell and is 3.25 years old.
Put in a DVD which I burned myself and it won't play it after about 5 mins.
Don't know if that helps?
IPete2.
FlameDuck, found these Plextors:
http://www.pricegrabber.co.uk/search_attrib.php?page_id=7&form_keyword=plextor+dvd&mode=g_uk_b_s&skd=1&rd=1
(The top two ones) - there doesn't seem much difference in spec, but one is nearly twice the price of the other. Anyone know offhand why that is?
http://www.pricegrabber.co.uk/search_attrib.php?page_id=7&form_keyword=plextor+dvd&mode=g_uk_b_s&skd=1&rd=1
(The top two ones) - there doesn't seem much difference in spec, but one is nearly twice the price of the other. Anyone know offhand why that is?
Put in a DVD which I burned myself and it won't play it after about 5 mins.
had the exact same problem with my original Desktop DVD drive.
Turned out i'd knocked one of the Capacitor's off the circuitry putting it in (Bad design left one sticking out a bit)and it would seemingly lose charge after 5 mins.
So, i'm going to say this again:
"Blown Cap".
I'm almost certainly wrong this time :P
Wait for a Blu Ray drive then you can back up your PC to a single disk too.
By the time they're affordable I'll probably be upgrading again anyhow!
I defragged my hard drive with PerfectDisk, but the DVD still stutters. So I'm thinking I have to replace the drive. But IS it the drive? Or could it be the interface between it and the mobo? I don't want to spend £££ on a new drive only for it to do exactly the same as this one...
Is DMA enabled on the IDE controller?
If it is, then copy all the files from the DVD to your harddrive - any good DVD player should be able to play it from there. If it still stutters, it's a software (possible bad codec/overloaded CPU) problem.
Are your motherboard's IDE Busmastering drivers installed correctly?
They may seem 'optional' a lot of the time, but weird little glitches like this commonly happen when you don't have them installed.
They may seem 'optional' a lot of the time, but weird little glitches like this commonly happen when you don't have them installed.
Sounds like the drive is having problems during transfers. This will cause windows/mouse stutter.
Have you tried copying a data dvd to your hd with the suspect drive? Does this take longer than normal and/or result in stuttering? If data copying works fine, then I'd say you've got a software or driver issue.
If all types of transfers (not just movies) result in stuttering check or preferably replace your ide cable.
Maybe windows needs to re-detect the drive. uninstall the dvd drive using device manager. reboot and windows will re-install the drive. check for stuttering again.
I wouldn't waste too much time on it. Probably easier just to treat yourself to late XMas present since they're so cheap nowdays.
Hope this helps.
Have you tried copying a data dvd to your hd with the suspect drive? Does this take longer than normal and/or result in stuttering? If data copying works fine, then I'd say you've got a software or driver issue.
If all types of transfers (not just movies) result in stuttering check or preferably replace your ide cable.
Maybe windows needs to re-detect the drive. uninstall the dvd drive using device manager. reboot and windows will re-install the drive. check for stuttering again.
I wouldn't waste too much time on it. Probably easier just to treat yourself to late XMas present since they're so cheap nowdays.
Hope this helps.
I haven't changed any settings lately and I've played DVDs on it fine in the past. And actually, I have noticed lately that when putting CDs into it often they fail to play or install, so I have to put them in the CD drive.
So I probably will get a replacement drive - however, it'd be useful to know if it's a cable problem, as that would affect the new drive too surely...
So I probably will get a replacement drive - however, it'd be useful to know if it's a cable problem, as that would affect the new drive too surely...
Only way to eliminate whether it's the cable or the drive is by replacing one or the other. It's highly likely that your drive is toast though. Normally cables last forever because there's no moving parts. Drives can be touchy because of the whole mechanical 10,000 rpm thingy.
I had an LG cd-drive about 2 years ago. It was three months old and running fine. Turned the computer off overnight and when I fired it up in the morning it wouldn't read anything. Just sat there blinking it's light and attempting to read whilst stuttering as you've described. I spent a few hours tinkering but got nowhere. Replaced it and all was sweet again. I couldn't understand why as all my discs are in perfect unmarked condition.
If you suspect the drive, pull it out, open it's case and give the laser a clean. Also remove any obvious dust bunnies and foreign matter from inside the casing especially the area where the laser travels. This occasionally works. More often the cause is that the laser is worn, misaligned or not tracking properly. There's no easy fixes for those problems though.
I had an LG cd-drive about 2 years ago. It was three months old and running fine. Turned the computer off overnight and when I fired it up in the morning it wouldn't read anything. Just sat there blinking it's light and attempting to read whilst stuttering as you've described. I spent a few hours tinkering but got nowhere. Replaced it and all was sweet again. I couldn't understand why as all my discs are in perfect unmarked condition.
If you suspect the drive, pull it out, open it's case and give the laser a clean. Also remove any obvious dust bunnies and foreign matter from inside the casing especially the area where the laser travels. This occasionally works. More often the cause is that the laser is worn, misaligned or not tracking properly. There's no easy fixes for those problems though.
I have had the drive since getting the PC 5 years ago, so I guess it's kaput!
Couple of questions about getting a Plextor PX716A: It's E-IDE - is that different to IDE? My mobo is fairly old, might it not support E-IDE? (There's no data on MSI's website about my mobo any more!) And if I get a SATA mobo, does it still support IDE optical drives or are there SATA optical drives? (I think the answer to that is yes, but I thought I'd ask)
Couple of questions about getting a Plextor PX716A: It's E-IDE - is that different to IDE? My mobo is fairly old, might it not support E-IDE? (There's no data on MSI's website about my mobo any more!) And if I get a SATA mobo, does it still support IDE optical drives or are there SATA optical drives? (I think the answer to that is yes, but I thought I'd ask)
Plextor manufacture some SATA optical drives, though they are reasonably expensive. E-IDE is IDE (for the purposes of discussion).
Get yourself a LiteOn DVD-ROM if you're buying a new reader. Otherwise I can only recommend a Pioneer 109 or 109D (one can record to DVD-RAM, the other can't) which will only cost you a maximum of £30 if you go to the right shop.
I have a LiteOn HD166S which was the best reader available at the time. I believe it has been superceded by a later model. You can patch the firmware on these LiteOns very easily to enable 16X reading of all media.
Get yourself a LiteOn DVD-ROM if you're buying a new reader. Otherwise I can only recommend a Pioneer 109 or 109D (one can record to DVD-RAM, the other can't) which will only cost you a maximum of £30 if you go to the right shop.
I have a LiteOn HD166S which was the best reader available at the time. I believe it has been superceded by a later model. You can patch the firmware on these LiteOns very easily to enable 16X reading of all media.