DVD/CDROM Player only reads DVDs (Anyone know how to fix this?)

I would try to see if updating the driver or firmware for it fixes it (firmware is less likely as you probably didn't change it) but otherwise it may be that the lens for CDs (sometimes they use separate lenses I believe) is damaged or needs cleaning.

Robert Gentel:
Is firmware the original installation CD-ROM?
Also: Would I update the driver through Device Manager
Or does updating the driver involve going to the manufacturer's website?

I don't think so, and to be honest I think you'd remember any firmware changes if they happened (while driver updates can more easily go unnoticed). Most of the time you never update the firmware for something like that.




It can be either or both. You go to device manager, from there you can update a device driver. When you do so Windows will search for certain known drivers but they won't always have the latest from all manufacturers. In those cases it is sometimes necessary to go to the manufacturer's website and see if you can manually find and download it.

Hmm,
There is one other thing that might be a clue to what the fallacy is:
When I put in a CDROM or AudioCD the player makes a
chuh-chuh chuh-chuh chuh-chuh sound for several seconds. I think it may be attempting to read the disc and the sound is perhaps the lens being moved to different positions.
Robert Gentel: If there is a second lens; I have never noticed it. Perhaps a second lens is -the one which reads CD-ROMS & audio CDs- unable to move into position to read the disc.

I will check-out the manufacturer's (Philips) website now; thanks for the idea.

I am out for the rest of this day; I will update the next chance I get. Thank you for your knowledge RG; I will see what I can do with it. If there are any more thoughts on the matter out there; I intend to return within the next few days.

It seems that the driver most likely needs updated online. The computer has not been connected to the internet for months. Unfortunately I can not connect it to the internet for a while now; months perhaps; if I remember when I finally fix the problem, I'll update the post.
Thanks all & good look with your computers

DVD-ROM drive pickup units have two laser diodes, one for DVDs and another for CDs. This is because the pits on the disk surface which contain the data are smaller on DVDs thus light of a shorter wavelength is needed. The light from a DVD laser has a wavelength of 640 nanometres where from a CD laser it is 780 nanometres. Failure to read one kind of disk (CD or DVD) while reading the other kind OK strongly suggests a hardware failure, probably either a burned out or failed laser or the circuitry associated with it. Especially in view of the seek failure described here:



No amount of driver downloads is going to fix that laser. DVD-ROM drives are so cheap nowadays* that it hardly makes any sense to spend a lot of time worrying about such things. Replace it.

A couple of random web finds: 8.50 UK pounds at Amazon, for example, that's about 13 US dollars. Newegg have them for around 17 dollars.

Thank-you cery much Contrex.

I think contrex is correct -- your drive is gone. If you've had it a few years and intend to keep the computer for a few more years before replacing it, I'd consider a compatible upgrade in replacing it.