Autoplay in XP Home and a Dell

[Hans L]

I have a vexing problem. Well, my wife has, but then, it is also my problem.
She has a Dell Dimension 4700, and is using Windows XP Home.

Her DVD/CD combo drive was obviously on the fritz. When I inserted a music
CD, the drive vibrated noisily. I bought a new drive, and installed it (a
Toshiba/Samsung OEM of some sort, bought at MicroCenter).

Putting in a music CD did not work. Clicking on the drive in Windows
Explorer produced nothing (error message in DOpus, a Win Expl replacement).
I found that by unchecking "Enable digital CD audio for this CD-ROM device"
made it work. Even Autoplay worked.

Then, after restart, it did not work again. This drive had obviously never
had an audio cabel attached, so I attached one. Now, after restart, it
worked again. Even Autplay worked.

Now, this morning, Autoplay did not work again. Right-clicking the drive iin
Win Expl and clicking on Autoplay did not produce any result. However, I
could play the disk in question if I started iTunes and clicked on "Devices".

And, to make things even more confusing, I just now went to the computer,
ejected the disk and put it in again, and Autoplay worked.

Two things: I do not know if the audio cable is really needed, but I will
keep it in, since it does not hurt as far as I know. Second, would anyone
have any idea why Autoplay is so fickle? Is this know behavior (fickleness)
and are there some 'standard' things to check?

Grateful for even a crumb of a suggestion.

Hans L

 

[Bob I]

Did you remove/uninstall the old one in Device Manager, and allow XP to
install the new one? If not, that could be the issue.

 

[Hans L]

I removed the old drive, turned off the computer, turned it on again, turned
it off, and then, I installed the new drive and turned on the computer. The
new drive was recognized, and the drivers installed (the usual MS 2001
drivers – are there really no new ones?).

The old drive is not in Device Manager now.

Hans L

 

[Bob I]

Ok, then is was recognized as a completely different unit.

 

[Hans L]

And now, the left speaker crackled, then both speakers (not, as far as I can
hear, the subsoofer). Now, they crackle just a little (low). Can't help but
thinking that this is an audio problem. But what exactly?

Hans L

 

[Bob I]

Just a thought here but perhaps open the case and make sure that all the
connectors are seated? Another possibility is that the wiring/cable is
damaged.