Unusual problem with CD Drives

[Guest]

I have two CD drives on my dell dimension 2400 PC.
A DVD ROM drive, which doesn't read any media at all.
It is in "My Computer" and Device Manager, and all signs show that it's
working properly. No ! or other marks in device manager. Drive opens, spins,
but doesn't read data.
And a CD-RW drive, which will now only read from disks that have their own
"autoplay" function (such as repair disks.) Again this drive is visible in
"My Computer" and Device Manager, and all signs show that it's working
properly. No ! or other marks in device manager. Drive opens, spins - this
one reads some disks, not others.

Both used to work; and I can't pinpoint when they stopped, in order to get
to a restore point.

Win XP home, SP-2

To compound the problem (not related, but frustrating) I can't restart the
computer in safe mode.

I've uninstalled/reinstalled - looked for updated drivers -

One drive MAY be hardware failure - both cannot be (because the CD-RW will
read one type of disk, not others.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

Stop by your favorite local store that sells CD and DVD media, pick up a
lens cleaner disk. You may simply be experiencing the effects of a lens that
is clogged.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Rick;
I'll try that tomorrow - at this point, I'd sacrifice a goat, if I thought
it would help.
I hadn't even thought of cleaning, because of the "plays some, not others"
aspect.
Thanks.

 

[Ice Bing]

Try disconnecting the one not working, make sure you set the correct jumper!


Ice Cool,

 

[Guest]

Rick;
Further reply to your answer.
I popped in my cleaning CD - BUT;
I can't get it to work, on the DVD ROM drive, because it doesn't read any
media.
and, I can't get it to work on the CD RW drive, because it only
reads/responds to disks that are "self-executing;" - disks that have their
own "auto run" capability.

So, I'm back to square one; I stil believe that (at least for the CD RW
drive, this is a setting somewhere that's "wrong" and I just can't find it.

I'd be willing to concede that this was a hardware failure, except for the
fact that both drives have problems, and one works on some types of disks,
and not others.

Do you know of a shareware/freeware utility to make the drives "spin?" -
that way, I could see if I could clean them.

Your help is appreciated.

By the way - why "nutcase?" I've read some of your posts, and you seem
pretty grounded to me.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

The DVD drive is likely dead and needs replacing. As to the other, most of
the cleaner disks use autorun, so I would double click the drive in Windows
Explorer and see if it can be read.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Guest]

Rick;
After a number of tries, the CD RW DID respond to the cleaning disk; it read
it, and was cleaned, and now works fine.
Haven't quite given up on the DVD ROM drive yet, but I fear you may be right
- I'll probably end up replacing it.

Thanks for your help.