I can't boot from DVDs on my T42

[sleeper]

For some reason i can't seem to load bootable dvds(like knoppix) on my T42. I set my bios so the it would boot from the cd/dvd drive first but it still does not boot. It works with bootable cds, and I have checked to see if the dvd worked on other computers(which it did) so I have no idea whats wrong. Do you think it some bios issue? Thanks for reading this

[agarza]

Is your reader able to read DVD's under Windows?

Try cleaning the lens with isopropyl alcohol

[christopher_wolf]

I would *not* touch the lens of the optical drive with anything, even a cleaner of some form. If the lens gets even the slightest smudge or scratch on it, that is the end of the line for that drive. This probably isn't related to the ability of the lens to read DVDs at all, if it reads a CD then, physically, it should be able to read DVDs as well. Whether or not it can do so, from a software perspective, is another story.

What error do you get when you try to boot from a DVD?

[agarza]

If that is true chris, then how would you explain me reviving a 02 PS2 that it couldn't read CD's nor DVD's ?

I used a Q-tip wet with Isopropyl Alcohol and it worked great.
As long as you don't touch the lens surface, you're good to go.

[sleeper]

my laptop can read DVDs fine when in windows or linux.

I don't get an error, it just boots from the hard drive.

[christopher_wolf]

Try cleaning the lens with isopropyl alcohol

To clean the lens, you have to touch the surface somehow unless you are using a can of pressurized, inert gas to blow dust off of it. I have seen optical drives, cleaned with a soft cloth and alcohol, touching the lens simply malfunction and stop working. The same goes for CDs with a splotch of gunk on the bottom that happens to pass by the lens once. In any case, that is not the problem at hand.

Sleeper, do you select to boot from the DVD during boot with F12 or do you change the order of the boot device list in the BIOS? Also, can you get another bootable DVD to boot on the T42 and is the Knoppix boot DVD able to boot another PC?

[sleeper]

I changed the order in my BIOS. As for your other questions no bootable DVD will boot and my Knoppix test DVD works fine in my other computers.