Author |
Message |
Rob (Robwalk)
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 3:54 am: | |
Does anybody else experience problems with cdroms. I have had 3 in the last 6 months that become unreadable.....error message like "drive not ready", "no cd in drive". Sometimes the drive is not detected at all. Funny thing is that they work OK then suddenly these error problems. I have taken 2 apart and cleaned the lenses which worked initially but after a few weeks the same problems started again. Any advice excluding buying new drives would be appreciated. Thanks Rob |
win
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 12:21 pm: | |
what brand and models are they? looks like a driver issue. or the bios is not seeing it correctly. windows sometimes does this, too. how about other hardware? do you have a lot of other hardware on the system? either reboot, and see if the computer recognizes the drive, or follow this, i made it up last night for a friend in case this happened to her: reboot, to safe mode, by pressing f8 just as you see windows starting up, then choose safe mode. then, when you're on the desktop, right click "my computer", and go to properties. then go to device manager, and look for "cd-rom drives", usually at the top of the window. then delete all cd-rom devices, and click "ok" you will have to reboot, and it will tell you, as well. when it reboots, it will recognize a cd-rom drive and install the drivers. you should be able to use the cd-rom drive then. |
V (Vera)
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 1:44 pm: | |
hi i had a similar problem and so started using a cd-drive cleaning disk. i've read by some that these aren't recommended, but since i've started using it (only at the hint of a read problem)i'm getting a lot more time out of my cd-drives. i really enjoy the challenge of figuring problems out when they occur but to take the cd-drive apart to manually clean the lense with a soft lint free cloth on a regular basis just doesn't do it for me so i find the cleaner i've been using is a great way to maintain. drive unrecognized. if wins suggestion happens not to do it maybe something here will hit home http://www.pcguide.com/ts/x/comp/cd/recog.htm |
Brent Hughes (Brenthughes)
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 6:14 pm: | |
Vera, Just a comment if I could on the lens cleaners for CD, CD-Roms and DVD's. The optical lens of these devices sits on a sled that rides from the center of the disc to the outside of the disc in a very rapid fashion. The discs themselves spin at alarmingly fast rates and that rate varies, moving ever faster as the lens tracks to the outer edges of the disc. The lens, as it relates to computer devices, is not exposed to the outside elements and is usualy protected very well, unless you are a smoker or live in a very greasy environment. After twenty years in the consumer electronics business I can only draw two conclusions: 1 Never let anything that spins at that rate of speed (cleaners spin too!) touch the moving surface of the lens. Remember there is no physical contact when playing or reading a disc. 2 Something that isn't exposed to harmful contaminants doesn't get so dirty that it needs to be rubbed with anything. Even if it did get somewhat dirty it really shouldn't matter all that much.The closest analogy I can give you in the optical sense, is the taking of a photograph through a chain link fence. When you focus on the subject (the surface of the disc) the interfering fence (dirt or grime on the lens)is lost in the focal distance and is invisable. Sad to say, but I think any benifit gained is suspect and in the long term is detrimental to the longevity of the player. Anyway, thats my story and I'm sticking to it! Brent |
V (Vera)
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 7:36 pm: | |
you certainly may comment. but i have to ask, if a drive won't read how do you deal with it. |
V (Vera)
| Posted on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 7:39 pm: | |
always something new to learn |
Trish
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2001 - 2:40 am: | |
1st... I clean the cd itself, especially if it was the "Who Ever Heard of That Name Brand" 50x $29. special at Fry's. Not always, but you usually do get what you paid for. How good is the optical reader to start with? 2nd... If I can't reach the optical lens via q-tip with alcohol on it, I pop out the four screws, snap the cover off and then use the q-tip. 3rd... Hope it's still under warranty and take the heap back. If it's not, then accept the fact that I got what I paid for and at least it outlived the warranty. That's PC hardware... |
Rob (Robwalk)
| Posted on Sunday, July 15, 2001 - 3:25 am: | |
Thanks for input. The cdrom is a near new 40X. It has decided to work flawlessly at the moment so I will leave it alone until it stops again. I will try the safe mode/delete drive option but if it doesn't work I will take cover off again and clean lens but I suspect this isnt really the cure despite it working for a few days after I do it. Thanks again Rob |
V (Vera)
| Posted on Tuesday, July 17, 2001 - 2:28 pm: | |
hi don't know if this could apply but thought i'd pass it on http://pub76.ezboard.com/fthecomputertechniciansfrm18.showMessage?topicID=6.topic another little bit to try to remember down the road |
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