[Cbot]

My computer will not read cd's of any kind. It will read dvd-rws that i have made. I have tested the problem with many different cd's only with the same result. The computer acts like it wants to read the cd then the light stays solid and nothing happens. This happens only with cd's. I have tried everything imaginable to fix it.
-uninstalled drivers
-Cleaned the registry
-After exploring this website i found on Johnwill's post a REGEDIT4 filter that i ran with no luck
It did give me hope. I am using windows XP with both a dvd burner and a CD-ROM drive and the system has always said that both we working properly but i cannot get any of them to read cd's so i can't instal anything. now it tells me that windows cannot read from this disk. The disk may be corrupted, or it could be using a format that is not compatible with windows. Keep in mind i even tried to boot the computer off the DVD ROM with the widowsxp system disk (as if to repartition of do a full install) just to see if it could read a cd and it could not boot from either drive. I am worried that if i uninstall Nero i won't be able to reinstall it and for that matter i couldn't even reinstall windows if it came down to that.
Basically I am puzzled please help if you can

 

[Teck]

How long has this been happening for?

 

[WebKing27]

What was the last successful action/activity you have had with the CD/DVD drive? Or what you have done that caused this?

 

[kiwiguy]

DVD/CD combo drives usually use a separate laser for each media type.

From your description it would appear that the CD laser has died (this is unable to be detected by the PC which cannot see beyond the interface buffer, so it thinks its "working ok".

A new drive sounds like the cure to me.

 

[OneLuv]

Mines is like that too, tell me don't have the memorex dual layer burner/combo drive. If yo lok at the properties, does it give you that mount rainer format error? Ive been talkin to those jerks 4 months.

 

[bernardus]

Funny that you mention RW DVD's cause these particularly have problems with reading.
RW CD's have a poorer reflection than Read Only one's. Try these first. Some CD or DVD drive's won't coorporate together as I found out. Try one first.
Older CD'drive's (more than two years ago manufactured) Have a relative weaker burning and reading.
It helps to slow down the speed of burning to half the recommended speed.
You could try a test for CD's and see how many the failures are. If the system cannot correct these a CD is presented as useless.
Furthermore there is a great difference in Quality of CD's Don't stick to a type try another kind. A had particularly many problems with Philips RW CD's. The can't be used for large volumes like a backup, very unreliable.

bernardus

 

[Cbot]

it has been doing this for a long time and i do not know what the last thing i did was before the cd stoped working. I know that it could be the dvd burner that could have a broken laser but i have sort of rulled it out because both my dvd burner and my cd-rom have the same problem. I have tried using only one or the other with only the same result. I think i might be screwed
Thanks for replying to my question any help i can get is great

 

[bernardus]

Have you checked the drive letter in explorer?
Is the driver detected in your bios?
And yes many times I found a weak laser causing problems.
try to install a drive from a friend so you'll be sure you have a good one.
I have had lots of drives that only occasionally worked and send them to the carbage.
But first be sure so try a test for cd drives there are pretty good ones thet display the dropouts, in any case you are able to visual see the quality of the drive.It may be that the exchange of drives causes problems with another already being used drive letter.
To pass this problem just diconnect the CD/DVD drive restart and shut down, then reconnect the CD/DVD drive and restart. The BIOS is now reconfigured to the drive.
Many more times I found a weak connection caused problems, the cable has a poor quality or a pin has been bended. If the drive is recognised it looks a bit better, but still another cable could solve a problem. even disconnecting and reconnect solved many problems. But since you tried already another?
http://www.freshdevices.com/freshdiag.html
Good luck
Bernardus

 

[Cbot]

I just wanted to say that i fixed my problem and it was the dvd burner. Both my cd rom and my dvd burner had to be scraped. They only lasted about a year. I got a new one for cheap and it works great. Thanks for all the help and suggestions they were much help.

 

[kiwiguy]

So my suggestion was correct ... it is sad to say that they don't always last long, perhaps that is something to do with the fact that they are cheap? My $1500 (!) CD burner (when they first came) out is still going after many many years, but it is only x4 speed...

Thanks for letting us know the outcome!