CD-Rom not working

When you put in a CD it will not read or play it. This has been going on for quite a long time now. I'm running Windows XP 3. Any suggestions for someone that is not a computer whiz!!! This computer is about 7 years old and I'm about ready to go buy a Mac!!!

 

We need more information. What happens after you insert the disc? Does it show up in Windows Explorer? Do you get an error message of some kind? How are you trying to play it?

 

Hi Queen, welcome to the forums.

Go to start, then type "device manager" and hit enter, then post back here any yellow ! marks you see.

 

If I put in a CD, it will show up in the library on WMP but when I click on a song, there is no sound. It shows up on Itunes too but with no sound. I just remembered that my floppy drive doesn't work either. I've got some 3 inch floppys that I had some pix on and it doesn't recognize that I have one in there.

 

Do you get any sound at all from your system (i.e. windows logon and logoff sounds)? or is it just when playing cd's that you get no sound?

Have you verified that the volume control (Lower right corner of your screen) is not at zero?

 

Ok my mistake. It will play in WMP but it's only because it's in the library. It's not actually reading the CD. So I tried another CD and my D drive isn't recognizing it. It doesn't do anything!

 

try this. With the cd in the D drive, open Windows explorer and right-click on the D drive. There should be an option called Play. Click the Play option and report back what happens.

 

In Windows Explorer, when I right click on my D drive, there is no "play" option. The CD is not showing up either.

 

OK this narrows things down. It's clearly a problem with the cd drive itself. There are some things you can do to further diagnose the drive, but they are so cheap it would be better to simply take the computer in and have the drive replaced with a new drive. That's my best advice.

 

Greetings, cleanqueen.

You might also try the Microsoft fixes, just to make sure evrything's kosher software-wise: this one will, among other things, clear any Upper and Lower registry filters, and this patch is the XP UAA driver which may need reloading.

Agreed, though, that it's looking like a drive problem. One more shot: can you boot to the drive?

 

I tried the Microsoft fix and it didn't fix it. I think it's a goner. I'm not putting any more money in this computer. The software is old and I just think I need to go and buy a Mac. Lately there's always something going wrong with it.

 

I had a problem with my DVD drive not working.

Turned off the computer and unplugged it from electrical source.

Pulled off the outer casing.

Unplugged the DVD drive and then re-plugged it.

Case back on, plug in electrical, turn on computer --> now the system "sees" the 'new' hardware and installed it.

MY problem solved.

 

Must have been a loose connection somewhere, glad you got it sorted though!

 

Tried that. Now I think my USB port has taken a c***! I took some pictures and tried to download them off my camera and it doesn't even show the pictures. I even tried taking the memory stick out and doing it that way and it doesn't recognize the camera.

 

Sounds like you may have deeper or multiple issues going on.

Do the symptoms change at all in Safe Mode? Or System Restore? Any new flags showing up in Device Manager?

You might also try running a file check (open a command prompt and enter sfc /scannow), but without the ability to pull files from the XP CD, that might prove fruitless.

 

I even had something on a 3 inch floppy and it wouldn't recognize the A drive. I'll try what you said and get back to you.

 

I ran my CC cleaner and did a scan on Webroot and it seemed to fix it. I assume I had a virus.