CD-Rom doesn't read

[electrizer]

Hi guys!

Today I tried to install something off a CD and he drive doesn't see it. It spins, but when I go to CD drive's properties -> Volume and press 'Populate' nothing comes up. Any ideas what it might be? A week ago it was working and I didn't mess around with any settings... :/

Thanks in advance!

[rkawakami]

Some things to try, in increasing order of the possibility of screwing things up even worse:

- with the system off, remove and re-install the optical drive (could just be a bad connection)
- try a couple of other CDs, especially those that are commercially pressed (i.e., not CD-R or CD-RW disks)
- in Windows Hardware Manager, click on the DVD/CD-ROM entry to expand it and then right-click on the drive and select Uninstall. Acknowledge the warning and allow Windows to remove the drive. Then click Action/Scan for hardware changes to re-install the drive.
- gently clean the drive's lens assembly with a lint-free cloth

[electrizer]

Now even a scarier thing is happening. I'm trying to boot from Windows XP's cd and it's not possible! It stops for a while before the Win XP logo popping up and the progress bar and nothing happens!

[electrizer]

Correction: It doesn't spin. When I insert a CD it attempts at spinning it off but it stops, slows down and nothing happens. Extremely strange!

[killer]

I hate to say it but the unit sounds as if it is knackered with a capital F.

Is the machine under warranty? If so, call the Greenock number (in your user manual) and they'll probably do a straight swap. You call Greenock but your call gets answered by someone in Slovakia ... which seems a bit weird. I found them very helpful when I had a hard disk problem recently. They sent a replacement which arrived in two days and was a straight exchange.

If the machine is out of warranty then see what you can buy at eBuyer or a similar supplier.

Let us know how you get on.