[SOLVED] Re-enable optical drive on Dell laptop

TorC · 06-10-2021, 12:19 AM

Somehow, optical drives on two different Dell laprops -- one legact BIOS, another a UEFI boot E6540 -- have been disable while online and unable to be recognized by the boot processes. More than twice in the past 18 months this has occurred.

It's almost like some entity out there does not want usage of optical drives for burning data to CDs or DVDs to continmue.

I have reinstalled the OS and got them working but need to get to the source of this irritating occurrence and make corrections to config a habit, I guess.

/etc/fstab: static file system information.

Code:

#
# Use 'blkid' to print the universally unique identifier for a
# device; this may be used with UUID= as a more robust way to name devices
# that works even if disks are added and removed. See fstab(5).
#
# <file system> <mount point>   <type>  <options>       <dump>  <pass>
# /boot/efi was on /dev/sda1 during installation
UUID=DF0C-911C  /boot/efi       vfat    umask=0022,fmask=0022,dmask=0022      0       1
/boot/efi/grub    /boot/grub    none    defaults,bind    0    0
UUID=c43550f9-b9ba-4d03-b367-0331a90354a2    none    swap    discard    0

from current E6540 running an ubuntu derivative with ZFS.
I am too tired to think right now and losing patience. i know I should know, but am asking help ... and ...

Suggestions, please.

JZL240I-U · 06-10-2021, 05:32 AM

What exactly means "disabled"? Are those USB-drives, perhaps even the same drive on two machines or internally mounted drives? Do you have error messages? With what programs did you try to use the drive(s)?

michaelk · 06-10-2021, 07:39 AM

Does the output of the lsblk command show the DVD drive i.e. /dev/sr0?
What happens when you insert a data disk?

Is the problem just with burning disks or do you also have problems with reading?

What program do you use to burn disks?

What are the error messages when you try to burn a disk?

TorC · 06-11-2021, 12:57 AM

lsblk outputs only the /dev/sda and nothing else -- it's an internal optical drive

nothing happens on inserting data disk or a blank disk -- drive not recognized

I have installed k3b and xfburn is also there => "No device found" or the like

ondoho · 06-11-2021, 01:25 AM

^ a loose contact?

Have you checked the BIOS?

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorC

It's almost like some entity out there does not want usage of optical drives for burning data to CDs or DVDs to continmue.

Yes, that must be it. /s

FWIW, my DVD drive does not show up in 'fdisk -l' output, or in my filemanager, but 'sudo blkid' sees it as /dev/sr0.
I can play DVDs fine by opening the media player first (VLC), then tell it to read /dev/sr0.

fatmac · 06-11-2021, 03:48 AM

Could be dirty electrical contacts, should be a screw on the underside, remove it, then remove & insert the drive a couple of times, (put the screw back in).

If the system sees the drive, but it doesn't play a disc, maybe a dirty, or defunct, laser.

TorC · 06-12-2021, 03:38 AM

Thanks, most of you, for suggestions.
Same issue has occurred on three machines -- two older BIOS laptops and now the Latitude E6540 -- at least five times in the past 18 months.
Same ISP, differentl locales -- TDS.
Latest incidednt took place 01 June 2021.

Code:

XXXXXC@xxxxx1:~$ inxi -b
System:
  Host: XXXXX Kernel: 5.4.0-74-generic x86_64 bits: 64 
  Desktop: Xfce 4.14.2 Distro: Ubuntu 20.04.2 LTS (Focal Fossa) 
Machine:
  Type: Laptop System: Dell product: Latitude E6540 v: 00 
  serial: <superuser/root required> 
  Mobo: Dell model: 0HF9PT v: A00 serial: <superuser/root required> 
  BIOS: Dell v: A17 date: 12/01/2015 
Battery:
  ID-1: BAT0 charge: 43.3 Wh condition: 43.3/65.5 Wh (66%) 
CPU:
  Dual Core: Intel Core i5-4210M type: MT MCP speed: 798 MHz 
  min/max: 800/3200 MHz 
Graphics:
  Device-1: Intel 4th Gen Core Processor Integrated Graphics driver: i915 
  v: kernel 
  Device-2: AMD Mars XTX [Radeon HD 8790M] driver: radeon v: kernel 
  Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.9 driver: ati,modesetting,radeon 
  unloaded: fbdev,vesa resolution: 1920x1080~60Hz 
  OpenGL: renderer: Mesa DRI Intel HD Graphics 4600 (HSW GT2) 
  v: 4.5 Mesa 20.2.6 
Network:
  Device-1: Intel Ethernet I217-LM driver: e1000e 
  Device-2: Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235 driver: iwlwifi 
Drives:
  Local Storage: total: 111.79 GiB used: 4.12 GiB (3.7%) 
Info:
  Processes: 328 Uptime: 12m Memory: 7.68 GiB used: 2.09 GiB (27.1%) 
  Shell: bash inxi: 3.0.38 
____________________________________________________________________
fdisk -l

Device     Boot   Start       End   Sectors   Size Id Type
/dev/sda1  *       2048   1050623   1048576   512M  b W95 FAT32
/dev/sda2       1052670 234440703 233388034 111.3G  5 Extended
/dev/sda5       1054720   5249023   4194304     2G 82 Linux swap / Solaris
/dev/sda6       5251072   9445375   4194304     2G a5 FreeBSD
/dev/sda7       9447424 234440703 224993280 107.3G a5 FreeBSD

Do I need to write a new fstab, to include /dev/sr0 or what?
This is a first for me with a non-BIOS machine is why I ask. Have been somewhat of a Luddite when it comes to UEFI.
I am certain it is not a hardware issue. Or at least it wasn't until now.
How could the optical drive dbe rendered unrecognized/non-functional via the internet connection, IYO?

ondoho · 06-12-2021, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorC

Thanks, most of you

lol.

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorC

Do I need to write a new fstab, to include /dev/sr0 or what?
This is a first for me with a non-BIOS machine is why I ask. Have been somewhat of a Luddite when it comes to UEFI.
I am certain it is not a hardware issue. Or at least it wasn't until now.
How could the optical drive dbe rendered unrecognized/non-functional via the internet connection, IYO?

I have a working DVD drive that does NOT show up in fdisk -l output.
See my previous post.

/etc/fstab does not come into it, until you want to permanently mount the disk in the drive.

I still recommend checking the BIOS (which is something you have access to, even if it's a "non-BIOS machine").
Then, go through early boot logs with a fine-tooth comb.

computersavvy · 06-12-2021, 07:40 PM

An optical drive will not show as a file system nor mount unless a disk is inserted. It also will not be seen by "fdisk -l" nor "inxi" for the same reason -- there is no readable media there.

To see if the machine is seeing the drive use either "lsblk" or "ls /dev". If those show /dev/sr0 then the hardware is being seen.

The second part is concerned with actually reading a disk.
As was asked, is it not reading a disk when inserted? Is it intermittently reading the disk? Is it not able to burn a disk? In other words, how is it actually failing?

CDs and DVDs can be scratched, dirty, dusty, have fingerprints, etc. and all those can make it harder or impossible for the disk to be read. Internally the drive has a small laser lens that if dusty or dirty can impact its ability to read a disk. Any of these factors can make it difficult or impossible for the drive to read or write a disk.

When the CD and DVD technology was new there were a lot of tools available for cleaning and polishing an optical disk. Finding them is not as easy today but they are still available for the die-hards who still use that tech, and most do their job in extending the life of your disk when used properly.

TorC · 06-13-2021, 12:22 AM

Okay. I Set Boot Mode to Legacy and turned Secure Boot to Off. Rebooted a few times and placed an old Puppy LiveCD in once USB Storage and CD-DVD/RW drives were recognized.

Booted to a xubuntu version via Ventoy on USB stick and first received the error

Code:

[Firemware Bug]  Please upgrade to microcode 0x22 or later

or very similar

Placed a data DVD in optical drive and could read it in Puppy..Have not tried to burn with k3b yet from OS installed on internal SSD but lsblk returned the following

Code:

xubuntu@xubuntu:~$ lsblk
NAME   MAJ:MIN RM   SIZE RO TYPE MOUNTPOINT
loop0    7:0    0   1.5G  1 loop /rofs
sda      8:0    0 111.8G  0 disk 
├─sda1   8:1    0   512M  0 part 
├─sda2   8:2    0     1K  0 part 
├─sda5   8:5    0     2G  0 part [SWAP]
├─sda6   8:6    0     2G  0 part 
└─sda7   8:7    0 107.3G  0 part 
sdb      8:16   1   3.8G  0 disk 
├─sdb1   8:17   1   3.7G  0 part 
└─sdb2   8:18   1    32M  0 part 
sr0     11:0    1  1024M  0 rom

Still don't know why had to get into BIOS of the UEFI machine and change boot order in order to have optical drive recognized. It appears I may have to do this each time I boot up. Unmarking Network boot and Diskette may or may not be necessary, too.

Will try to get the xubuntu on SSD with ZFS to boot and get k3b to burn maybe in the morning

Thanks for your help and patience in the meantime.

fatmac · 06-13-2021, 04:04 AM

To boot from optical media, it has to be listed before internal hard drive, otherwise the drive will boot first - same if you want to boot from USB.

TorC · 06-13-2021, 09:02 AM

The issue at hand seems to have been solved, thanks to all of your responses. So, a heartfelt THANKS! (Even to the naysayers!)

I am able to see CD/DVD drive and write to a blank optical disk.

Since the second vaccination for the notorious virus I seem to
not be able to remember simple details as readily, so thanks, @fatmac, @computersavvy, et al!

Also notice more persistent muscle soreness after moderately hard physical exercise. One of these days they may blame my death on dementia!
(Not) LOL!