Windows won't read CDRoms anymore! What is wrong...

[imported_Stew]

I was installing Starcraft the other day... and once I put in the second CD to install the expansion, the computer wouldn't read the disc. I had an image of it on the HD so I just loaded up Daemon Tools and it worked fine... Anyway, now even Daemon Tools won't work.

My physical drive shows up in My Computer, but when I try to access it, it gives me "Please insert disc". Also, the LED light on my CD drive is always going, and it seems to be constantly reading the disc...

I did two System Restores, to a week ago and to no avail.

Could it be something in the BIOS? Or just something hidden in Windows?

I've tried looking in the BIOS and I've tried my "optimized defaults" and "fail safe" defaults for the BIOS and neither one will fix it.

Any suggestions?

 

[Mik3y]

Have you tried scanning for spyware yet? Spyware sometimes has that effect.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Get a CD cleaner, had little brushes underneath a regular CD. You can pick these up at like bestbuy,frys, or even longs! (Longs I'm not 100% sure but pretty sure).

 

[imported_Stew]

It's not spyware, and it's not the drive.

Even Daemon Tools' virtual cd-rom drives won't work. I mount images on them, and they won't load.

 

[imported_michaelpatrick33]

Hopefully, this isn't a psu related death but definitely try the above posters suggestions before coming to the unforntunate conclusion that I came to after my DVD drive died.

 

[imported_Stew]

Besides that though, disc images won't even work. I'm convinced that it's Windows.

 

[Philippine Mango]

Originally posted by: Stew
It's not spyware, and it's not the drive.

Even Daemon Tools' virtual cd-rom drives won't work. I mount images on them, and they won't load.

just clean it anyways, it can't hurt right!?

 

[imported_Stew]

Hmm, ok I'll try that.

But still, something must be wrong with the computer.

 

[RichUK]

put the disk in as soon as you boot up, and if it goes crazy in the P.O.S.T before windows boot up properly (this would be before reaching the user selection in XP), then your drive is fubared and there is no point repairing just buy a new one ..

Or on the other hand if it only goes crazy only when you are in Winblows .. then this would suggest it is software related, if i was you i would spyware, adware, malware scan and virus can the whole PC in safe mode (when disconnected to the internet), then try a repair function from the MS XP cd, as this will repair the root files within XP ..

give it a go its worth a shout ...

 

[imported_Stew]

Yeah, I just did that actually. It booted properly to the CD and everything. So it's definitely not the drive. I blame Windows.

My system has been immunized to spyware, and is totally up to date as far as AV definitions, spyware definitions, and it's all been scanned. The system is clean.

However, if I wanted to do the repair thing... when I booted up to the CD, it said one of the files in an INF was corrupted. How would that work. It's an original MS CD.

 

[RichUK]

you will have to boot from the CD .. NOT in windows .. if you change the boot sequence in the BIOS so that you can boot from the CD first ..then save settings in the BIOS ..then load the XP CD in the drive ands restart Windows.. press any key to boot from the CD .. then follow the on screen options for repairing (it should be a Blue screen).. it is the first thing it asks you .. and i think it states press R to repair ... try this..


RichUK

 

[imported_Stew]

Yeah, I already have the boot sequence right, and I've botted up successfully with the CD. and I pressed R when it said to. but when I got to the Recovery Console, I just had a command line and didn't know how to get it to repair anything. Do you know the command to start the repair process?

 

[ghidu]

first I would recommend autofix or something like that. it's a little utility from microsoft.
second, reinstall the ide drivers.
3rd, run sfc /scannow. if the CD doesn't include service pack you will have to install it after that.
4th, boot from CD, choose install, will find the previous windows version and will give you the chance to "reinstall".

 

[imported_Stew]

Should I be looking for motherboard-specific IDE drivers? Or just for XP?
(I tried Autofix, didn't find any problems)

 

[imported_Stew]

Cdrom.sys?