I've been having issues with my DVD RW drive. It doesn't open automatically, and I have to manually eject it. When I do manage to get it open, it won't read any CDs, just displaying a message saying there's no disc inside. It also seems to get stuck when I'm trying to load my files, causing my computer to hang and making it difficult to shut down. What can I do?
2 Answers
It sounds like your optical drive might be on its last legs. Unfortunately, these drives tend to degrade as they age, especially if they're several years old. The materials inside can break down over time, leading to the issues you're experiencing. While I have some old drives from the '90s that still work, many from the 2000s have similar problems to yours. You might want to consider getting a new drive, as the old ones typically aren't worth fixing.
That's a bummer! If you’re thinking about salvage or reselling, consider that many people may look for parts, but it can be tricky. You might find a few buyers who are interested in it as a project, or you could just recycle it. It really depends on its condition, but if it isn't working well, it might be better just to move on to a new one.

Related Questions
Lenovo Thinkpad Stuck In Update Loop Install FilterDriverU2_Reload