Problem with Optiarc BD-5500A - Blu-ray Forum

Slasherfan · 08-08-2010, 01:25 AM

I have a Sony Viao Laptop with a Blu Ray drive. It uses the Optiarc BD-5500A drive. I tried to use it today but the Lap Top doesn't seem to recodnise it at all. I've been using it for years and today this is the first time this has happened. It loads DVDs and CDs fine but not Blu Rays. Any help?

hendra · 08-13-2010, 09:31 PM

See if there is an updated firmware for your drive. Go to esupport.sony.com and type in the model number of your Sony laptop.

Bran671 · 08-23-2010, 02:46 PM

Hi everyone im new here but my frustration has persisted for a while now with my OPTIARC BDROM Drive. It is listed on Device Manager as a DVD/CD-ROM drive. The drive itself is a OPTIARC BDROM 5500S blu ray drive but it will not play any blu rays only DVD's or CD's. Is there a way to have the computer recognize this drive as a BDROM drive? If so how do i accomplish this?

P.S. computer has played blu rays before and AACS key was renewed but after a while im not too sure what happened to it. Thanks in advance!

HP_user · 10-07-2010, 08:36 AM

Hi, I have the same drive in HP Pavilion dv5-1050, it had a factory installed Vista Home Premium at the time of purchase. I split the HD into two and installed Windows 7 64-bit on the other partition. 6 months ago I bought 2 BDs, both played ok in Vista (before splitting the HD). Recently bought another 2 BD, but neither 7 nor Vista plays them. The drive spins them 3-4 times and stops. It doesn't see the older discs (those that played fine before) either.

Explorer doesn't see the disc, if I click the drive icon, it asks to insert a disc and ejects the BD.

The system sees the drive as a BD-ROM in Explorer, in the device manager it says "Optiarc BD-ROM BC-5500S SCSI Cdrom device". DVDs and CDs are played ok. It writes DVDs ok, too.

I updated the HP player soft (factory-installed and used to play BDs), installed ArcSoft TMT 3, cleaned the lenses, but no change - players do not see blu-ray discs still.

Another major change between the purchases of the BDs - newer BIOS from HP site. Don't know if that could be the reason.

I am afraid that could be a hardware problem with the drive itself. Does anyone know any free software to check what the problem might be, please? Any help will be appreciated.

jimconsole · 08-23-2011, 01:00 PM

Hi All,

Just thought i would add a solution to this problem here.

I know it's been a while since last post but i thought for those who still have this drive or are purchasing a laptop with it in should know a possible fix which was given on another website.

Currently i have a Vaio fw11m and it would only play dvds and cds and if i inserted a blu ray inside it, the laser would rise to read the disk 3 times and then stop. obviously there were no signs in "my computer" of it being read and certainly not with powerdvd!

So i bought some 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Swabs on ebay cost £0.99p for 100. i opened just one and rubbed gently onto the blu ray laser for 10 secs (laptop turned off) and on boot up i could read blu ray disks!

Yes simple as that folks! there appeared to be a smudge on the laser probably from daily use that you wouldn't have noticed but was there. i hope this has helped someone out there with a similar problem and has fixed it for them. a bonus is it's a cheap fix so no breaking the bank!

08-08-2010, 01:25 AM	#1
Slasherfan Member Member since:Nov 2008	Problem with Optiarc BD-5500A I have a Sony Viao Laptop with a Blu Ray drive. It uses the Optiarc BD-5500A drive. I tried to use it today but the Lap Top doesn't seem to recodnise it at all. I've been using it for years and today this is the first time this has happened. It loads DVDs and CDs fine but not Blu Rays. Any help?

10-07-2010, 08:36 AM	#4
HP_user New Member Member since:Oct 2010	same drive same problem on HP dv5 Hi, I have the same drive in HP Pavilion dv5-1050, it had a factory installed Vista Home Premium at the time of purchase. I split the HD into two and installed Windows 7 64-bit on the other partition. 6 months ago I bought 2 BDs, both played ok in Vista (before splitting the HD). Recently bought another 2 BD, but neither 7 nor Vista plays them. The drive spins them 3-4 times and stops. It doesn't see the older discs (those that played fine before) either. Explorer doesn't see the disc, if I click the drive icon, it asks to insert a disc and ejects the BD. The system sees the drive as a BD-ROM in Explorer, in the device manager it says "Optiarc BD-ROM BC-5500S SCSI Cdrom device". DVDs and CDs are played ok. It writes DVDs ok, too. I updated the HP player soft (factory-installed and used to play BDs), installed ArcSoft TMT 3, cleaned the lenses, but no change - players do not see blu-ray discs still. Another major change between the purchases of the BDs - newer BIOS from HP site. Don't know if that could be the reason. I am afraid that could be a hardware problem with the drive itself. Does anyone know any free software to check what the problem might be, please? Any help will be appreciated.

08-13-2010, 09:31 PM	#2
hendra Active Member Member since:Dec 2007	See if there is an updated firmware for your drive. Go to esupport.sony.com and type in the model number of your Sony laptop.

08-23-2010, 02:46 PM	#3
Bran671 New Member Member since:Aug 2010	Hi everyone im new here but my frustration has persisted for a while now with my OPTIARC BDROM Drive. It is listed on Device Manager as a DVD/CD-ROM drive. The drive itself is a OPTIARC BDROM 5500S blu ray drive but it will not play any blu rays only DVD's or CD's. Is there a way to have the computer recognize this drive as a BDROM drive? If so how do i accomplish this? P.S. computer has played blu rays before and AACS key was renewed but after a while im not too sure what happened to it. Thanks in advance!

08-23-2011, 01:00 PM	#5
jimconsole New Member Member since:Aug 2011	Hi All, Just thought i would add a solution to this problem here. I know it's been a while since last post but i thought for those who still have this drive or are purchasing a laptop with it in should know a possible fix which was given on another website. Currently i have a Vaio fw11m and it would only play dvds and cds and if i inserted a blu ray inside it, the laser would rise to read the disk 3 times and then stop. obviously there were no signs in "my computer" of it being read and certainly not with powerdvd! So i bought some 70% Isopropyl Alcohol Swabs on ebay cost £0.99p for 100. i opened just one and rubbed gently onto the blu ray laser for 10 secs (laptop turned off) and on boot up i could read blu ray disks! Yes simple as that folks! there appeared to be a smudge on the laser probably from daily use that you wouldn't have noticed but was there. i hope this has helped someone out there with a similar problem and has fixed it for them. a bonus is it's a cheap fix so no breaking the bank!

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