A TechLore "Ask the Experts" Question...

Question:

I have a Sony DVD player model DVP-S560D. When I insert the dvd into the player I get a message on the player telling me to insert the disk.

Why isn't the player recognizing the disk already in the player? Does something need to be cleaned?

Thanks for any help.

-submitted by dale

Answer:

I'm going to assume that you're having this problem with all DVDs and CDs that you insert into the drive. If this problem only occurs on one disc, the problem is usually with the disc itself.

There are many reasons why a DVD player may be incapable of recognizing a DVD when inserted.

1. Many DVD players are not able to properly detect and playback recordable DVDs. If trying to play a DVD disc that is a DVD-R/RW or DVD+R/RW, you'll need to refer to the DVD players documentation on compatible formats.



2. Insert the disc and listen closely by placing your ear to close to the drawer of the DVD player. After the disc tray has closed, you should be able to hear the disc spinning. If you hear no such sound, it is common that the disc is not spinning up, which is why you would recieve a "No Disc" message when a disc has been inserted. In some cases, it can be difficult to hear the disc spinning, so you could remove the lid of the player to actually see if the disc spins.


If this is the case, you could try to determine the cause of this, which is usually the "hat" above the center of the disc is stuck and needs to be repositioned to lay against the top surface of the DVD. If you are uncomfortable doing this, you'll want to bring the DVD player to a service center.


3. In your case, the DVP-S560D is an older DVD player, and I'm sure it has had its fair share of use. Over time, dust and deposits can accumulate on the laser that reads the disc. In many cases, DVD players with this problem can still read CDs. You could try a DVD laser cleaner, which is usually a disc that has a tiny brush glued onto it. Run the cleaning disc 2 or 3 times, and try it again. Try both CDs and DVDs, since CDs are easier to read than a DVD.



4. After a DVD player has been used for awhile, another common problem is that the laser in the DVD player becomes misaligned, inhibiting its ability to read DVDs. In many cases, DVD players with this problem will still be able to read a CD. I'd try a cleaning disc first, since the only way to fix this problem is to bring the unit to a service center for repair.



5. There are other possibilities for the players failure, such as a defective laser motor (the motor that moves the laser), bad spindle motor (the motor that spins the disc), as will as other various circuit falures that could be the cause.

Try all things you can do yourself to repair the unit. If none of them are successful, you will need to have the unit repaired, or purchase a new DVD player. As a general rule-of-thumb, if the unit repair cost exceeds 2/3 the cost of a new comparable unit (in both features and quality), then don't bother fixing it. You'd be better off with a new player.

Let us know how it goes by following up in the discussion page below.

Matt Whitlock - Editor, TechLore.com