CD-RW Problems

[grammy]

Here's what my system is:

XP Home Edition

Version 2002

Series Pack 3

 

Dell Demension DIM4600

Intel R

Pentium R 4CPU

2.66 GHz 512 MB of Ram

 

I have the following

Drive D - JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD 166

Drive E - NEC DVD-RW ND 2100AD

 

Virus protection: Norton

 

I have checked both and it says they are working properly. When I put a CD into my E drive I get nothing, so when I go to my computer it doesn't even show there is a disc is in there. When I click on it a blank page comes up.

Then when I put a CD into my D drive it shows what's in there. That works but I can't record nothing to a DVD or CD in my D drive. I also tried to use my system restore and that isn't working.

This all started when windows had scanned my computer and deleted a file named cdrom, I clicked delete cause I didn't think it would delete something important. I tried system restore and it wouldn't work.

I also tried to uninstall both drives and have the computer regonize it and reinstall it, that still didn't help. I truly believe that when that file was deleted it caused all these problems

Any help would be deeply appreciate it very much..... Grammy

Edited September 28, 2008 by grammy

[Seth]

Hi Grammy.

 

Please follow these instructions beginning at method 2:

 

You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD recording program in Windows XP: "error code 31"

[grammy]

CD-Rom Problems

 

Seth,

Hi! I had tried that before and just tried it again. I think I might have quoted my problem wrong. So I'm gone to try again. If I go into my computer both CD-Roms are listed as

DVD/CD-RW (E) if I put CD in it's not listed, you see nothing nut the DVD/CD-RW (E)

 

DVD Dvive (D) if I put CD in it is listed, you see the name of the CD

 

I really don't understand why they both say DVD, the E drive used to say CD-R/CD-RW (E) something like that, not exactly sure how it was listed.

 

Grammy

[Seth]

Drive D - JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD 166

On the front of this drive, does it say DVD ROM or DVD/RW?

 

Also, what do you mean by a "Window's Scan"?

 

...and do you have an XP cd (to possibly run the system file checker).

[grammy]

Drive D - JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD 166

 

it says DVD/CD-ROM, and the Drive E - NEC DVD-RW ND 2100AD says the same thing DVD/CD-ROM.

Windows did a scan on my computer awhile ago when I had McAfee. My computer has been this way for over 8mos. I also did the Diagnostic testing and everything passed except it kept telling me to add a CD which I did. Yes I do have a XP CD and I think I already did that check too. I have tried so many things to fix it. My system restore no longer works either, cause I tried to go back and it won't let me. I really appreciate you trying to help me on this and I would like to Thank you for taking the time on giving me some options...

 

Grammy

[Seth]

Just to be clear, the D drive is not a burner and is functioning correctly?

 

If so, I doubt that that the problem has anything to do with a deleted "cdrom" file, as it's unlikely the D drive would work either.

[grammy]

D drive

 

I can put a CD/DVD into the D drive and it reads it, but I can not burn to the D drive like I used to do.

[Seth]

That's where I'm really confused as you claimed to be able to burn to the D drive, yet all information produced shows that the D drive does not have burning capabilities. For example, the computer is not showing the D drive as a burner (RW), nor does it say RW on the D drive's door, and my research on the D drives model number (JLMS XJ-HD 166) indicates that it is not a burner, but rather just a dvd player. To try and be more clear, if the D drive is a burner, it will say DVD-RW on the doors faceplate, and not DVD-ROM as you have indicated and the computer shows.

 

As far as the E drive goes, the problem could be the cable, the lens is dirty, it needs a "firmware" upgrade, or the drive has failed.

 

Please confirm or deny my suspicions from the first paragraph, as that will determine the next troubleshooting steps.

 

Also, do you have an XP cd?

Edited September 28, 2008 by Seth

[grammy]

DVD Rom

 

Ok now I have this correct, I just checked the door faceplate on the DVD and it says DVD ROM and when I go to my computer that's where it says DVD/CD-RW, so somewhere I had terribly messed up on explaining my problem and I am really sorry about that. Ok now yes I do have a XP CD also. So my DVD isn't a burner which you are correct on that, it's just my CD [E-drive] that says RW on the faceplate.

 

Grammy

[Seth]

Ok:)

 

Now that we have that cleared up, whe can find out what's going on with the E drive. However, I have to leave and will be back later with some suggestions.

[Seth]

Please try these in the following order, but stop if one of the steps fixes the drive.

 

1) Purchase a cd rom cleaner and use it on the E drive to clean its lens. Even if it doesn't help, it's a good item to have and can be used on any dvd or cd player when something goes awry. if you want, you can do steps 2 and 3 (not 4), before doing this step.

 

2) Turn off the computer and unplug it. Remove the ribbon cable that goes to the back of the D drive and use that to connect to the E drive. This will determine if you have a faulty connection going to the E drive. Now restart the computer and test the drive, then put the cables back as they were originally.

 

3) Insert your XP cd into the D drive. If an XP setup screen appears, just close it. Now go to Start>Run, type in sfc /scannow (space between the C and the /) and click OK. This will start the system file checker and will replace any core files that you may have inadvertantly deleted. If a message appears that a certain file can't be found, then just choose "skip file". When it's complete, uninstall the E drive, restart the computer, then test the E drive.

 

4) Update the program that resides on the E drives circuit board (called the firmware). The download for the update and instructions are here:

 

Drivers and Downloads

 

If the above steps fail to fix the drive, then it needs to be replaced.

[grammy]

I will do each one in the order you have put them. I do have one question if the connection wasn't working wouldn't the eject not work either, even though it doesn't show there is a CD in the E drive when I right click and click on the eject button it ejects the Cd. I'll let you know what happens after I do this but it probably will be early tomorrow cause it's starting to get late here.

 

Thanks so much for taking the time to help me....

 

Grammy

[Seth]

You're welcome.

 

The one you will reconnecting is the large ribbon cable that carries information to and from the drive. The drives also have a smaller power connector that controls the motor and the tray. The ribbon connector (information connector), does not need to be connected to open and close the tray.

[grammy]

I'm not sure if this will make a diffence but when I click into my computer, I then click the D drive and a message comes up please insert a disc into drive D, then when I go and click the E drive a blank page comes up. I have tried the CD cleaner no luck, tomorrow I will do the second unplug the ribbon cable..

 

Grammy

[Seth]

What appears when you double click on each drive, is dependent on whether or not you have the option checked to "drag files to the drive to be recorded". The option will be enabled in the properties of your E drive, but since your D drive is not a burner, you won't even have that option when you look in its properties.

 

It's of no consequence to your computer problem, but a very good observation nonetheless :)

[Goku]

Also, please read the following article and see if it helps or not. :)

 

CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device

 

Good Luck.

 

-- Goku

[grammy]

E drive

 

Seth,

I just wanted to keep you updated and let you know that I got a CD cleaner and put it in my E drive and nothing happened. The light stays green for a little bit then it goes off. So that didn't work, I'm gone to do the second one later. I'll let you know what happens.

 

This is to Goku,

It says the following:

11. Under Devices with Removable Storage, right-click the CD-R drive or CD-RW drive, and then click Properties on the shortcut menu.

12. If the Recording tab is displayed, Windows recognizes the drive as a recordable device.

 

Mine has a Recording tab, my problem is I can't play CD's or DVD's on my E drive anymore.. Thanks for the info, I appreciate it

[grammy]

E drive

 

Seth,

I had tried all that you had listed and my E-drive is still working the same way. It doesn't read any CD's. When I put a CD into the E-drive nothing happens except the green light comes on then it goes off. A page appears on my screen which is completely a blank white page. On the left side of the page there are the following options for me to choose, which are:

CD Writing Tasks:

write these files to CD

File and Folder Tasks:

make a new folder

publish this folder to the web

Other Places:

my computer

my documents

shared documents

my network places

Details:

DVD/CD-RW Drive (E:)

This is on the left side panel and the rest of the page i blank [white]. Then when I go into "my computer" and look at the E drive it is not showing that there is a CD in it.

However if I put it into my D drive it will show that there is a CD in the drive. it keeps telling me this drive is working properly......

[Seth]

Let's see if others agree that it's time to try replacing the drive.

[Goku]

I would like to give this one last shot. Please read the following article from the Microsoft Knowledge Base and perform the suggested troubleshooting instructions. See if they help or not.

 

How to troubleshoot common problems that occur when a Windows XP-based computer cannot read a CD or a DVD

 

If nothing of the above works, then I agree with Seth that its time to replace the drive. As always, let us know how it goes. Good Luck.

 

-- Goku