Computer will not recognize disk that is stuck in Toshida combo drive

SOURCE: dvd-rom not playing/recognizing dvds but plays cds

Yes your quite right, the solution to the problem is a new writer, although you have to get the same one if it's fitted internally to a notebook. You can update the firmware, thats not a problem, you may be getting confused with bios updates which are a knightmare. I assume you have tried the usual, uninstal and re install of the dvd drive, by uninstalling it in device manager on the cd/dvd drive line and click '+' sign, right click and uninstal, then restart pc to automatically install again. The cd recognition says that the drive capability to read and write dvd has corrupted andfailed, so really the only solution would be a new drive

SOURCE: CD's in drive do not load

Buy a CD/DVD cleaning disc. Try that. Maybe the read head is dirty.

SOURCE: laptop won't recognize driver

connect to the internet and try to find the drivers from there... CLICK START > (right Click) MY COMPUTER the CLICK properties. Click on the HARDWARE tab then click DEVICE MANAGER, right click on anything when the windo pop's up the click scan for hardware changes, you should see a ? next to the item the computer needs the drivers for. Right click on it then click update..
There are programs aviable to scan and update drivers on your computer LIKE DRIVER MAGICIAN a trial is aviable and it could help solve your problem

CHECK the MANUFACTURES WEB SITE FOR THEIR LATEST DRIVERS...

SOURCE: cd stuck for good in bose 3-2-1 (first edition)

This is an Update to my above problem:
I've managed at last to pry open - with a huge scredriver - the very sturdy black metal clasp that holds down the cd-dvd driver onto the shaft. Now I could lift it up, see the small frontal hole that manually frees the disk tray. I stuck in a pin and at last it opened!!
But... Allas....
I could see that the "captivated" disk had very deep "skid" mark on its playable side, as if sometihng was carving into it. The same carving happened to a new disk I inserted, although it played and ejected normally - only with strange machnical noises. I think that some of the plastic cogwheels that turn or eject the disk got loose. I stuck them in and now it works fine, but I lost confidence in the machine - fearing it may stuck again or ruin my disks.

SOURCE: mac os x won't eject disk

Shut down the Mac, and then start it up again, holding the primary key of your mouse down. That commands the Mac to eject any discs. It should work just fine.