Have toshiba sd310vu, will play some dvd's but not others, get check disk error. same dvds work fine in computer

This prompt always denotes its laser head defect. Just clean it, and then check. sometimes the dust and other debris might cause this problem. If you wish to get some details; check the sites linked here.
https://elektrotricks.blogspot.com/
https://electronicshelponline.blogspot.com/

Download div x codec and also update your video drivers.

http://www.divx.com/en/software/divx-plus/codec-pack

They look the same, but CDs and DVDs are two different media, and a combination drive essentially has two separate optical systems in one package. What sometimes happens is that the laser that reads and writes one kind of disc stops working, while the other format isn't affected. If the DVD problem is happening on every disc you try, the failure is complete. Sometimes in its early stages some discs read fine but others don't. Sometimes the problem may occur on dual-layer DVDs only but not single-layer ones. In any case, there's no way to repair the drive other than by replacing it. You can find replacements online for most laptops, but they can be expensive. If you don't mind carrying an extra piece in your computer case, you can get a USB external drive and just leave the bad one in place.

Try the DVD disk in some other computer, to ensure that the disk itself is OK.
Try some other "known-good" DVD-disk in your Toshiba SD M1502 drive.

Or, spend $40 and purchase a brand-new, CD/DVD reader/writer, to replace the faulty device.

maybe the spindle motor is turning defect causing not to spin the disc naturally,its time to have to check that to the Toshiba service center

Your dvd drive is dieing.
Replace the dvd drive it is not expensive.

Do follow steps,
1) change your DVD disk :- if it's work, don't worry about the driver.
2) go to Device Manager & check the DVD/CD ROM driver's property, check weather it has been disabled.
3) change your OS or Upgrade current OS
4) if above steps are not worked, then you have to bring your laptop to a service provider...

if you are in warranty period don't remove any parts of it, they will replaced a another DVD driver

You need to either replace the drive with a working drive or replace the laser within your current drive. If you change drives you will first need to obtain your dvd-key and then flash it into your new drives firmware.

1. Completely remove any dvd/cd player/burner softwares (i.e. Nero, Power DVD, etc.).
2. Go to device manager and remove your DVD/CD device from the device list
3. Restart you laptop
4. Windows will then try to reinstall the device drivers again for the DVD drive.
5. After another restart, then reinstall your dvd softwares again.

try a CDROM cleaning disk.