CD Drive Problem

[Isis]

hi
I don't know if anyone can help but I seem to have a problem with my CD drive on my computer at home, admittedly it is quite old now. The problem is that sometimes, when I am playing a game the game sort of sticks, e.g. I have sound, but no movement and I can't exit the game, in fact I can;t doing anything except sit there looking at the screen. The only thing I can do is press the re-start button on my computer. and then the fun really starts. When re-starting the computer will not recognise the CD drive and it sort of drops out from the computer, so when I look in "my computer" the CD drive icon is not there, then I can't get the CD out of the draw because as far as my computer is concerned I don't have a CD drive. Also when the computer starts up is says something like "......capable but disabled" and it takes ages to load windows programe as well, but the computer does work ok. This will go on for weeks, and then all of a sudden I will start the computer and "hey presto" the cd drive is back. I can then retrive my cd out of the drive and the cd drive will work for a few weeks and then we are back to square one. I have noticed that when the CD drive drops out my mouse pointer thingy on the computer seems to stick and a get a very faint clicking noise, no matter what I am doing e.g. if i am plying a game using the cd drive or just card games on the normal C drive. Any ideas, apart from buying a new computer, can't afford one at the moment so need to keep this going until towards the end of the year.

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

you could have a loose connection. taking the side off and checking the wires are all connected correctly could solve the problem for you. make sure you disconnect from the mains first ;).

you can pick a new cd drive up for about a tenner and they are easy to connect, no need to pay a man :no: and once you've connected it windows will automatically detect and install it :thumbs:

[Isis]

Thanks BM
Sorry should have said that I have already had the side off and checked the ribbons. Perhaps a new CD drive would be the answer.

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

well then a new cd drive is the only answer, sounds like yours is on it's way out :yes:

maplins do a "white box" range and the cd drives are £10 and take about 10 minutes to fit. much cheaper than buying a whole new computer

[Isis]

Thanks Bonkers Mad!:):):):):) You have been a great help

[sesentayuno]

Hi,

May I ask how old is your PC? If a drive is faulty it normally shouldn't affect the rest of the PC unless you are trying to access it, i.e. it should still be recognised by the computer and your PC shouldn't be slow when loading other programs.

From the symptoms you described I suspect it could be a faulty power supply, it is one of those component that can be easily overlooked, when the power supply is old/faulty it may not provide enough "juice" to feed all the components in the PC, then it will be survive of the fittest, and in your case, the CD drive is the weakest of them lot so to speak and is not drawing enough power to function properly.

Hope this helps

Ses

PS: Or it could be just the CD drive and I am just raising false alarm here :)

[Bonkers Mad!!!]

if it is the power supply as Ses suspects then it'll cost a bit more :yes:. you can pick up a power supply for under £50 and is only a bit more fiddly than fitting a cd drive.

[Isis]

Hi bonkers mad
Just a quick note to say THANKS i took on board your suggestion about buying a new cd drive and bingo it is working perfectly:lmao:. Great can now get back to my Pharaoh game and building pyramids/tombs and also kick some hyksos ar*e:box:. Thanks once again, much appreciated.:notworthy::jump: