CD RW & CD/DVD ROM player don't recognize CD inside !!!

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My PC came with WIN me two years ago. Since I installed "clean" W2K prof.
I've had numerous problems especially with the two drives, CD RW and CD/DVD
player (Several weeks apart). The symptoms : the H/W is recognized and
configured without any
conflict, but when I insert a CD/DVD the LED blinks few times and nothing
happens. Clicking on the drive letter generates error "Please insert a CD in
the drive .... CANCEL"

I posted this prob before and on the recommendation I cleaned the laser
lense, which is a good thing to do anyway, but no change. Actually I bought
a new CD RW, install it and even burned one CD with it. Few days later it
does not recognize a CD inside !!!

The fact the new burner is one week old and it worked right after
installation makes it unlikely suspect since the other two drives exhibit
the same symptoms.

Things I tried with no success:

- Uninstalled devices & rebooted. New H/W found ...
- Re-installed manufacturer's motherboard/chipset drivers
- Re- flashed the BIOS

I wouldn't mind re-installing clean W2K or WIN me for that matter, except
the PC can't read the CD !!!
Must have at least one CD drive working, but how ?

Anything else I can try ?

TIA

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My PC came with WIN me two years ago. Since I installed "clean" W2K prof.
I've had numerous problems especially with the two drives, CD RW and CD/DVD
player (Several weeks apart). The symptoms : the H/W is recognized and
configured without any
conflict, but when I insert a CD/DVD the LED blinks few times and nothing
happens. Clicking on the drive letter generates error "Please insert a CD in
the drive .... CANCEL"

I posted this prob before and on the recommendation I cleaned the laser
lense, which is a good thing to do anyway, but no change. Actually I bought
a new CD RW, install it and even burned one CD with it. Few days later it
does not recognize a CD inside !!!

The fact the new burner is one week old and it worked right after
installation makes it unlikely suspect since the other two drives exhibit
the same symptoms.

Things I tried with no success:

- Uninstalled devices & rebooted. New H/W found ...
- Re-installed manufacturer's motherboard/chipset drivers
- Re- flashed the BIOS

I wouldn't mind re-installing clean W2K or WIN me for that matter, except
the PC can't read the CD !!!
Must have at least one CD drive working, but how ?

Anything else I can try ?

TIA

As a starting point you should determine if this is a
hardware problem or an operating system problem.

Boot your machine with a Win98 boot disk from
www.bootdisk.com. If you can successfully read
your CDs then your problem is caused by Win2000.
If you cannot then you have a hardware problem.

Make sure to try several original CDs, to eliminate
the possibility of getting tripped up by marginal CDs.

 

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CD

As a starting point you should determine if this is a
hardware problem or an operating system problem.

Boot your machine with a Win98 boot disk from
www.bootdisk.com. If you can successfully read
your CDs then your problem is caused by Win2000.
If you cannot then you have a hardware problem.

Make sure to try several original CDs, to eliminate
the possibility of getting tripped up by marginal CDs.

Yes, I can boot from WIN 98 floppy disk, WIN98 can
not see the HD because it is not FAT format. The HD
is NTFS.

Essentially I deleted all but the essential S/W to eliminate
any interference, but no change so far.

Any othe diagnostic tip to determine S/W or H/W will be
greatly appreciated.

Is there any System info that can help ?

Thanks

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

Yes, I can boot from WIN 98 floppy disk, WIN98 can
not see the HD because it is not FAT format. The HD
is NTFS.

Essentially I deleted all but the essential S/W to eliminate
any interference, but no change so far.

Any othe diagnostic tip to determine S/W or H/W will be
greatly appreciated.

Is there any System info that can help ?

Thanks

I am quite aware that Win98 cannot see your hard disk.
However, this is irrelevant. What you need to check is if
Win98 can see your CD drives, and successfully read
a number of CDs!

 

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However, this is irrelevant. What you need to check is if
Win98 can see your CD drives, and successfully read
a number of CDs!

My appology for the irrelevant reply earlier.
Starting with Win 98 floppy, the CD drive is recognized but still can not
read any original CD "Abort, Retry, Fail". This, from your experience,
confirms it is a H/W problem.

What's the next step then to determine what H/W problem ?

Aside from this everything seems to be working fine !!!

Thanks again

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

My appology for the irrelevant reply earlier.
Starting with Win 98 floppy, the CD drive is recognized but still can not
read any original CD "Abort, Retry, Fail". This, from your experience,
confirms it is a H/W problem.

What's the next step then to determine what H/W problem ?

Aside from this everything seems to be working fine !!!

Thanks again

Here are the three most likely causes:

- Faulty CD drive (again!)
- Faulty ribbon cable (Try a different cable)
- Faulty IDE controller (Plug the CD drive into the primary controller
socket, making sure to set it to "Slave".

 

[©¿©¬]

Here are the three most likely causes:

- Faulty CD drive (again!)
- Faulty ribbon cable (Try a different cable)
- Faulty IDE controller (Plug the CD drive into the primary controller
socket, making sure to set it to "Slave".

- Unlikely a "faulty drive" as three of them consecutively with the exact
problem !!!
- Faulty ribbon cable , I agree, it is a prime suspect, although I unplugged
/ replugged it once. I will buy a new ribbon cable.
- Faulty IDE controller, perhaps !, Disconnected the CD/DVD player
(Primary), plugged the CD RW (Secondary slave) in its place. Now it shows
one drive connected (Secondary slave), but still can't read CDs.

PS: Tried PC Doctor OnCall demo, while scanning the
registry section it always stops at Windows Starting,
it gives an error # 9 then quits.
- The demo does not explain what is error #9 ? :-(

Thanks