Studio 1535 DVD drive issues...

Does anyone else have a Studio 1535 laptop and have an issue with it
perpetually ejecting media (even known good media)?

We just purchased one, and it will take a disc, suck it in, buzz for a
second or so, and then eject it. It doesn't spin up to read the media
or anything, it just summarily rejects it.

The laptop is brand-new, out of the box. Contacted Dell earlier, and
they want the entire machine shipped to have the DVD drive replaced,
though this doesn't seem reasonable to me; even though the unit is slot
loading, I'd imagine that it's easily removable as any of the drives
from other Inspirons are, so I don't see why they wouldn't just RMA the
drive itself and then ship a new one.

In any case, has anyone had an issue with this, and might it be related
to something like the drive's firmware?

Thanks,
Mike

--
My sigfile ran away and is on hiatus.

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"Michael B. Trausch" <> wrote in message
news:20081017233646.4fafa66d@zest...

(paste of Mike's attached .txt copy):

Does anyone else have a Studio 1535 laptop and have an issue with it
perpetually ejecting media (even known good media)?

We just purchased one, and it will take a disc, suck it in, buzz for a
second or so, and then eject it. It doesn't spin up to read the media
or anything, it just summarily rejects it.

The laptop is brand-new, out of the box. Contacted Dell earlier, and
they want the entire machine shipped to have the DVD drive replaced,
though this doesn't seem reasonable to me; even though the unit is slot
loading, I'd imagine that it's easily removable as any of the drives
from other Inspirons are, so I don't see why they wouldn't just RMA the
drive itself and then ship a new one.

In any case, has anyone had an issue with this, and might it be related
to something like the drive's firmware?

Thanks,
Mike


>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



Mike (please just choose 'reply all' to this message to continue the thread
as needed),


I have two of Studio 15/1535's here right now. While both have DVDRW drives
(non-BluRay), there are different models in those units.

These were my first (laptop) slot-load drives I've owned. I initially found
the discs to be slightly difficult to insert into the drive(s), but once
properly inserted I've had no issues with CD's or DVD's (reading the discs
and burning).

I suspect a possible problem with the "meta-keys"/eject key function (on the
far right of the media touchpad above the keyboard). I did a little digging
around over at the Dell support site forums and it seems that some Studio
1535 owners are seeing "phantom ejects" of discs allegedly due to odd eject
key function. I need to boot my machines regarding some of the behavior
mentioned in this (sorry,rather long) thread:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...151349#M288532

I would NOT uninstall MediaDirect as suggested by some in the thread, but I
would take a look at disabling/enabling some of the BIOS settings that can
be easily reset if they're no help.

Also, scan these search thread results. It may save you some grief:
http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...dio+1535+eject


In short, I suspect the eject button is illuminated/enabled when you're
inserting the disc and the drive is doing what it's supposed to do by
spitting it back out at you. ;-) I'd read up on some of the threads and try
some settings changes in an effort to get the eject key to enable/disable
properly.

A BIOS flash from Dell may be in order for this.......


Stew

"S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
news:JnkKk.48482$. ..
>
> "Michael B. Trausch" <> wrote in message
> news:20081017233646.4fafa66d@zest...
>
> (paste of Mike's attached .txt copy):
>
> Does anyone else have a Studio 1535 laptop and have an issue with it
> perpetually ejecting media (even known good media)?
>
> We just purchased one, and it will take a disc, suck it in, buzz for a
> second or so, and then eject it. It doesn't spin up to read the media
> or anything, it just summarily rejects it.
>
> The laptop is brand-new, out of the box. Contacted Dell earlier, and
> they want the entire machine shipped to have the DVD drive replaced,
> though this doesn't seem reasonable to me; even though the unit is slot
> loading, I'd imagine that it's easily removable as any of the drives
> from other Inspirons are, so I don't see why they wouldn't just RMA the
> drive itself and then ship a new one.
>
> In any case, has anyone had an issue with this, and might it be related
> to something like the drive's firmware?
>
> Thanks,
> Mike
>
>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>
>
>
> Mike (please just choose 'reply all' to this message to continue the
> thread as needed),
>
>
> I have two of Studio 15/1535's here right now. While both have DVDRW
> drives (non-BluRay), there are different models in those units.
>
> These were my first (laptop) slot-load drives I've owned. I initially
> found the discs to be slightly difficult to insert into the drive(s), but
> once properly inserted I've had no issues with CD's or DVD's (reading the
> discs and burning).
>
> I suspect a possible problem with the "meta-keys"/eject key function (on
> the far right of the media touchpad above the keyboard). I did a little
> digging around over at the Dell support site forums and it seems that some
> Studio 1535 owners are seeing "phantom ejects" of discs allegedly due to
> odd eject key function. I need to boot my machines regarding some of the
> behavior mentioned in this (sorry,rather long) thread:
> http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...151349#M288532
>
> I would NOT uninstall MediaDirect as suggested by some in the thread, but
> I would take a look at disabling/enabling some of the BIOS settings that
> can be easily reset if they're no help.
>
> Also, scan these search thread results. It may save you some grief:
> http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...dio+1535+eject
>
>
> In short, I suspect the eject button is illuminated/enabled when you're
> inserting the disc and the drive is doing what it's supposed to do by
> spitting it back out at you. ;-) I'd read up on some of the threads and
> try some settings changes in an effort to get the eject key to
> enable/disable properly.
>
> A BIOS flash from Dell may be in order for this.......
>
>
> Stew
>
>


Mike,

One other thing; verify your BIOS version (at the Dell (splash) screen at
boot).

On the support site, I see that Dell released a new BIOS version A05 (both
mine are A05 already): http://tinyurl.com/5keewp

The description says: "Fixed CD-Eject abnormally in Vista64 with 4G RAM"

Even if you have version A05, they (Dell) might've broken some things when
they fixed the 64-bit version.


-Stew

and here i was thinking that he might have just been putting the discs in
upside down.

curious why dell tech support didn't suggest the bios flash to him. perhaps
he doesn't have vista and 4gb ram?
replacing the optical drive in this model is not a trivial task. you can
look up instructions on how to do it yourself in the service manual found on
support.dell.com, and dell would send you the drive to install at your own
risk, but on such a new machine you don't want to take unnecessary risks
like that. if the bios flash doesn't help then just send it back to them
for the repair.

"S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
news:twkKk.48486$. ..
>
> "S.Lewis" <> wrote in message
> news:JnkKk.48482$. ..
>>
>> "Michael B. Trausch" <> wrote in message
>> news:20081017233646.4fafa66d@zest...
>>
>> (paste of Mike's attached .txt copy):
>>
>> Does anyone else have a Studio 1535 laptop and have an issue with it
>> perpetually ejecting media (even known good media)?
>>
>> We just purchased one, and it will take a disc, suck it in, buzz for a
>> second or so, and then eject it. It doesn't spin up to read the media
>> or anything, it just summarily rejects it.
>>
>> The laptop is brand-new, out of the box.
>> Thanks,
>> Mike
>>
>>
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
>>
>>
>>
>> Mike (please just choose 'reply all' to this message to continue the
>> thread as needed),
>>
>>
>> I have two of Studio 15/1535's here right now. While both have DVDRW
>> drives (non-BluRay), there are different models in those units.
>>
>> These were my first (laptop) slot-load drives I've owned. I initially
>> found the discs to be slightly difficult to insert into the drive(s), but
>> once properly inserted I've had no issues with CD's or DVD's (reading the
>> discs and burning).
>>
>> I suspect a possible problem with the "meta-keys"/eject key function (on
>> the far right of the media touchpad above the keyboard). I did a little
>> digging around over at the Dell support site forums and it seems that
>> some Studio 1535 owners are seeing "phantom ejects" of discs allegedly
>> due to odd eject key function. I need to boot my machines regarding some
>> of the behavior mentioned in this (sorry,rather long) thread:
>> http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...151349#M288532
>>
>> I would NOT uninstall MediaDirect as suggested by some in the thread, but
>> I would take a look at disabling/enabling some of the BIOS settings that
>> can be easily reset if they're no help.
>>
>> Also, scan these search thread results. It may save you some grief:
>> http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...dio+1535+eject
>>
>>
>> In short, I suspect the eject button is illuminated/enabled when you're
>> inserting the disc and the drive is doing what it's supposed to do by
>> spitting it back out at you. ;-) I'd read up on some of the threads and
>> try some settings changes in an effort to get the eject key to
>> enable/disable properly.
>>
>> A BIOS flash from Dell may be in order for this.......
>>
>>
>> Stew
>>
>>
>
>
> Mike,
>
> One other thing; verify your BIOS version (at the Dell (splash) screen at
> boot).
>
> On the support site, I see that Dell released a new BIOS version A05 (both
> mine are A05 already): http://tinyurl.com/5keewp
>
> The description says: "Fixed CD-Eject abnormally in Vista64 with 4G RAM"
>
> Even if you have version A05, they (Dell) might've broken some things when
> they fixed the 64-bit version.
>
>
> -Stew
>

On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 07:14:14 -0500
"S.Lewis" <> wrote:

> In short, I suspect the eject button is illuminated/enabled when
> you're inserting the disc and the drive is doing what it's supposed
> to do by spitting it back out at you. ;-) I'd read up on some of the
> threads and try some settings changes in an effort to get the eject
> key to enable/disable properly.
>
> A BIOS flash from Dell may be in order for this.......

Unfortunately, the light isn't illuminated, and the BIOS is up to
date. Attempting to find a newer version of the drive's firmware
resulted in an empty-handed chase, too.

When the disc gets put in, it makes a weird electronic sound. It kinda
sounds like the drive is just bad. :-/

It also happens when the system is at the BIOS screen, before any
operating system software is loaded, so I suspect that it's a hardware
problem somehow.

--- Mike

--
My sigfile ran away and is on hiatus.

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On Sat, 18 Oct 2008 15:15:19 -0400
"Christopher Muto" <> wrote:

> and here i was thinking that he might have just been putting the
> discs in upside down.
>
> curious why dell tech support didn't suggest the bios flash to him.
> perhaps he doesn't have vista and 4gb ram?
> replacing the optical drive in this model is not a trivial task. you
> can look up instructions on how to do it yourself in the service
> manual found on support.dell.com, and dell would send you the drive
> to install at your own risk, but on such a new machine you don't want
> to take unnecessary risks like that. if the bios flash doesn't help
> then just send it back to them for the repair.

I don't mind working on my own parts, but I'm still trying to find the
magic voodoo incantation to get them to send me the new drive and to
RMA the old one. The girlfriend *really* does not want her computer
going away for a month.

Especially with that nice HDMI port on the side... we can use it
without the drive, but of course it'd be great to have it working.

--- Mike

--
My sigfile ran away and is on hiatus.

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If anyone has figured this out short of sending the unit it, please let me know! I feel your pain Michael...

I have the same problem. It happens completely randomly and as stated by another poster it even happens when the laptop is left running in the BIOS settings menu so it is not a software issue. I have installed the current BIOS and drivers anyway. Dell has also sent a tech to replace the optical drive which did not help and I also sent the laptop for service at their depot where they replaced the motherboard AND the optical drive once again. I have spent hours on the phone with them and now they are telling me I can't return the laptop because it is past 21 days... it's only past that timeline because Dell tech support has been taking their sweet time... I am now waiting to hear back from them about exchanging this piece of junk, if that doesn't work out I will be looking into initiating a class action suit since I am obviously not the only victim.

I have a slight different problem with slight different nature.
I have a Dell Studio 1535 and I have Successfully installed WINDOWS XP on this machine for last 4 months.

The problem is, recently, my DVD rom started to go wirey. Sometimes it pick up the DVDs inserted, sometimes not, regardless that the same DVDs have either been written through this DVD writer or been used successfully before. Also, now when I burn a CD or DVD, at the last moment it give away error and the disc becomes useless.

Not to mention, from time to time (especially when I place this machine on my lap when I am in bed to watch a movie or play any game), I keep hearing a sound like a USB device being connected or disconnect to this machine.
Plz note, I have tried restoring my previous 100% working backup images.

Anybody have any idea or theory on how to tackle on this issue?

Regards.