CD-RW Drive not working

[Guest]

I have an IBM ThinkPad Laptop and the CD-RW Drive is not working. The
computer will boot from a CD, so it obviously can read them, but if I just
insert a data or an audio CD nothing happens. It recognizes the drive, just
not the CD. Any suggestions?

 

[Theguy]

what is the exact error message you get when trying to open a CD?

 

[Guest]

There is not an error message. An icon of a CD will come up for a few
seconds, then it goes away. When I go to the CD Drive it appears as if there
is not a CD loaded. It is the same both for a data CD and an Audio CD. It
will boot from a CD, though. So it has to be reading the CD. I just don't
know what else to do.

 

[Theguy]

if you double click on the CD drive in my computer does it open?

if it does then it just maybe the CD drive itself, some burner drivers
do not load CD's until they are being used by a program (BIOS in the
case of boot from CD).

 

[Guest]

It will open, but it's like there is not a CD in the drive. It used to play
a CD when I put it in. I put a different version of Windows on it (XP) and
it says it is compatible. If it is the drive itself, then why will it boot
from a CD?

 

[Theguy]

are you refering to playing audio CD's?
in windows XP you need to open media player and go to play > CD audio

 

[Guest]

Although that is not what I am referring to specifically, I have tried an
audio CD. I was trying to install Norton onto the computer.

 

[Theguy]

when you double click the CD-ROM does it show all the files? i still do
not understand what you mean that it is not recognized.

 

[Bob I]

Norton?!?! Try DISABLING Norton Autoprotect.

Although that is not what I am referring to specifically, I have tried an
audio CD. I was trying to install Norton onto the computer.

:

 

[Guest]

It would not recognize the CD for me to install Norton. Norton is not on the
computer.

 

[Guest]

No it does not open. It's as if there is not a CD in the Drive. It opens up
into another screen where the files should be but there are no files listed.

 

[Bob I]

Oh, OK. Look in Device Manager and see if there are any errors on it.

 

[Guest]

No, there are no errors. All I know to tell you is it will boot from a CD
but when you insert ANY type of CD after the computer is running, it will not
work.

 

[Bob I]

What does "it will not work" mean. You can't find the drive in Explorer?
It doesn't AutoPlay? the drive doesn't spin up?

 

[Guest]

The Drive is there but The CD will not play ("work") .

 

[mikkl]

The Drive is there but The CD will not play ("work") .

I would try deleting the drive from device manager and allowing Windows to
redetect the drive. It sounds like a driver for the CD Rom has become
*lost* or corrupt. By deleting the drive and rebooting, you will force
Windows to redetect that the drive exists and to reload the necessary
drivers.

mikkl

 

[Bob I]

Follow mikkl's advice on uninstall and reinstall.

The Drive is there but The CD will not play ("work") .

:

 

[Guest]

I tried that and it still does the same thing. Device manager says the drive
is working prpoperly. It is a "plug and play" type device if that makes any
difference.

 

[Bob I]

Ok, let's back up one step then. You say the drive is there. What
happens if double click the drive icon?

 

[Guest]

When you double click the drive icon it opens up but nothing is there.