iFixit - Answers With Device "Optical Drive"

Optical Drive: DVD Drive spins disk, tries to read, makes wierd noise, then stops

Fri, 16 Jan 2026 15:27:24 -0700

Hi there, I have this Panasonic SW-9576-C

its a special drive, cuz iz accpets DVD RAM Catridges: https://images.crutchfieldonline.com/Ima...

I only need it for DVD RAM Use

Sadly the drive doesn't work, the problem is the same as this guy: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOnS0c6Q...

at first the drive could only read DVDs, but not DVD-RAM or CDs (but only in Windows 98SE computer), not if I used this device: https://www.conrad.com/en/p/renkforce-ha...

now it doesn't even read DVDs

Not sure what to do, I can't replace the drive, they are not cheap to get and they can come defective (cuz people never test them with DVD RAM), just like this one did

I did dissasemble it according to this instructions: http://akakabu.way-nifty.com/blog/2011/0...

but didn't know how hard would this be to asemble back, cuz the drive can never close properly anymore

So if anyone has any idea how to fix this (maybe best way to read a disk without needing to close the drive first)

Thanks

Lite-On LightScribe SHM-165H6S: Optical Sensor not working and disk not reading and not spinning

Mon, 28 Jul 2025 07:20:25 -0700

Optical Sensor not working and disk not reading and not spinning

Dell 48x IDE Internal CD-ROM Drive: Why cd drive can't eject automatically? 😣

Fri, 12 Jul 2024 20:22:06 -0700

Why cd drive is not working like I tried several times but it is not ejecting

Green light turns on for few seconds and then turn off 😕

Plzz answer my question 😊

Thanks

Hitachi-LG GT10N: How to fix the eject spring?

Sun, 23 May 2021 12:48:52 -0700

My optical drive's eject spring broke. It consists of a spring over a rod with a ring “welded" to it around ⅔ of the way down. Problem is, I know it goes under the tray, but not what position it goes in. Everything i've tried has failed, so far. I'll let you know if I figure it out.

⟐ Commented May 23, 2021 at 12:48 MST

Optical Drive: Slimline Drive Slimtype BD E DS4E1S: CD holder part fell off

Sat, 09 Mar 2019 10:33:23 -0700

Hi.

Today i wanted to watch a DVD movie, opened the tray on my Laptop, and saw this wonderful view:

I don’t know how it happened but it must have been loose somehow, and by opening the tray it finally got off. I already had problems with this drive, to which i never knew the reason. Now i know, i guess.

Anyway, is there a way to get this thing, whatever its called, back in its place?

I thought glue should do the trick, but then i figured glue would not stand against high RPM’s let alone the heat bulding up inside my laptop, disintegrating the glue.

Are there any other things i can try?

Anyway thank you in advance for any answers.

Optical Drive: My CD drive ignores about 5% of CDs inserted

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 11:28:50 -0700

I am ripping audio CD's to the cloud using Windows 10 on a brand new laptop with a plug-in (separate) CD reader/writer. 95 out of 100 work fine with Windows Media Player, but some of the CDs spin for a few seconds and then just stop. Windows acts as if no CD is even in the drive. The CDs themselves are clean and mostly scratch free. For example, they will play in a boom box. My guess is that Windows lacks some of the codex's needed to decrypt the CD, but I don't see anywhere to add more of them to the Operating system. Any other guesses out there?

⟐ Commented February 03, 2018 at 11:28 MST

Samsung SE-208DB External DVD Drive: Filter on data lines of external dvd drive vital?

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 21:10:07 -0700

I had to steal a 2-line filter on the data lines of a Samsung SE-208DB external dvd drive i had laying around that i use every now and again. Is it vital or can I just run a jumper?

Optical Drive: Why does my drive open and close when not in use?

Fri, 28 Oct 2016 09:56:27 -0700

My drive tends to open and close on its own when not in use

⟐ Commented October 28, 2016 at 9:56 MST

Optical Drive: How to install a miniature spring

Sun, 10 Jul 2016 12:04:26 -0700

I need to reinstall the miniature spring that popped off the door to my optical drive ergo DVD/CD recorder on a Dell Tower, it's a bit precarious and at first glance I don't see much chance, are there any such tutorials on said subject matter ?

Optical Drive: Why will my optical drive not start game applications, but play bluray

Sat, 03 Mar 2018 19:49:49 -0700

I received my motherboard and optical drive late last week and replaced both using the replacement guides. I got everything hooked up, updated and working properly except the optical drive. What is confusing is that it plays DVDs and blurray without a problem and even reads the game content that is in the drive but won't start any game application after installation. I have the latest software version downloaded but the optical drive just won't start the application. Even the games I have downloaded from the market work without a hiccup. I was wondering if anyone else has had this problem and if there are any solutions to help me solve it. Thanks in advance!

⟐ Edited March 03, 2018 at 19:49 MST

Optical Drive: 9576C drive tray will not load type IV cartridge

Mon, 07 Dec 2015 09:44:49 -0700

The 9596C DVD-RAM drive will not load Type IV cartridge: I can remove the RAM media disk from the cartridge and place it in the tray and the drive will load OK and will read and write the DVD-RAM media. Any type IV cartridge will not load, the tray just closes and then opens again in 1-3 seconds. I need repair parts ordering information to fix this drive.

Lite-On LightScribe SHM-165H6S: How do I readjust my disk tray

Fri, 11 Sep 2015 09:52:52 -0700

My dog knocked my disk tray out of alignment (it was open when she slammed into it). There are no broken parts and I was able to get the tray back in the grooves...but when it tries to close it hits the disk head. I'm guessing the tray is not aligned correctly with respect to the gears. I see your instructions for removing the tray and replacing it, but how do I realigh the gears with the tray?

Optical Drive: CD burner needs replaced and cannot find suitable replacement?

Tue, 07 Apr 2015 19:55:31 -0700

My APS 101629 cd burner is worn out and no longer operates. Need suitable replacement unit either complete or just the burner (have ability to replace the unit myself ) . Must be compatible with Mac OS 8.6. APS was bought out by LaCie and cannot locate parts for this unit. The system is used for recording studio and I would like to find a repair part or replacement unit rather than replacing the entire system.

⟐ Edited April 07, 2015 at 19:55 MST