Inserting CD-ROM makes system unstable

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ron Chusid
  • Start date Start date
R

Ron Chusid

After I insert a CD-ROM the system becomes very unstable. Many normal
functions, such as opening My Computer or My Documents won't work, and
sometimes the start menu won't work or the entire computer freezes.

I have three different drives (two internal and one USB) and this
occurs regardless of which one I put the disk in. I tried system
restore but the problem persisted. (It wouldn't allow me to go back
very far so perhaps the problem was already present).

I booted into Safe Mode (with network support) and then I can insert a
CD-ROM without a problem. Therefore I'm assuming it's a problem with
the WIndows system and not a hardware problem. Anyone have any ideas as
to how to fix this?
 
Hello Ron; hope this helps; I see a large area that could be your
problem; it could be hardware, software, cabling, USB host, pest in
your computer or even the type of disk you are inserting into the
drive. What is the history of your CD-ROMs? Are they IDE, SATA and
etc.? Was your system just upgraded with new CD-ROMs or software? Are
some of your drives CD/or and DVD burners? This can play large roll in
your system being unstable. What type of disk are you using when this
problem happens?
I would further investigate by confirming that you have all the latest
updates for your antivirus / anti-spyware and Windows Updates. Perform
a complete scan and then confirm by visiting your CD-ROM makers Web
Site for a fix or newer drivers for your issue. Once that is done check
in your Device Manger to see if there is any warning signs beside your
CD-ROMs Devices and also USB Devices (I am assuming your external
CD-ROM is USB?).

Also check for driver signing; if the driver is digitally signed, it
has been tested and verified for a particular operating system by the
signing authority. Software for hardware products with the "Designed
for Windows XP" logo have been digitally signed indicating that the
product has been tested by Microsoft, and has not been altered.
Sometimes, when you install new software on your computer, the software
installation process overwrites systems files with older and sometimes
incompatible versions of systems files. The incompatible files can
cause system instability.

You may have a bad disk or a program that the system doesn't know
what to do with. Try to use a known working disk to test your drives.

Robert

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I tried this with multiple commercial software CD's and still had the
problem. The problem was first seen after installing a disk without
difficulty to my notebook, and then trying to load a copy onto my
desktop, with it crashing the desktop. I also tried a DVD made with the
desktop with Media Center. It works fine in the notebook but the
desktop also crashes with this DVD inserted.

I haven't tried loading software off CD's for a while so I can't say
how long the problem has been going on. I have loaded some software in
the last month from downloads so it is possible that something I loaded
is the problem. I've been thinking of uninstalling everything I could
recall installing recently, but was hoping to find a simpler fix first.
One problem with this is that it is difficult to recall every software
upgrade which has been downloaded. My suspicion is that something
changed some of the WIndows settings or software involved in using CD's
and this

I believe the internal CD's are both IDE. One is a DVD burner. The
external is both USB and firewire. I just rechecked and it is currently
connected by firewire.

I doubt it is a matter of a driver for a specific drive since all three
have the same problems now and all worked fine in the past, and
therefore doubt that a fix at the site for any one drive will help.
They also work fine in safe mode, making me think there is a problem in
Windows itself which is causing the problem with all three.

I've also checked device driver. No problems show up When I check each
drive under Digital Signer it says Microsoft WIndows Publisher.

I'm wondering if there is a specific driver for Windows which handles
trying to read CD's and DVD's as inserted which is now messed up which
I might be able to rinstall.
 
I just found something else which might be significant. I ran msconfig
and tried various things like not running services or startup programs
for third party software, not processing system.ini and/or win.ini,
etc. Initially none of these solved the problem. However I just ran
under Diagnostic Startup--load basic devices and services only. This
way it works fine. I assume this goes along with the idea that
something being loaded, perhaps from recent software, is interfering
with the normal operation of the CD drives--but what? I'll try
uninstalling some programs and see if that helps.
 
I found the program causing the problem. I removed Roxio Easy Media
Creator 8 Suite (which I upgraded to from an earlier version last
month) and the problem is resolved.

Reloading the program causes the problem to occur again.

Unless anyone has a soluiton for this I'll have to see if Roxio's tech
support can fix this.
 
I might as well enter the final solution here as you never know when
someone with an identical problem stumbles across a thread such as
this.

One feature, the RXFilter, conflicts with certain anti-virus programs
and Roxio has a program to deactivate the feature. Running this solved
the problem.

More info and a link to the program to fix this is at:

http://forums.support.roxio.com/index.php?showtopic=3320
 
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