Thank you for being a valued part of the CNET community. As of December 1, 2020, the forums are in read-only format. In early 2021, CNET Forums will no longer be available. We are grateful for the participation and advice you have provided to one another over the years.

Thanks,

CNET Support

General discussion

CD Read/Write Drive

Feb 9, 2004 6:01AM PST

Packard Bell Imedia,20gb operating on Windows ME.
I have a nasty feeling that I know the answer to this ,but am hoping someone can prove me wrong !!!
I loaded a game from CD - all ok - removed CD in normal manner when finished.Next time I placed a CD in my drive it went in and the green "reading" light came on immediately but nothing loaded - message "please place CD in Drive R" appeared. Tried to eject and nothing happened.Went back to desk top and system completely locked.Only way to use my PC is with "R" drive open. Please tell me the drive does not need replacing !!!!!!!!!
Mick13143

Discussion is locked

- Collapse -
Please tell me the drive does not need replacing !!!!!!!!!
Feb 9, 2004 8:16AM PST

NOT.


Okay, things to try before NOT>>>

1) Reboot the computer with a Win98 bootdisk, at the A:>prompt, type in the letter the bootdisk has assigned to the CD drive followed by a :, put a CD in and type DIR. If you see a list of the files the drive is likely still working and Windows is the source of the problem.
2) Swap the drive and see if that fixes the problem.

- Collapse -
Re:Please tell me the drive does not need replacing !!!!!!!!!
Feb 9, 2004 9:09AM PST

Michael
Thanks for offer of help.
I have tried the Boot disk but everytime I enter "R" for the drive it gets me no where.
I'm not good at this so could you give it to me one word at a time with exactly what to type ?
Mick13143

- Collapse -
Re:Re:Please tell me the drive does not need replacing !!!!!!!!!
Feb 9, 2004 9:30AM PST

I thought I did:

At the R:>prompt, type in DIR. If any files or folders that are on a CD that is in the drive are listed, then the drive is working and Windows is the likely culprit. If nothing is seen and the drive cannot be read after you type in DIR, then the drive is DOA.

- Collapse -
Re:CD Read/Write Drive
Feb 9, 2004 9:09PM PST

The highest failure rate we see in computer components is the CD drive. CD-RW drives are getting pretty cheap...even DVD burners (which do CD's as well) are now in the $100 range.

I have seen high speed CD burners selling below $40 all over the place.

- Collapse -
The FAQ on repairing such things.
Feb 10, 2004 10:45PM PST