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Today there are many forms of CD (compact disc) media. CD-RW
allows you to over-write previous data. CD-R is one-time
recordable. This article focuses on problems with standard
CD-ROMs (read only media), but some of the information also
applies to the recordable forms.
A CD-ROM is written by etching "pits" into the surface of the
disc. To read a CD, a laser beam is directed at the disc as it
spins inside the drive. The areas between the pits, called
"lands", reflect more light than the pits. A sensor in the drive
reads the data by measuring the amount of reflected light.
Most problems with CD-ROMs are caused by mishandling.
Fingerprints and scratches on the surface of the CD cause
electrical noise when read in the drive. Never touch the
recorded surface of a CD-ROM, always hold it by the edges. Never
put a label on a CD-ROM, this can cause it to vibrate because of
an imbalance.
Use the following troubleshooting guide.
Can't Read CD-ROM
First check the obvious. Try another CD-ROM in the drive. If you
have another computer, try the first CD-ROM in the other
computer.
Recordable CDs are made differently than regular CD-ROMS.
Instead of etching pits into the surface of the disc, heat is
used to burn spots on the surface of the disc. Some high-speed
CD-ROM drives cannot read some recordable CDs. Also, the file
structure on a recordable CD may not be compatible with the
operating system.
No CD Sound
If the CD drive starts, but no sound comes from the speakers,
try plugging a headset into the jack on the front of the drive.
If the headset works, the problem is in your speaker system or
sound card.
If the CD drive does not start, enable autoplay on your
computer. Select Start | Settings | Control Panel | System. In
the System dialog box select the Device Manager tab. Click on
the + sign next to CDROM to open that branch. Then click on the
name of the CD-ROM to highlight it. Click on the Properties
button. In the properties dialog box, select the Settings tab.
Check the box next to "Auto insert notification". Click on the
OK button. Then remove and replace the CD.
Can't See the CD Drive in Explorer
Modern CD-ROM drives use the same ATA (Advanced Technology
Attachment) interface that a hard drive uses. (Sometimes called
IDE for integrated drive electronics). A motherboard usually has
two ATA channels, primary and secondary. Each channel can
control two drives, master and slave.
In Device Manager, click on the + next to Hard disk controllers
to open that branch. Make sure the Primary and Secondary IDE
controllers are listed and they don't have a yellow exclamation
(!) mark next to them. If one is not visible, the controller may
be disabled in the BIOS setup. If there is an exclamation mark,
the CD-ROM drive may be defective.
Eject Button Does Not Work
If a CD gets stuck in the drive, turn off the power to the PC.
Then insert a straightened paper clip into the tiny emergency
eject hole on the front of the drive.
Unusual Problems
Inside the computer's case, make sure the power cable on the
back of the CD-ROM drive is not loose. Make sure the data cable
is not loose on the connector on the back of the CD-ROM drive
and on the motherboard. A loose cable may have worked until dust
drawn in by the cooling fan accumulated inside the case.
The ATA channel master or slave assignment is configured
automatically by the data cable or is configured by a jumper on
the back of the CD-ROM drive. If a new drive has been added,
check this configuration.
Some software records the letter of the CD-ROM drive from which
it was installed. If you later remove or install a storage
device, Windows will reassign the drive letters. The software
may not be able to find the CD-ROM drive. If you can't
reconfigure that software, you can go into the CD-ROM drive's
Properties dialog box, select the Settings tab, and set a letter
to be used by the drive.
Some CD-ROM drives require a driver. Follow the drive
manufacturers instructions to install the driver. It can usually
be done through the CD-ROM drive's Properties dialog box, Driver
tab. --------------------------------------------------------- -
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