| [~ MG_Metalgoddess~] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:58:43 PM | |
|
NO Computer problems here........ LMAO
 |
|
| [guidogodoy] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:54:24 PM | |
|
Ok, dressed for the gym and about out the door.
Quick thoughts....nothing to do with memory, doesn't play into the equation, virtual or otherwise. Second is the age of the drive vs age of the system. Nope. No trouble there either. Drivers will have absolutely NOTHING to do with it (don't mess around there, IOW) as long as you are running Windows XP or Vista (98 / 2000 might be a bit different, say so if you run either OS). A modern OS will not need a specific driver to run a 5 year old CD/RW.
If the drive works and, if I understand, it works sporadically (tell me if any of my assumptions are wrong as it would really change my advice) then your drive is just dirty. CD/DVD cleaner. Only other possibility is if you didn't seat the IDE cable fully (ie. jam the freakin' cable into the back of the drive!) but that is so rare that it isn't worth cracking open the machine to try again. You have three cables coming out of the back of that drive, sound (going to a soundcard or motherboard), IDE (main connector) and power (molex connector) all are all but impossible to put together wrong as they are notched (nowadays...IDE wasn't when your drive was probably made) so you can't make an error.
CD cleaner. I have four new CD/RW drives sitting in original boxes upstairs saying that it will turn out to be the trouble. Small investment, too. $10 USD here and, again, I recommend Phillips if you can get it. You didn't mention if your drive was slot loaded or tray but I guess tray. Either way, Phillips works for either where some (Memorex) will screw up a slot-load drive.
Hope it helps. Off to run!
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Necroticist from Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:36:19 PM)| |  | Necroticist wrote: | | Is from old comp - works fine (always did) - the make i dunno cos i'd have to open up again. I dont game but plays all my audio/wma/mp3 fine. Yes burned and bought CD's. All lights are red/grreen - never orange...windows tests etc were all 'is working fine' - all drivers are up to date...maybe it's too old for my system? idk...there's a 5 yr difference....and ty for the advice :)
| | | guidogodoy wrote: | | Just about off to the gym but let's see if I understand and ask a couple of questions. Is it a new drive? Does it play discs at all? CDs, BURNED CDs (big difference there) and read video games? All or none of the previous. Has it EVER worked? Again, does the drive light (little led on the drive ITSELF) flash? If so, what color. Ever go orange instead of green?
What is the make of the drive, if you know? Start by answering these and it'll help narrow down the trouble. Sounds like an easy one if a reboot fixes it and, again, I am leaning towards dirty laser.
May not see this answer soon. Off to run a few miles.
| | | Necroticist wrote: | | Ah - the 'Skip In The Tail' reveals itself...who taught her to open threads..?
Anyway - the standard arrow/pointer flashes with a CD symbol - like is scanning the drive, after u scan or play a disc..when open or loaded = np. Reboot gets rid.
Gonnae find oot who is givin' her lessons....lol. |
|
|
|
|
| [Necroticist] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:36:19 PM | |
|
Is from old comp - works fine (always did) - the make i dunno cos i'd have to open up again. I dont game but plays all my audio/wma/mp3 fine. Yes burned and bought CD's. All lights are red/grreen - never orange...windows tests etc were all 'is working fine' - all drivers are up to date...maybe it's too old for my system? idk...there's a 5 yr difference....and ty for the advice :)
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by guidogodoy from Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:18:33 PM)| | | guidogodoy wrote: | | Just about off to the gym but let's see if I understand and ask a couple of questions. Is it a new drive? Does it play discs at all? CDs, BURNED CDs (big difference there) and read video games? All or none of the previous. Has it EVER worked? Again, does the drive light (little led on the drive ITSELF) flash? If so, what color. Ever go orange instead of green?
What is the make of the drive, if you know? Start by answering these and it'll help narrow down the trouble. Sounds like an easy one if a reboot fixes it and, again, I am leaning towards dirty laser.
May not see this answer soon. Off to run a few miles.
| | | Necroticist wrote: | | Ah - the 'Skip In The Tail' reveals itself...who taught her to open threads..?
Anyway - the standard arrow/pointer flashes with a CD symbol - like is scanning the drive, after u scan or play a disc..when open or loaded = np. Reboot gets rid.
Gonnae find oot who is givin' her lessons....lol. |
|
|
|
| [guidogodoy] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:18:33 PM | |
|
Just about off to the gym but let's see if I understand and ask a couple of questions. Is it a new drive? Does it play discs at all? CDs, BURNED CDs (big difference there) and read video games? All or none of the previous. Has it EVER worked? Again, does the drive light (little led on the drive ITSELF) flash? If so, what color. Ever go orange instead of green?
What is the make of the drive, if you know? Start by answering these and it'll help narrow down the trouble. Sounds like an easy one if a reboot fixes it and, again, I am leaning towards dirty laser.
May not see this answer soon. Off to run a few miles.
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Necroticist from Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:11:05 PM)| | | Necroticist wrote: | | Ah - the 'Skip In The Tail' reveals itself...who taught her to open threads..?
Anyway - the standard arrow/pointer flashes with a CD symbol - like is scanning the drive, after u scan or play a disc..when open or loaded = np. Reboot gets rid.
Gonnae find oot who is givin' her lessons....lol. |
|
|
| [Necroticist] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 8:11:05 PM | |
|
Ah - the 'Skip In The Tail' reveals itself...who taught her to open threads..?
Anyway - the standard arrow/pointer flashes with a CD symbol - like is scanning the drive, after u scan or play a disc..when open or loaded = np. Reboot gets rid.
Gonnae find oot who is givin' her lessons....lol. |
|
| [guidogodoy] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:37:23 PM | |
|
If the arrow is only flashing when you put a CD in the drive, easy fix. It is a dirty laser in the CD/RW drive. Get a head cleaner (Phillips..cheap and works great). They DO need to be cleaned from time to time. Does the light on the drive flash at the same time? My guess is that it does.
If the cursor (arrow) flashes at any other time (booting for example) then it is something else. With more info, I can lend a hand in troubleshooting.
BTW, nice to finally make your virtual acquaintance, Mrs. Necro! Hope you are feeling better. 
[Show/Hide Quoted Message] (Quoting Message by Black_Widow from Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:26:35 PM)| | | Black_Widow wrote: | | | I am not sure if there is a similar topic, but knowing all the problems computers have i thought this might be an idea. For example the flashing arrow/icon my husband now has after installing a new cd/rw? i think that's right. |
|
|
| [Black_Widow] Tuesday, February 17, 2009 7:26:35 PM | |
|
| I am not sure if there is a similar topic, but knowing all the problems computers have i thought this might be an idea. For example the flashing arrow/icon my husband now has after installing a new cd/rw? i think that's right. |
|
