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The DVD drive/writer of my laptop/notebook PC/computer won't write to DVD-R/DVD+R discs

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CD/DVD/Blu-ray drive/writer problem: Laptop computer's DVD drive/writer cannot write to DVD discs

Having had no previous problem with its DVD writer, now when I try using Roxio Creator on my laptop PC to write to both DVD-R and DVD+R discs, a brand of disc that I know is compatible, I cannot write to the discs and there is no longer an option to set the drive's write speed. An error message comes up saying: "Invalid parameter". The laptop is running Windows XP Professional.

Answer

This is the most common problem that afflicts CD/DVD drives/writers - not being able to read discs or write to discs. It is usually fixed by entering the Device Manager, opening the DVD/CD-ROM drives category of devices (shown in the image below), right-clicking on the make/model of the drive under that category, and then choosing Uninstall from the menu that presents itself. Rebooting the computer makes Windows XP or Windows Vista or Windows 7 reinstall the device drivers, which were somehow corrupted.

The Windows Device Manager showing the DVD/CD drives category opened

In Windows XP, the quickest method to bring up the Device Manager is to enter devmgmt.msc in the Start => Run box. Alternatively, right-click My Computer => Properties (as in Windows 95/98/Me), to bring up the System Properties applet, shown below, and then click the Hardware tab followed by the Device Manager button.

The Device Manager appears in the Control Panel as an item in Windows Vista. There are several ways to access it. For example, to access Device Manager, follow this click path: Start => Control Panel => System and Maintenance => System => Device Manager. The quickest method is to enter the devmgmt.msc in the Start => Start Search box. (Vista doesn't normally have a Run box, but it can be configured to show one).

To open the Device Manager in Windows 7 all you have to do is enter the words device manager in the Start => Search programs and files box to be presented with a clickable link that opens it.

You can also try running the Microsoft Automated Troubleshooting Services, which scans your computer to detect the causes of common problems and then fixes the problems that it finds automatically. Additional resources are offered if the problem isn't resolved. - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems

Alternatively, if it has one, you can try using the laptop's quick eject mechanism for optical CD/DVD/Blu-ray drives. This enables the drive to be removed from its drive bay. To do that turn the laptop upside down and look for a slider or switch that allows you to slide the drive out. Other model's of laptop use a screw to hold the drive in place. Release the drive, slide it a few inches out of its bay and then push it back into place firmly. Sometimes the drive can disconnect from its connection to the computer. Doing that reconnects it and allows you to write to discs.

To do that on a desktop PC requires the user to open the PC's case and then make sure that the power and data cables going to the drive and motherboard are firmly connected.