Dell E310 DVD DRIVE's showing that every cd is empty!!

[krazyq]

This is a friends computer.
Ever cd i put in there...whether its a cd or dvd...it shows that its empty.

I was gonna format the pc at first...but with this problem, there's no chance.
ANy idea wats going on?

Thanks

Its a Dell Dimension E310

 

[Baez]

Are you only testing this in Windows? Or have you tried a bootable CD yet?

 

[krazyq]

I tried bootable as well....which is why the re formatting process didn't work

 

[Baez]

I would try another cable before getting a new drive. It could even be the controller on the motherboard.