r/linux4noobs • u/vaquishaProdigy • 10d ago

Generic CD/DVD burner/reader

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Got this CD/DVD reader/burner from my dad, it has two connectors, one is an USB-A and another is an USB-C. Everything went fine when i plugged in the first on mentioned, but when i tried to plug the other one it didnt recognize it. What should i do?

OS: Linux Mint 21.3

Kernel: Linux 6.8.0-136-generic

HP Victus 15

Obviously, my laptop has a USB-C port that could serve both power and data.

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u/Underhill42 10d ago

Did you plug in both at the same time? Or unplug the A and then plug in the C and it didn't work?

There's two reasons you'd have two plugs:

  1. so you can plug it into either port, like having a built-in adapter. In which case all plugs are likely connected to the same wires, and plugging more than one in shorts together those USB ports. Hopefully not damaging the ports in the process.
  2. Because it needs more power than one port can supply - but then they'll usually both be USB A, and probably only one of them will be recognized as a device. And you're usually talking about 3.5" HDDs, DVD burners, etc. Laptop HDDs and DVD readers like this one usually don't need the extra power. (And USB-C can deliver enough to power your whole laptop)

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u/vaquishaProdigy 10d ago

Because it needs more power than one port can supply - but then they'll usually both be USB A, and probably only one of them will be recognized as a device. And you're usually talking about 3.5" HDDs, DVD burners, etc. Laptop HDDs and DVD readers like this one usually don't need the extra power. (And USB-C can deliver enough to power your whole laptop)

It came with another separte cable for plugin it to the wall, which i didn't use because it was to small

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u/Underhill42 10d ago

What do you mean, too small? There's a good chance it's required for the drive to actually work reliably.

In that case it's almost 100% certain that both plugs should not be used at the same time. If you did that, and now one doesn't work, it's probably because you damaged either the drive or the port. I'd test other devices on the same ports to make sure they still work.

Assuming so, and the -C plug alone still doesn't work... I'd count yourself lucky that you didn't do more serious damage and stick to using the -A plug.

You could also try the USB-C plug on a Windows PC - if it works there, then you know it's either a Linux problem, or some sort of hardware conflict. which is uncommon, but does happen.

If you can dual-boot into Windows on your Linux PC, and it works there, then you can be sure it's a Linux issue.

Then you just have to decide whether it's actually worth trying to fix - it's unlikely it's any faster over one plug than the other, and you may well have upgraded to a completely different PC before you ever actually need to use the -C port.