Computer's disc drive not working (Windows 10)

[Clownbaby]

My laptop is getting on and very slow, literally all I use it for is ripping CDs,  storing things on and iTunes because it's very slow and has only got slower since I got it upgraded to Windows 10 a year or so ago. It's a Dell Inspiron 15R in case that's helpful.

Now the disc drive won't function at all and I definitely didn't do shit so my computer has made itself useless. For a while when I would put a CD in it would start spinning, open on iTunes (would you like to import CD etc.) but before I could do that it would come up with "please insert a disc into drive (E:)" then automatically pop the disc out so I couldn't do anything with it. I searched for solutions and tried changing the driver letter from (E:) to another letter as someone suggested but it just comes up with a message saying "the parameter is incorrect".

I also tried checking for driver updates, like someone else suggested, but it says there are no new updates needed. It's a pain in the arse. Now, "please insert a disc into drive (E:) doesn't even come up when I insert a disc. Now when I insert a disc it doesn't show on iTunes, iTunes doesn't even register it, there is no message, the disc just stops spinning and nothing happens. Anyone else had this problem?

[Delete Delete Delete]

Could it be wear and tear, perhaps an issue with the laser? I had a similar issue with an old pc when I rip my cd collection. I ended up get an external usb Cd Drive.

[Clownbaby]

Could it be wear and tear, perhaps an issue with the laser? I had a similar issue with an old pc when I rip my cd collection. I ended up get an external usb Cd Drive.

I never thought of that. Is there any visible signs of a broken laser that I could check for before buying a USB disc drive?

[Wilbur]

Not really. Just bite the bullet and get an external drive. Internal drives are pretty much obsolete now anyway.

[Glebe]

Have you tried turning it nah

[Clownbaby]

Not really. Just bite the bullet and get an external drive. Internal drives are pretty much obsolete now anyway.

Just had a look and they're pretty cheap so I might just do this then.

[Clownbaby]

Have you tried turning it nah

Knew it

[BlodwynPig]

Ripping CDs? In 2018?

[Huxleys Babkins]

Yeah, sounds like a knackered CD drive. There's so many moving parts that something's bound to go eventually and the slim drives in laptops are even more brittle.

[Clownbaby]

Ripping CDs? In 2018?

Yes, I knew someone would say this. I don't have wifi of my own at home because we're very poor, hence the shit old laptop still being in use. I mooch wifi off the doctors next door. I have a massive CD collection and there has been no problem ever ripping CDs in the past so I just do that because why stream and download music I already have, with my shit slow temperamental NHS wifi. There's also an awful lot of CDs I have which are hard to find digitally online

[hedgehog90]

Is there any sign of life in it still? After inserting a disc can it not even be arsed to spin for like 10-20 seconds?
Before it stopped working outright, you said it was detecting the disc but then saying 'please insert a disc into drive'. This sounds like maybe the tray isn't detecting that it's shut properly, you could try applying pressure to the tray door to see if that helps.

[Sebastian Cobb]

Ripping CDs? In 2018?

To be fair I only got round to doing this a few years ago. Mostly while pretending to work from home.

[Twed]

Would a USB CD drive be an acceptable fix for you clownbaby? Looks like it'll cost you around 15 quid:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_2/262-0624304-7575711?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=usb+cd+drive

Edit: Oh I really should have read the thread

[momatt]

I rip CDs all the time.
Should I just throw them all in the bin?

[JesusAndYourBush]

My laptop is getting on and very slow, literally all I use it for is ripping CDs

How old is the drive & do you rip a lot of cd's?  If it's more than about 5 years old and you've ripped a lot of cd's then it's probably worn out.