CD Rom Drive Issues

[seveian]

Okay, my CD-Rom has been acting very strangely as of late and I'm completely at a loss for what it might be doing because it's never happened to me before.

It's about 3 years old, so I really wouldn't think that it should be having problems quite yet - though it is an Acer. (technically, Acer 50XMax)

Basically, it takes it up to 5 minutes between inserting any given CD-Rom (including brand new ones) and it to respond. It sounds like it's powering up, then stops, then starts again, then stops again, and repeats this many times until finally it seems to power up further and then it can finally read the data.

However, within Windows (Win98) if I attempt to change CDs now, it will take it's 5 minutes to "read" it, and then come up and tell me that it's a blank CD with no name. The only feasible way to change CDs is to put the CD in and restart my computer completely. My computer's boot process includes scanning the CD for a boot sequence, and again it takes it's 5 minutes to start up before continuing into Windows. Once I'm into Windows though, it is able to read the data.

I know it's not completely FUBAR, either, because I just copied a fresh Windows98 installation off the CD and all the files are there.

It gets wierder. The first thing I installed after the CLEAN (reformat) Windows install was Norton AV 2003 - it seemed to install just fine, but when I reboot it tells me that it's missing a ton of files etc. I just don't get it, it seems to work and yet it doesn't, and it takes forever either way. I began to think that it might be a virus of some type, especially because it blocked specifically Norton AV03. But I ran the full scan off Norton's website with the latest Virus definitions and it found nothing.

Is my drive fried? Does it sound like loose cables or a BIOS problem? I haven't touched the BIOS or anything in months and it worked just fine up until about 3 weeks ago.

Any ideas? I'm a little strapped for funds at the moment and I don't have the money to go buy a new one.

Thanks in advance!
Sev

 

[pmonett]

So, if I understand you correctly, you reformatted your disk and reinstalled windows, but the drive is still acting up ?

 

[jrbarnett]

Hi,

Have you run a CD-ROM or audio CD cleaning disk in it recently? Using a cleaning disk available from your local supplier may help by removing any dust or dirt from the mechanism.

John

 

[cdogg]

Definitely try John's advice and use a cleaning disk of some sort. Another alternative is to use a can of compressed air and spray into the interior of the drive. You'd be surprised how often that works!

Unfortunately, it doesn't sound like you have a dirty lens. The &quot;start and stop&quot; delay may be a sign that some internal components are wearing down to the point of failure. Oh well, on the bright side, replacement CDROM drives are dirt cheap ( < $30 in many cases ).




~cdogg

&quot;The secret to creativity is knowing how to hide your sources.&quot;
- A. Einstein