How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures

CD-ROM/DVD-ROM drive is a widely used device in computers, after a period of use it can be caused by many reasons such as excessive use, hot, humid, dusty weather,. The drive will start to have problems such as not reading the disc, not opening the disc tray.

Depending on the extent of the damage, the CD-ROM drive can be repaired or needs to be replaced. This article will show you how to deal with common failures of CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and CDRW drives.

Common failures of CD/DVD-ROM drives

Unable to open the drive tray

This is the most common failure, caused by a dirty or stretched belt that pulls the disc tray opening/closing unit.

1. Turn off the computer (if it's open), straighten one end with a metal paper clip (or small metal rod), then insert it into a small hole in the front of the CD-ROM drive about 1 inch deep. 5cm when meeting a stopper, continue to press firmly on the tray to be pushed out a little, now don't press anymore, but use your hand to pull the tray out more.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 1 Use a metal paper clip to open the tray

1. From the opened disc tray, looking inside will see a black belt, carefully remove it with tweezers from the drive sprocket. If the belt is dirty, it can be cleaned with water or alcohol and wiped dry, but if it is stretched, it needs to be replaced with a new one, which is available at repair or electronics stores.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 2 Clean or replace the tray pull belt

1. After cleaning or replacing, put the belt back in the way it was before and push the tray into it by hand, when opening the machine, the disc tray will be automatically closed.

The way to remove / attach the belt is like removing the chain (chain) of a bicycle, just lift the rope and turn the sprocket, the rope will come out by itself. Do not stretch the belt, if it is difficult to remove/attach the belt, open the drive cover, see the instructions below for how to remove it.

Clean the CD-ROM drive

1. After a period of use, the internal parts of the CD-ROM drive will become dusty. If the reader is dirty, there will often be a phenomenon where the drive reads the disc from time to time, it is necessary to clean the inside of the drive.
2. Remove the drive from the computer's case by opening the 2 covers of the case, unscrewing the side screws and the wires that plug into the drive, and then push the drive forward to remove it.
3. Open the bottom 4 screws to remove the bottom cover of the drive as shown in the picture.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 3 Remove the bottom cover of the CD-ROM drive

1. Open the disc tray with a paper clip as instructed above and remove the front panel by pressing the side latches.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 4 Open the drive front panel

1. Remove the top cover of the drive.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 5 Remove the top cover of the drive

1. Clean the internal components and covers with a soft brush or air blower. Remove and clean the belt or replace it if stretched.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 6 Clean the internal components

1. Use a cotton ball soaked in a special solution to clean the surface of the reader. Can use glass cleaner solution, alcohol, .

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 7 Cleaning the reader

1. Depending on the CD-ROM drive, the parts are located in different places. 
2. Do not clean the lubricant on the mechanical parts of the drive, do not leave cotton fibers on the surface of the reader.
3. After cleaning is complete, assemble the covers back to the way they were and can be left outside to open the machine to check before attaching to the case.

Handling CD/DVD-ROM disc pickles

The drive can't read the disc, this phenomenon often occurs when using the drive too much, making the capacity of the reader weak, the way to handle it is as follows:

1. Remove the drive and its covers as described above. Look around the reader and you will see a rheostat as shown in the picture. This is the power adjustment rheostat of the reader.

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 8 Find the power adjustment rheostat of the reader

1. Use a small screwdriver that fits into the hole of the rheostat to turn it clockwise, only turning it bit by bit (it feels like the rheostat is inching a little bit).

How to deal with CD-ROM drive failures Picture 9 Use a small screwdriver to fit the hole of the rheostat to adjust

This variable has the effect of increasing / decreasing the capacity of the reader, it needs to be adjusted just enough by testing many times, if it is increased too much, it will damage the reader.

Samuel Daniel

Update 08 May 2023