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CD-ROM Problems

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CD-ROM Problems

By Stephen Bucaro

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.

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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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