drives won't recognize data cd/dvd but will play music

[Mark Fisher]

I have a problem with an XP Home system: Neither of the cd/dvd drives
will recognize "data" disks (such as program installation disks). Both
drives can play music and I can burn music and videos to both drives. I
tried upgrading the drivers and even buying new drives, but the problem
remains: The new drives have the same problem. (Since I have a home
network, I can still read data disks and install programs from another
computer, but that's a pain.) Any ideas?

Thanks.

--Mark

 

[RJK]

Is "Autoplay" on, in each drives properties ?
Are "Allow Active Active content from CDs to run on My Computer" and
"Allow Active Active content to run in files on My Computer" both checked in
IE? drop-down
Tools | Internet Explorer | Options | Advanced | scroll down to Security ?
If unchecked, and after installing whatever it is your are trying to
install, you may want to put them back to how they were

regards, Richard

 

[Mark Fisher]

Thanks for the suggestion. It seems to have some effect. (See below.) I
am puzzled why the setting for IE should have *any* effect on
non-Internet activities.

However, the real problem appears to be somewhat deeper. It is not just
that autorun doesn't work (I can live with that), it is that the CDs are
*not recognized*. As far as the file explorer is concerned, there is no
CD there! But I have discovered that if I go open the "Disk Management"
window, the CD is detected and then the file explorer sees it too. But
not unless and until I open the Disk Management window. At this point,
autoplay works when I put another CD in the drive. (Perhaps changing the
IE settings had an effect on autoplay; but Disk Management could see the
CDs before I make the IE changes.)

Given that Disk Management can see the disks, any ideas as to what to
what the issues are and/or how to fix them?

Thanks.

--Mark.

 

[RJK]

IE Advanced Settings seem to have a say in whether *.exe's can run from cd,
....which is why I was stabbing around in there
That your cd/dvd drives show up in Disk Management but, do not show up in
windows Expplorer suggests that you may need to assign drive letters to
them, or change drive letters.
Much 3rd party security software can make changes to what would normally
happen when you slap in a cd ...just a thought !
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320553
http://www.uninets.net/~blaisdel/whistler14.htm#CD-RomDVDDisappeared
....may be relevant ...but, would require careful examination and
consideration

Having thought about your problem a little more and re-reading your OP, ...I
notice that you mentioned that you "installed drivers" for the drives -
....this is where the problem could be located. You shouldn't have to
install drivers into XP for CD or dvd rom drives. ...maybe an *.inf file or
two so that the drive/s are called by their proper label names in Device
Manager's hardware tree
Drivers that came on cd with your drives could be W98 drivers which could
cause lots of problems if installed into XP !!!

...dunno what else to suggest.

....however I'm still leaning towards suspecting that you've installed
incorrect drivers for your drives

regards, Richard

 

[Mark Fisher]

Thanks for your help. The problem predates whatever I might have done
"installing drivers". (If I remember correctly, I asked the device
manager to update the drivers and maybe searched the internet for the
most recent. But whatever I did, it was *in response* to the problem.)
I'm planning on upgrading from XP Home to XP Pro. Maybe that'll fix it.

--Mark

 

[RJK]

Installing a fresh Windows platform may fix it, (XP Pro offers nothing more
than advanced networking facilities as I understand it).
"Upgrading may preserve the problem" !

Back to your "drives not recognizing data disks,"
How were the data disks created ? e.g. If they were created with packet
writing facility in, for example Nero, then that software must be present to
"read" them. ...just a thought !

....anyway .....HOW about :-
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com/xp_tweaks.htm
Scroll down to, and click on :-
"CD Rom or DVD Not Listed in Explorer/My Computer"

best regards, Richard

 

[RJK]

....quick way to find that on :-
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com:80/xp_tweaks.htm

....drop down IE and click Edit | Find on this page | type in cd and
click Next about ten times

regards, Richard

 

[Mark Fisher]

(I've been out of the country and out of touch with newsgroups.)

When I say "data disks", I mean (among others) commercial software
installation disks. Such disks are not recognized. It's not just that
autorun doesn't happen, it's that the file explorer shows no disk!
(Actually, one drive shows no disk and the other drive produces an error
when you click on it.)

--Mark.

 

[RJK]

mmm, ...I'm lost as to what your problem could be.

It's beginning to look a little like you need to ascertain that ALL your
hardware is functioning correctly, and also that it is correctly
configured -
e.g. jumpers on drives / bios settings etc ....before continuing your fight
with Windows !

regards, Richard