CD and CD-RW suddenly can't read discs.

[Guest]

Both my optical drives have stopped reading CDs. In My Computer the CD-RW
drive is blank and the CD drive gives a message saying,"Windows cannot read
from this disc ..." Both drives recognize a CD (music, data) if it is in the
drive when the computer boots. However, if you open and close the drive it
can no longer see the disc. With a music CD I can get it to play using
Windows Media Player even though My Computer shows nothing there. Device
Manager shows everything is fine. I have tried disabling AVG Antivirus. These
drives have worked for over 2 years until now.

 

[Gary]

If your local policy or domain policy prohibits, you can't use them. Please
check that these aren't in place.
Possibly the cable has come out from the mobo, does the BIOS detect the two
drives as it boots?

 

[fj]

I have the same problem with my DVD and DVD-rw drives, except my floppy
drive is affected too! If I boot
in safe mode, then the drives all operate as they should. I've tried
uninstalling various programs which access the drives, I've uninstalled SP2,
I've deleted the drives and let XP autodetect them on startup. Nothing seems
to help.

Is there some sort of auto mounting device or setting that is not there or
set wrong? I really need help, I've been screwing around with this for a few
days and nothing seems to help.

Thkx'
fj

 

[Guest]

Not sure what is meant by local or domain policy. The BIOS detects them fine
and they show up in My Computer. They just won't read any discs - except once
if the disc is in when I reboot. If I eject the disc and put it right back
in, it acts like it can't read the disc. I find it strange that this would
suddenly occur with both my optical drives but I'm stumped as to the cause.

 

[Jakar]

I have the same problem... There are WAY too many people
with the SAME problem for it to be a hardware issue. It
has to be on the software side. I've been trying to fix
this myself for the last week. No luck here either,
however, its better than it was before.

I can now at least see the contents of my discs via this
registry hack http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?
scid=kb;en-us;314060, but the disc voluem label is still
missing, and the discs will not autoplay UNLESS I eject
the disc and then close it again. Then I have a 50/50
chance if it autoplaying, but now I should get the volume
label and the contents.

And just today I see I have another problem... while
testing, I installed a game and it asked for a second
disc, no problem, but the second disc in and it reads...
then after its done, it wants the first one again, no
problem, however, this time my drive disappears! Now the
game can't be completed and I'm back to square one.

Like the others, if I leave the disc or any disc in and
reboot, it sees it fine. And I've also tried safe mode
like other people and it works fine, at least reading and
getting the volume label. I sure hate to re-install, but
knowing my luck, it won't do any good anyway. Hehe

Hello Drive Imagine!

 

[Fizzikal]

Another victim of similiar problems & error messages with year old CD-RW
drive that worked perfectly until month ago using CD Creator Platinum 6.
Just installed Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 and didn't resolve drive issue.
BIOS, Device Manager & other locations all show drive ok. Have tried
all the different things already mentioned by others and googled the problem
to death this past month to no avail. At least my CD-ROM will read disks
but obviously can't back up to that one. Would be a nice start to New Year
if some knowledgeable MVP out there would try and track down why so
many having similiar problems and give us a working solution rather than
telling us what most of us have already checked or done on our own to try
and resolve issue.

 

[~ narnia ~]

Another victim of similiar problems & error messages with year old CD-RW
drive that worked perfectly until month ago using CD Creator Platinum 6.
Just installed Roxio Easy Media Creator 7 and didn't resolve drive issue.
BIOS, Device Manager & other locations all show drive ok. Have tried
all the different things already mentioned by others and googled the problem
to death this past month to no avail. At least my CD-ROM will read disks
but obviously can't back up to that one. Would be a nice start to New Year
if some knowledgeable MVP out there would try and track down why so
many having similiar problems and give us a working solution rather than
telling us what most of us have already checked or done on our own to try
and resolve issue.

Here's my story -
I have a Dimension 4100 PIII with Windows XP Pro that has developed
several problems.

My external Iomega CD-RW burner (Drive G) no longer recognizes blank
CDs. However, I can burn CDs on this drive using Windows Media Player
but not Iomega HotBurn.

Both my factory installed D Drive (CD-Rom Lite-On LTN 483S 48xMax) and
E Drive (LG CD-RW CED 8080B) play music CDs, but can't read data CDs.
The drives blink and a disc icon flashes when I insert the data discs
but the following occurs:

D drive - Can't read data cds at all. Dialog box says "Please insert a
disc."

E drive - Dialog box with music program selection pops up as if I'd
inserted a music cd. I can't open the disc in explorer. Dialog box
says "E:\ is not accessible. Incorrect function.

I tried to do a System Restore to several different restore points,
but System Restore is not able to restore to any point in the last
week even though the system has been backed up all those days.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

 

[Mike Harradence]

Hi All

I had this problem for several months . I recentrly came across this on a
newsgroup and hey presto everything is back and working.

It appears that if you have installed a USB flash drive this causes the
problem. I have deleted the software that enabled me to spilt the drive into
a private and open area and everything is ok.

I would be intersted to know if any of you have recently installed a USB
falsh Drive/Pen

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/...-us-ms-winxp&lang=en&cr=US&sloc=en-us&m=1&p=1

 

[bulldawg1979]

Did you ever get a solution to your problem? I have spent the last wee
trying to fix the same issue. In the morning the drives were workin
fine. Late in the day, after installing SP2 on a Windows XP Home P
and new antivirus software, the drives quit. Can you help?

*Both my optical drives have stopped reading CDs. In My Computer th
CD-RW
drive is blank and the CD drive gives a message saying,"Window
cannot read
from this disc ..." Both drives recognize a CD (music, data) if i
is in the
drive when the computer boots. However, if you open and close th
drive it
can no longer see the disc. With a music CD I can get it to pla
using
Windows Media Player even though My Computer shows nothing there
Device
Manager shows everything is fine. I have tried disabling AV
Antivirus. These
drives have worked for over 2 years until now.

-
bulldawg197

 

[Jakar]

I haven't figured it out and I'm getting burnt out trying
to.

BIOS sees the drive; Windows sees the drive and assigns a
driver letter; Windows shows a driver installed with no
conflicts or problems; Windows Explorer sees the drive.

Everything looks fine... but Windows Explorer can't see
anything on any disc UNLESS I reboot with the disc in the
drive. Then it sees the disc, shows the volume label and
contents. I then can install from that disc/play a game
that needs a disc. Obviously its not a defective drive.

Thats where I'm at... I have done the registry hack to
take out the high and low filter values and that only
temporarily let me see the content of some of the discs,
but no volume label or no autoplay.

Sadly, it looks like I might re-install everything, but
I'm sure not looking forward to it with all the various
tweaks I've made to my computer.

Searching the net for answers has yielded very little.
I've read of some people who have fixed theirs, but what
they did usually refered to software I have never
installed/used.(Roxio - Easy CD Creator or something like
that).

There is no new firmware for my drive, I've checked on
that and have already flashed the one they had a long
time ago. Like I said, I'm getting burnt out.

I might make a clone of my drive and try some more
extreme stuff before I wipe it and re-install.

Oh, another problem I have, somewhat along the same lines
is that when I delete files that go to the recycle bin,
sometimes they don't show up. The icon shows theres files
in the bin, but a double click shows nothing. However, if
I click to empty the bin, it asks me if I'm sure I want
to delete them and gives the number of files... *Shrug*

I'm amazed MS seems to know nothing about the CD problem
with so many people having it.

 

[luvsun]

I believe 1) it is a Windows thing, or 2) a virus caused it. I have ha
the same prob for abt a month now and cannot figure out th
cause/solution; altho I am glad to know I am not alone. My Zip drive
floppy drive, CD-RW and DVD drives all stopped reading anythin
inserted into them; however Windows did recognize them in "M
Computer." When a disk is inserted into any of them, I get the messag
telling me to insert a disk.

About a week after they stopped working, I did get the error message
(two) telling me that I had unplugged the DVD/CD-RW without tellin
Windows first, which can cause u to lose data...blah..blah..blah.
NOTHING was unplugged and NOTHING was done (installed, changed in an
way) that would have caused this sudden lapse. Strangely enough, th
Zip drive started reading disks again last night, but the others ar
still defunct. Since no changes were made to my system prior to thi
happening, that is why I think it could be a virus or a Windows glitch
I have various various virus protection and adware protection an
whatnot tho.

*I haven't figured it out and I'm getting burnt out trying
to.

BIOS sees the drive; Windows sees the drive and assigns a
driver letter; Windows shows a driver installed with no
conflicts or problems; Windows Explorer sees the drive.

Everything looks fine... but Windows Explorer can't see
anything on any disc UNLESS I reboot with the disc in the
drive. Then it sees the disc, shows the volume label and
contents. I then can install from that disc/play a game
that needs a disc. Obviously its not a defective drive.

Thats where I'm at... I have done the registry hack to
take out the high and low filter values and that only
temporarily let me see the content of some of the discs,
but no volume label or no autoplay.

Sadly, it looks like I might re-install everything, but
I'm sure not looking forward to it with all the various
tweaks I've made to my computer.

Searching the net for answers has yielded very little.
I've read of some people who have fixed theirs, but what
they did usually refered to software I have never
installed/used.(Roxio - Easy CD Creator or something like
that).

There is no new firmware for my drive, I've checked on
that and have already flashed the one they had a long
time ago. Like I said, I'm getting burnt out.

I might make a clone of my drive and try some more
extreme stuff before I wipe it and re-install.

Oh, another problem I have, somewhat along the same lines
is that when I delete files that go to the recycle bin,
sometimes they don't show up. The icon shows theres files
in the bin, but a double click shows nothing. However, if
I click to empty the bin, it asks me if I'm sure I want
to delete them and gives the number of files... *Shrug*

I'm amazed MS seems to know nothing about the CD problem
with so many people having it.

-----Original Message-----

Did you ever get a solution to your problem? I have spent the last week
trying to fix the same issue. In the morning the drives were working
fine. Late in the day, after installing SP2 on a Windows XP Home PC
and new antivirus software, the drives quit. Can you help?

Sterling22 wrote:

My Computer the[vbcol=seagreen]
saying,"Windows[vbcol=seagreen]
(music, data) if it[vbcol=seagreen]
and close the[vbcol=seagreen]
it to play[vbcol=seagreen]
nothing there.[vbcol=seagreen]
disabling AVG[vbcol=seagreen]

-
luvsu

 

[Jakar]

I believe its a windows problem as well.

I have Ad-Aware SE Personal, Spybot 1.3, and AVG Anti-
Virus 7.0 Free running, all of which are updated on a
regular basis... I also use on occasion:

http://housecall.trendmicro.com/housecall/start_corp.asp

I use it for secondary security.

I too have a Zip Drive, floppy, ONE CD-RW Drive for the
moment (for testing... I took my other CD-ROM Drive out -
which has the same problem anyway).

Just tested my Zip Drive and floppy drive - neither work
either - Nice! But I'm sure they work GREAT in safe mode.

Just to see where we stand, I have SP1 installed with all
other critical updates (No SP2, yet; no .NET Framework
stuff or Media Player 10). I'd rather try to fix this
problem before I install SP2, but as its going now, I'll
be waiting forever.

Do you all have SP2 installed yet?

-----Original Message-----

I believe 1) it is a Windows thing, or 2) a virus caused it. I have had
the same prob for abt a month now and cannot figure out the
cause/solution; altho I am glad to know I am not alone. My Zip drive,
floppy drive, CD-RW and DVD drives all stopped reading anything
inserted into them; however Windows did recognize them in "My
Computer." When a disk is inserted into any of them, I get the message
telling me to insert a disk.

About a week after they stopped working, I did get the error messages
(two) telling me that I had unplugged the DVD/CD-RW without telling
Windows first, which can cause u to lose data...blah..blah..blah.
NOTHING was unplugged and NOTHING was done (installed, changed in any
way) that would have caused this sudden lapse. Strangely enough, the
Zip drive started reading disks again last night, but the others are
still defunct. Since no changes were made to my system prior to this
happening, that is why I think it could be a virus or a Windows glitch.
I have various various virus protection and adware protection and
whatnot tho.

*I haven't figured it out and I'm getting burnt out trying
to.

BIOS sees the drive; Windows sees the drive and assigns a
driver letter; Windows shows a driver installed with no
conflicts or problems; Windows Explorer sees the drive.

Everything looks fine... but Windows Explorer can't see
anything on any disc UNLESS I reboot with the disc in the
drive. Then it sees the disc, shows the volume label and
contents. I then can install from that disc/play a game
that needs a disc. Obviously its not a defective drive.

Thats where I'm at... I have done the registry hack to
take out the high and low filter values and that only
temporarily let me see the content of some of the discs,
but no volume label or no autoplay.

Sadly, it looks like I might re-install everything, but
I'm sure not looking forward to it with all the various
tweaks I've made to my computer.

Searching the net for answers has yielded very little.
I've read of some people who have fixed theirs, but what
they did usually refered to software I have never
installed/used.(Roxio - Easy CD Creator or something like
that).

There is no new firmware for my drive, I've checked on
that and have already flashed the one they had a long
time ago. Like I said, I'm getting burnt out.

I might make a clone of my drive and try some more
extreme stuff before I wipe it and re-install.

Oh, another problem I have, somewhat along the same lines
is that when I delete files that go to the recycle bin,
sometimes they don't show up. The icon shows theres files
in the bin, but a double click shows nothing. However, if
I click to empty the bin, it asks me if I'm sure I want
to delete them and gives the number of files... *Shrug*

I'm amazed MS seems to know nothing about the CD problem
with so many people having it.

-----Original Message-----

Did you ever get a solution to your problem? I have spent the last week
trying to fix the same issue. In the morning the

drives
were working

fine. Late in the day, after installing SP2 on a Windows XP Home PC
and new antivirus software, the drives quit. Can you help?

Sterling22 wrote:

My Computer the[vbcol=seagreen]
saying,"Windows[vbcol=seagreen]
(music, data) if it[vbcol=seagreen]
and close the[vbcol=seagreen]
it to play[vbcol=seagreen]
nothing there.[vbcol=seagreen]
disabling AVG[vbcol=seagreen] ---
---------------

------------------------------------------------------

---
---------------

View this thread: http://www.mcse.ms/message1312493.html

.
*

--
luvsun
--------------------------------------------------------- ---------------

---------------------------------------------------------

 

[jimbo255]

Greetings,

My CD situation is virtually identical to that of Jakar. It just migh
be related to a virus masquerading under the name of "wuauclt", th
windows update program. (Well, that's the only virus I'm sure I have
This virus incidentally hinders my internet access as well, and I ha
to close it every time I go on line.

Mike Harradence: Your situation is interesting. I happen to have US
flash drives too, but never installed any drivers yet so I don't thin
that's causing it.

Things just get stranger and stranger


-
jimbo25

 

[adb2_aber]

Hi there, one of my computers is having this problem too.

It's running WinME though, not XP. Both the CDRW drive and the floppy drive will not read, the floppy says to insert a disk into the drive, the CDRW that the disk is not formatted. The floppy must be reading at some point as if I leave a disk in and boot it attempts to boot from it and fails as it isn't a system disk. I'm completely flummoxed by this, I've check the connections, the devices and drivers and everything else I can think of with no luck.

Rather frustratingly this is the only machine in the house with a net connection so any files I download that I want on my machine I have to unplug my second hard drive from another machine and plug it into this machine and transfer them accross.

I'd try ripping off everything and starting again from scratch except that we don't have the WinME install disk, this machine having come from an uncle. As far as I know there have been no programs that access the drives installed for a good few months (the only new ones since then are Opera, Ad-Aware, MSN and MSN Plus!, none of which affect my other machines) and none of the software mentioned is or has ever been on here. Anyone got any ideas? Has anyone solved this?

Thanks for any help at all!

Andy.