DVD's not playing

[Daedalus]

Hi... I have a vaio laptop VGN-FS115Z for a year, and never had any major problems untill now. (curiously they always start with the end of the warranty)
Since a couple of days I am unable to play any DVDs in my computer, and don't know what to do.
The drive seems to work fine, and I can reproduce normal music or data CDs like before. But when I put a movie DVD nothing happens at all, and I can hear the computer trying to read it but it never manages to. It simply doesn't recognise the DVDs anymore.

I would only like to add, that also recently a weird thing happened to my computer when I tried to reproduce this music CD from EMI. In order to play it said that he had to "update some files in the computer". It looked kind of weird, and I think the thing never installed itself properly. Anyways, before that the DVD's were working fine, so I thought that perhaps the problem could be related to this event. Just a wild guess.

I would apreciate any kind of help, since I don't have TV and my DVD player is most needed.

Best regards,


Joao.

[kee-lo_]

I'm not sure how to remove this software completly as there is no specific guide.

[Blencogo]

Not sure what the latest is on this. Has anyone got an update - it's gone very quiet!

Here is a little bit of BACKGROUND.

The software itself is pretty harmless to legitimate users but there have been concerns that it leaves a backdoor open to malicious hackers.

You can find the Sony BMD Removal Tool HERE

and the Symantec Removal Tool HERE

[Blencogo]

Sounds like that horrible rootkit thing Sony made - and were told to stop using too.

Kee-Lo, hope this topic is not considered inappropriate in this forum?

[kee-lo_]

I don't see why not really, it was them who started it, and I'll critique it

[Daedalus]

I ran the programs, and everything is the same.
Do you think I should try to remove and reinstall the DVD-rom drive?

In that case, how do I reinstall it, since I my Vaio didn't came with any installation discs?

Thank you for your help,
laser sucks,
1 year only machine,
it's criminal!

João.

[Blencogo]

Hi João.

It doesn't sound too hopeful! All you can do is to go through the standard list of 'Tricks' for faulty DVD drives:

1. Try a lens cleaner in your drive.
2, Check in Device Manager to see if there are any warnings against your drive or any conflicts. If there is a warning, there may be a Registry Fix or a IRQ Fix.
3. Uninstall the drive in Device Manager and Re-boot to force Windows to reinstall the drivers.
4. Look for any firmware updates for the drive.
5. Use System Restore to a point before you had any problems.
6. Uninstall any 'packet' software like Nero's 'InCD' or Roxio's 'Drag to DVD'.
7, Disable IMAPI

What other DVD burning software do you have on your Vaio? Sometimes these programs conflict.

Try going to Device Manager first:

Start>>Right-Click on My Computer>>Properties>>Hardware>>Device Manager

Find your DVD Drive in DVD/CD ROM Drives. Is there a Yellow ! or ? against the drive?

Right-Click on it and choose Uninstall. Reboot your computer to reload the drivers (these are held on your Vaio so you don't need to download them).

If this does not work, I would try a System Restore next.

Start>>Run and type in msinfo32. In the System Information Window, click on Tools>>System Restore. Choose "Restore My Computer to an Earlier Time". The dates in the Calender in BOLD are dates you can choose to restore to. Choose one when you knew your DVD drive was working OK.

As I said, it does not sound too hopeful but let us know if these do any good.

Good Luck

[Blencogo]

João,

I have just noticed that your Vaio has the infamous DW-D56A optical drive.

These forums are full of instances of this particular drive failing in the way you describe.

Now I know this, it is almost certain that you will need a replacement. Sorry it's bad news.

There is a firmware update on Vaio-Link dated 28 June 2005 - have you already downloaded this? You will find this and other updates for your Vaio HERE



EDIT: I would leave the System Restore - the Prefetch files you mention are definitely a Trojan (part of the Sony XCP Rootkit) and you may reactivate it by restoring your system. Have a look here PLAYER.EXE

[kee-lo_]

EDIT: I would leave the System Restore - the Prefetch files you mention are definitely a Trojan (part of the Sony XCP Rootkit) and you may reactivate it by restoring your system.  Have a look here PLAYER.EXE

See told you they were nasty bar stewerds!

[Blencogo]

I wonder how many people have this rootkit in its cloaked form on their PCs?

Quite a few hundreds of thousands I bet !!

[kee-lo_]

I bet, with people like Alicia Keys and Dave Matthews having it on their CDs

I doubt many have it from Celine Dion!