CD/DVD Drive Problems (DW-D56A)

[andrewdann]

Hi,

I have a Sony VAIO with a DW-D56A which has recently stopped working.

I can see the drive in explorer, but when a disc is inserted it doesn't "spin up" and I can't read ANY discs.

If I look at the properties for the drive, it shows disc not inserted.
Everything else shows that the CD drive is functioning correctly and there are no error codes.

I have tried to re-flash the firmware (PFS3) with no luck - However at the end of the flash process it does a disc "Inquiry" and then I can read the disc that I left in the drive. If I eject the disc and re-insert or restart the PC I'm back to square one!

Any help would be greatly appreciated - Seems strange that I can read it just after the firmware flash process????

Thanks Andy

[GE90]

What is your model? it will be helpful anyway... just mail it to leftyss AT gmail DOT com.... I just found a technician who claims to have a nec drive compatible with the dw-d56a... I will bring the laptop to him next week and i will pray everything to be ok after the "operation" 🙂

thanks!


Sent via e-mail

[GE90]

Sent via e-mail!

[matt80]

hi guy, i have the same problem,
i got my vaio in the uk 15 months ago, out of warranty now i'm in australia. sony aus want to charge me $600 to fix it.

does anyone know if i can get a replacement unit from anywhere in aus?

[aas]

hi guy, i have the same problem,
i got my vaio in the uk 15 months ago, out of warranty now i'm in australia. sony aus want to charge me $600 to fix it. 

does anyone know if i can get a replacement unit from anywhere in aus?

Maybe we should rename the club from
“the broken DW-D56A Club “
to
“How Sony wants to make money “ .

Its an insult that they install a crapy HW item on their EXPENSIVE laptops and then ask for 340€ (Flat rate fee as they say !!!) TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SAME CRAPY DRIVE ………….
For me is the second time it brakes (Yes……. 2 weeks after the expiration of the guarantee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

There goes the so called “quality like no other” by Sony…..
Shame

[matt80]

i have called Sony for a replacement drive as no one else stocks them anymore. The first vaio service centre quoted AU$600 then i rang a different vaio service centre in a different state and was quoted AU$400, finally i found a service dealer who would sell me one for AU$320.

the above prices are for a bare drive unfitted !!!

not only are Sony stinging us on a crap drive but their so called authorised dealers are too........

I think that I will have to get a new drive as well as an external one for any major burning missions.

Does anyone know how long this drive will continue to be available, when will sony discontinue it for good?????

[Blencogo]

Sony do not fit this drive any more if you send it in for replacement.

They are probably so expensive because there are only a handful left in the world that work!!!!

Sony now replace with the DW-Q58A which you can buy retail for £50 in the UK - SEE HERE

Can you not buy a compatible drive by mail order and get a local engineer to fit it for you?

An external drive is always a good idea - they are very cheap now - about £60.

[browno]

I have just had my laptop back from Sony for the second time. They have fitted another DW-D56A drive, although this one is actually working at the moment. I tried to get Sony to replace my drive with another model, but they refused. It seems that I may be one of the last to get this model again if you arer saying they are now using another model. Maybe I sent it back about a month too soon!! I am happy at the moment as long as this keeps on working

[zina]

The 3rd time laptop went back for repair they fitted the same faulty model.....it worked for a week .....then they had to send me a new laptop since it was going back for the 4th time......

You should have insisted for another drive...its terrible that they still replace faulty drives with ones they know are S**T...

Anyway, hope your warranty lasts long enough:smileyhappy:

[Reaver]

Is there any news on this now as a year has passed. Someone mentioned that it could be a driver problem but the majority say faulty hardware. Has anything been proven as I have this drive in my A417M

[apierc1]

I have this drive and yes it is pretty shite, although mine is still currently working and as my warranty has now run out I hope it continues to. in it's life it has totally dissapeared from my computer (had to recover to original settings), it struggles to play any scratched DVDs even though my friends computers play them perfectly, it is basically pretty poor. Hopefully the laptop lasts another year and then I can get a new one and forget about the problems with this one :smileygrin: