{{As a preamble, I buy DVD sets copy the DVDs and put them on my computer, and keep the physical DVDs in a closet}}

The last time was about a year ago, and it worked perfectly.

Now:
*: The computer does NOT even recognize the drive.
*: I already have libdvdcss and libdvdnav, but I reinstalled both.
*: I checked the power and data cables, they are fine.
*: I replaced BOTH the power cable and the data cable.

Is it possible that the DVD drive is wearing out and is about to "give up the ghost"? I purchased the computer in April 2013 (that would make it 8 years old) I have replaced my graphics card and my motherboard, and CPU about 3 years ago.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

{{PS: yes the drive works, when I put in a DVD, the light flashes and nothing. handbrake does not recognize it, neither does VLC}}

Thank you for your time, and have a good day!

In an eight year old computer, it's entirely possible that the drive is wearing out.

If you have or could borrow an external optical drive for a few hours, you could test with that. It works, it would indicate that the physical drive is the most likely culprit.

You could also try booting to a Live CD/USB of something non-Debian related and see whether the drive works under that.

My compliments for checking out those cables. We have gotten so used to reliable machines that sometimes we forget to check the hardware.

My LXQt Debian testing non free(Bullseye) sees mine. I'll toss a disc in later tonight

frankbell:

Well, since I buy most, if not all, of computer-related {crap} is from NewEgg, it is relatively inexpensive to buy a read/write DVD drive on NewEgg. If it doesn't work, I will just throw the drive in a big{rectum} box of computer stuff.

{PS: I have serial cables, a 48K modem, and other archaic things.... I just can't seem to be able to get rid of these things.....}

And those USB optical disk drives are quite reasonably priced these days. I have a couple lying around and I'd lend you one, except you are not quite next door to me. (But I did get snowed in in Fargo on a business trip [mumble] years ago.)

(Grin) I don't have any serial cables any more, but I do have two USB to mouse port adapters in my desk drawer, and several parallel port cables and umpty-ump USB cables in my "in case I ever need them" box.

Y' know, you never know when you must might need them.

By the way, as my old auto mechanic used to say, after all those years, that computer doesn't owe you a dime.

No go on the Bullseye
No go on antX(Bullseye also)
I'll boot up a 10 tomorrow Mint 18 and see whazzup. I remember looking at a 2008 CD of pictures a whole back. It was either Mint 18 or L-Lite on my shop machine.Haven't booted either partition in a year or so.

I have VLC playing a DVD in Bullseye, but only video. Audio never seems to work when the speakers are in a display connected via DisplayPort cable.

@OP:

I also have a 2013 machine, and on mine, the dvd drive doesn't read either. They age & die. Get used to it, and don't get a dvd drive in your next box, go for one of the usb ones.

If you want to try one last roll of the dice, open the drive. Presuming the dvds go in read side down, there will be a sensor point up, and it's a magnet for dust. Clean it. Otherwise, follow my first paragraph, which is the same advice many others have given. There's a law of diminishing returns on optical drives. The more work you do on them, the less likely you are to fix them.

{PS: I never wear a mask}

I have decided to buy a DVD r/w from Amazon (best price and quickest delivery) and I will plug the thing in, and see what happens.

I will call this [SOLVED], and the only real issue is that electronic stuff wears out more than I would like.

Also, I replace 1 drive every year. I run four drives, and I backup EVERYTHING!
the anticipating of my DVD r/w every few years is now on my list of things to replace regularly.

Have a good day!

For the past several years, Newegg has often been offering internal DVD drives in the $17-$18 range, occasionally even less. For several years I usually kept one on the shelf ready to install when needed, but as they get so little use any more I just wait till that next happens when I need one again.