My Possessed CD-ROM

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Something disturbing is happening with my PC. My CD-ROM opened mysteriously (I swear I didn’t touch it!). I closed it but then my cursor started flashing a strange CD icon; and my screen started freezing all over the place. It’s happened several times already. So what is it? A bug? A failing part? Demonic possession? Do I need a priest? Greythings8

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Something disturbing is happening with my PC. My CD-ROM opened mysteriously (I swear I didn’t touch it!). I closed it but then my cursor started flashing a strange CD icon; and my screen started freezing all over the place. It’s happened several times already. So what is it? A bug? A failing part? Demonic possession? Do I need a priest? Greythings8

This often happened with my old Windows 98 SE Gateway PC! The “cursor […] flashing a strange CD icon” happens when the PC is trying to read a CD.

If you are happy with ferreting inside a computer case I would check whether the data cable going into the CD drive is pushed tightly home – and also at the other end.

If you Google for “CD drive opens unexpectedly” there are a few suggestions, including the inevitable “it might be a virus”, but little hard evidence for a cure, I’m afraid…

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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BATcher’s suggestion of checking the cables connected to the CD-ROM drive would be my first one too.

A virus could be the cause but that doesn’t sound very likely.

If the problem is the CD-ROM drive itself: a new CD-ROM drive is very inexpensive nowadays.

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The cables seemed okay. I disconnected and removed the CD-ROM. It seemed to work. I’m going to buy a DVD-ROM in a few days and connect. My main problem is figuring how to reconnect everything. The price is around $59 and it’s at Office Depot. Is it the same as a DVD burner or is that different? Greythings8

BATcher’s suggestion of checking the cables connected to the CD-ROM drive would be my first one too.

A virus could be the cause but that doesn’t sound very likely.

If the problem is the CD-ROM drive itself: a new CD-ROM drive is very inexpensive nowadays.

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I’m going to buy a DVD-ROM in a few days and connect. ….. Is it the same as a DVD burner or is that different?

Strictly speaking, the term “DVD-ROM” (I believe) refers to the DVD disc itself, ROM standing for Read Only Memory.

If it is a burner, it should clearly state so – e.g. this one.

Do you have a part number?

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I don’t have a part number. I just went to the local Office Depot and looked at things that resembled the old part, only with DVD listed on them. I’ll look into the details on my next visit. Basically I’m looking for something that reads and copies to DVDs and CDs, costs less than $100, and can be purchased at a store within walking distance. Greythings8

Strictly speaking, the term “DVD-ROM” (I believe) refers to the DVD disc itself, ROM standing for Read Only Memory.

If it is a burner, it should clearly state so – e.g. this one.

Do you have a part number?

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Basically I’m looking for something that reads and copies to DVDs and CDs, costs less than $100, and can be purchased at a store within walking distance.

I think it unlikely that a DVD burner would not also read/write to CDs. Best thing would be to ask for exactly what you want and if you are unsure of the connections (SATA, IDE etc), you could take your old one in with you to compare.

Alternatively, to avoid any connection and installation problems, you may find it simpler to get an external USB type….

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Alternatively, to avoid any connection and installation problems, you may find it simpler to get an external USB type….

If buying an external USB CD/DVD burner don’t forget that it’ll need its own power supply, so you’ll have to make sure there’s a spare socket available handy.

It’s kind of obvious when you think of it, but you won’t be the first to go “Dang, I didn’t think of that!” when you open the package from Amazon or wherever!

And they may be slower if you’re still on USB1

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SATA? IDE? I’m entering dark territory. Once again, I have to deal with a mechanical part I have little knowledge thereof. I don’t think I will buy an external USB. The part that I saw at Office Depot looked similar to the CD-ROM from my PC. If it has similar connections I might not have trouble. I think sticking with the familiar might be the best course for now. At least until I buy a new computer (if ever). Greythings8

I think it unlikely that a DVD burner would not also read/write to CDs. Best thing would be to ask for exactly what you want and if you are unsure of the connections (SATA, IDE etc), you could take your old one in with you to compare.

Alternatively, to avoid any connection and installation problems, you may find it simpler to get an external USB type….

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Here’s a progress report on my quest for, what I now know is, a new DVD recorder. Once again I’ve run into a Castle problem; the part where I’m at the entrance but can’t find a way in. I bought a DVD recorder today: Memorex DVD Recorder; Model MRX-550Lv1-29; Part No 32020019421. It fit in the PC easily enough but I found that I don’t have the proper cables to connect. I guess that’s what was meant by SATA. I won’t give up; tomorrow it’s back to Office Depot to see if there’s a way to make this work. BTW, my old CD-ROM was an Iomega; Model no: ZIPCDP1024INT-A; Product no: 5PCA210H6H. Now, the external USB sounds like a good idea. Oops! Faux pas on my previous message: in my computer illiteracy, I assumed that a USB meant some DVD recorder stayed outside my PC. I just found it was something different; embarrassing. Anyway, does anyone think I can hook this model or do I need a different recorder? Greythings8

SATA? IDE? I’m entering dark territory. Once again, I have to deal with a mechanical part I have little knowledge thereof. I don’t think I will buy an external USB. The part that I saw at Office Depot looked similar to the CD-ROM from my PC. If it has similar connections I might not have trouble. I think sticking with the familiar might be the best course for now. At least until I buy a new computer (if ever). Greythings8

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As oft the case: one step forward, two steps back…to the Castle. Went to Office Depot, told them my problem. They hemmed and hawed and told me I needed an IDE to SATA adapter. Naturally, they didn’t have one. They suggested I go to Frye’s….waaaay out in Renton (the boonies from my perspective; I live in Seattle). I decided to go to the Radio Shack nearby. Surely they had an adapter. PULEEZE have an adapter. They didn’t have an adapter. They suggested Frye’s. So off I went on a three hour round trip to Renton. I got the adapter. I came back home. I installed the recorder. I turned on the computer. I pressed the button. The recorder won’t open. Grrrr! Obviously I hooked up something wrong. I’m working from a handicap. My user’s manual for my PC isn’t quite open about connecting adapters, so I operated on guesswork; based on what I read in the manual. I guessed wrong, obviously. The hardware guide for the recorder wasn’t much help either. This means opening up the computer, again, and trying another connection. I get a feeling there’s going to be a lot of T&E here. Big sigh! Greythings8

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Ok folks. My DVD recorder is hooked up but doesn’t open when the PC is on. Any suggestions, anyone? Greythings8

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Ok folks. My DVD recorder is hooked up but doesn’t open when the PC is on. Any suggestions, anyone? Greythings8

I don’t know about your CD-ROM drive but when I installed my SATA hard drive, I needed TWO cable adapters. One for power, one for data?

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I suspect that is the case with mine. I was going on info from a salesman at Radio Shack who said my DVD recorder should switch on with the PC. Since nothing happened, looked on the web for troubleshooting ideas (the ads were right, Bing.com is good, better than Google). While I didn’t exactly get the info I was searching, I got some important clues. Oh my God! Was the all knowing Radio Shack guy wrong?! Did I indeed need a SATA power cable? Or more specifically, an IDE to SATA power cable adapter? Probably; which means another bus trip to Renton. Grrrr! It’s happened to you I assume, probably everybody else posting on the site. Buy a new part, then spend more money than you want trying to make the thing work. Greythings8

I don’t know about your CD-ROM drive but when I installed my SATA hard drive, I needed TWO cable adapters. One for power, one for data?

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So, after two trips to Renton, hours of toil, and gingerly sorting through the tangled mass of wires to figure out what to hook to where (and hope I don’t break something in the process), I finally connected my DVD recorder. The LED light switched on, the disc tray opened and closed when I pressed the button; and just when I think my troubles are over, Murphy’s Law comes right in and says uh, uh. The problem is My Computer: it displays the files, the hard disc drive, the floppy disc, but no CD or DVD drive. I’m sure there is a way to get my DVD drive into My Computer. What do I do? Greythings8

BATcher’s suggestion of checking the cables connected to the CD-ROM drive would be my first one too.

A virus could be the cause but that doesn’t sound very likely.

If the problem is the CD-ROM drive itself: a new CD-ROM drive is very inexpensive nowadays.

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… What do I do? Greythings8

It seems to me that it’s time for you to seek outside help, like a local PC guru or one of the big box places that provide technical assistance. I mean no offense when I say that if you don’t know the difference between IDE and SATA or cabling or … then you really need some hands on help. You’ve not really mentioned what you bought or commented on the user document. Perhaps there are drivers that need to be installed for your new drive.

AND, given all of the posts in THIS thread, I would recommend you NOT venture into an eploration of the Windows Registry (your thread at [post=”790575″]Post 790575[/post]). If you think you’ve got trouble with a DVD/CD, one “mistake” in the registry could entirely cripple your computer.

Edited later: I searched the Memorex site for the part number you mention and nothing was found.

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The problem is My Computer: it displays the files, the hard disc drive, the floppy disc, but no CD or DVD drive. I’m sure there is a way to get my DVD drive into My Computer. What do I do?

Which version of Windows are you using?
Did Windows find new hardware after you installed the DVD and started the computer?

Joe

--Joe

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Yes, it may have “switched on” but what makes you think it should open up when the machine is started?
I have yet see a machine that this happens.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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What I meant was when the PC came on, the red light on the recorder didn’t, and it didn’t open when I pressed the button. Greythings8

Yes, it may have “switched on” but what makes you think it should open up when the machine is started?
I have yet see a machine that this happens.

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I’m writing this to summarize my problem. Hopefully there is a solution.

Several days ago, my old CD-ROM started acting up. It opened and closed at random; the random activity was accompanied by several seconds of screen freeze. Nothing out of the ordinary with the cable connections, so I assumed malfunction in the CD-ROM. I disconnected and removed, the problems stopped.
Old CD-ROM info: Iomega ZIP cd; Model no.: ZIPCDP1024INT-A; Product no.: 5PCA210H6H

Decided I needed something more current; went to Office Depot, bought a DVD recorder. Over the next two days, I had to learn about IDE and SATA connections, very enlightening. I purchased IDE to SATA cables, installed and connected the recorder.
Recorder info: Memorex Internal DVD Recorder: multi-format 24x DVD/CD writer: Model MRX-550Lv1-29: part no. 32020019421: BOM part no. 53900001677

Installation software did not automatically start upon insertion of the CD. My Computer does not have a CD drive icon for me to double click, to install manually.

My PC uses Windows XP.

Possible solution: System Restore and Windows Registry: http://askbobrankin.com/cdrom_icon_missing.html
(according to Help and Support, using Windows Registry is equivalent to using nuke to swat fly)

There is a simple solution in here somewhere. I’m overlooking something; bad connection, overlooked program, extra equipment. Suggestions? Greythings8

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I’m sorry to burst your bubble, but not all solutions ARE simple. If you installed this new drive, including adapter cables (IDE-SATA) and then inserted the drive manufacturers installation disk and it DIDN’T run, it seems like you don’t have it connected properly.

I fall back on my earlier recommendation that you need some one-on-one help. It’s almost impossible for us to know what cable adapters you bought, how you connected them, do you have power connected properly and on and on. Sorry to be a wet blanket but I can’t think of a quick solution for you.

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My PC uses Windows XP.

Possible solution: System Restore and Windows Registry: http://askbobrankin.com/cdrom_icon_missing.html
(according to Help and Support, using Windows Registry is equivalent to using nuke to swat fly)

There is a simple solution in here somewhere. I’m overlooking something; bad connection, overlooked program, extra equipment. Suggestions? Greythings8

Were there instructions in the box?

Joe

--Joe

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The Memorex recorder instructions were inadequate. They didn’t allow for IDE to SATA conversion. I made the connections based upon the Asus A7V266-E User’s Manual, recommendations from salespeople at Frye’s, and the connections from the old CD drive. Greythings8

Were there instructions in the box?

Joe

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Installation software did not automatically start upon insertion of the CD. My Computer does not have a CD drive icon for me to double click, to install manually.

Unless I’m missing something, are you saying you have removed your old CD drive? In which case, are you trying to read the Installation CD for the new drive in the new drive itself, before it has been installed? By definition, I don’t think that will work!

Can you re-install the old drive, copy the entire installation CD for the new drive onto your hard disk, remove the old drive, re-fit the new drive, then run the installation routine from your hard drive? There will probably be a file called setup.exe.

Other than that, is the new DVD drive being recognised in BIOS? You may need to ‘scan for new hardware’, but I don’t have too much experience of that – maybe someone else can chip in here.

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The old CD drive didn’t have an icon either. However, CD software tended to upload just fine, so I didn’t give it much thought. Now with the DVD recorder, I think a lot. The old drive, I don’t know. It was malfunctioning, it’s been awhile since I uploaded CD software, it’s questionable whether it would work. Scanning for new hardware sounds good but, like you, my experience is limited. I remember earlier on this site, when I had issues, BIOS was mentioned. I have to look at old posts to see if there was advice on new drive recognition. Greythings8

Unless I’m missing something, are you saying you have removed your old CD drive? In which case, are you trying to read the Installation CD for the new drive in the new drive itself, before it has been installed? By definition, I don’t think that will work!

Can you re-install the old drive, copy the entire installation CD for the new drive onto your hard disk, remove the old drive, re-fit the new drive, then run the installation routine from your hard drive? There will probably be a file called setup.exe.

Other than that, is the new DVD drive being recognised in BIOS? You may need to ‘scan for new hardware’, but I don’t have too much experience of that – maybe someone else can chip in here.

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The old CD drive didn’t have an icon either. However, CD software tended to upload just fine, so I didn’t give it much thought. Now with the DVD recorder, I think a lot. The old drive, I don’t know. It was malfunctioning, it’s been awhile since I uploaded CD software, it’s questionable whether it would work. Scanning for new hardware sounds good but, like you, my experience is limited. I remember earlier on this site, when I had issues, BIOS was mentioned. I have to look at old posts to see if there was advice on new drive recognition. Greythings8

Well, I think your options are pretty limited. You either get the drivers installed by copying them to your hard drive and running them (possibly as I outlined above), or you don’t get your new DVD drive working. Scanning for new hardware from the BIOS is NOT going to install it for you, but may be necessary once you are in a position to install the drivers.

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OK, I’ll reconnect the old drive and see if I can copy both to the hard drive. I can probably fit the old drive with the new; I still have the cables for the old drive. How do I copy to hard drive? Do I copy first, then scan or vice versa? Greythings8

Well, I think your options are pretty limited. You either get the drivers installed by copying them to your hard drive and running them (possibly as I outlined above), or you don’t get your new DVD drive working. Scanning for new hardware from the BIOS is NOT going to install it for you, but may be necessary once you are in a position to install the drivers.

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How do I copy to hard drive?

I would:

1] Create a new folder on your hard drive (call it DVD driver or something)

2] Go to the CD drive in Windows Explorer and Edit > Select All

3] Edit > Copy

4] Navigate to the new folder you have created in 1] above, Edit > paste

5] Physically install the new drive if it is not already fitted.

6] From the copied CD, run setup.exe

If the driver installation package does not find the drive, you may need to go into the BIOS and scan for the new drive.

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I would also buy an IDE drive, instead of trying to jury rig a SATA drive using adapters that may or may not work correctly.

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If this does NOT work out, take the burner back to Frye’s and then take your machine to a local repair shop.

It would help us help you find a local shop, if you were fill out your profile here at “The Lounge”.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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Well, I bought the burner at Office Depot; and I found a repair shop serendipitously, whilst looking for mounting screws: eBits: pc laptop, 1418 Harvard Ave. Seattle WA 98122, 206-322-2266. They were kind enough to give me some. Greythings8

If this does NOT work out, take the burner back to Frye’s and then take your machine to a local repair shop.

It would help us help you find a local shop, if you were fill out your profile here at “The Lounge”.

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Take a look at these two sites.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5118840-1.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4903125_install-dvd-rw-drive.html

If you can’t understand or follow these instructions, take the PC to a technician and pay them to fix it befroe you break something.

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A brief statement addressing a certain incredulous scepticism that I sense among some of the answers to my posts. Why not go to the repair guy? Answer: I’m poor. I lot of the things around my apartment I have to do myself; and that includes the computer. I don’t know about the rest of you; maybe some of you have money for the repair guy, maybe not. Maybe it’s madness to go into my computer like this; in fact it probably is. The way I tackle this issue is to gather as much information, in as much detail, as possible before attempting the operation. To which I thank everyone; but this thing has to work, and I’m determined to make it work. And if I seem to have posted too much, I apologize, it’s just my thought process. Greythings8

Take a look at these two sites.

http://reviews.cnet.com/4520-6603_7-5118840-1.html
http://www.ehow.com/how_4903125_install-dvd-rw-drive.html

If you can’t understand or follow these instructions, take the PC to a technician and pay them to fix it befroe you break something.

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… incredulous scepticism that I sense among some of the answers to my posts.

The fear that I think some of us have is that you might “break” your machine in some way that could be way more harmful than having a malfunctioning optical drive! So, we sometimes tend to comment on the “conservative” side for folks who make it clear they’re in uncharted waters.

For example, you’ve never made it clear WHY you had to buy adapter cables. Is you COMPUTER’s motherboard SATA or IDE? The fact is, you should buy an optical drive that matches you motherboard’s makeup so that adapter cables are not necessary. In case it might help you identifying where you removed the original drive from, here’s a clip of what the two cables look like. Whichever one was connected to your OLD drive should be what you buy in a replacement drive, be it CD or DVD burner.

As an aside, I was never able to find the model number you gave at the Memorex web sites BUT from reading about similar drives on the web, I don’t think drivers are necessary. When you connect a drive and turn on the power, Windows should “find” the drive. It seems that their included CD is all Nero software which you may or may not want.

If you bought the wrong kind of drive for your motherboard, you should try to exchange it. That should make all of this problem go away… (unless you plug the cables in upside down – and that has been done in the history of PC’s… )

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The computer’s motherboard is IDE. At the time I bought the Memorex, I had no knowledge of IDE or SATA. Later I was given to understand, courtesy of the salespeople, that IDE was an older type and SATA models were replacing them. My assumption was that adapters were for hooking new drives to old computers. I didn’t see IDE drives at the Office Depot; Radio Shack didn’t sell optical drives; and I wasn’t looking at Frye’s because I had tunnel vision, and was focused strictly on making what I had right now work. Greythings8

The fear that I think some of us have is that you might “break” your machine in some way that could be way more harmful than having a malfunctioning optical drive! So, we sometimes tend to comment on the “conservative” side for folks who make it clear they’re in uncharted waters.

For example, you’ve never made it clear WHY you had to buy adapter cables. Is you COMPUTER’s motherboard SATA or IDE? The fact is, you should buy an optical drive that matches you motherboard’s makeup so that adapter cables are not necessary. In case it might help you identifying where you removed the original drive from, here’s a clip of what the two cables look like. Whichever one was connected to your OLD drive should be what you buy in a replacement drive, be it CD or DVD burner.

As an aside, I was never able to find the model number you gave at the Memorex web sites BUT from reading about similar drives on the web, I don’t think drivers are necessary. When you connect a drive and turn on the power, Windows should “find” the drive. It seems that their included CD is all Nero software which you may or may not want.

If you bought the wrong kind of drive for your motherboard, you should try to exchange it. That should make all of this problem go away… (unless you plug the cables in upside down – and that has been done in the history of PC’s… )

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A brief question before I install the software: What are the drawbacks to Nero? Greythings8

It seems that their included CD is all Nero software which you may or may not want.

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A brief question before I install the software: What are the drawbacks to Nero? Greythings8

I found Nero bloated, hard to use and with a lot of software “baggage” tacked on that I didn’t need and never used. There have been occasional other negative (non-preferential) comments here in The Lounge as well.

First I tried a freebie burner that I found and I won’t bore you with its name because it doesn’t get maintained or updated any more.

Because I got or saw a “special deal” on Ashampoo I tried their Burning Studio and have been there ever since.

You might look at these threads for a way to get your “foot in the door” and possibly get a lower priced upgrade offer from them as others of us have done in the past:
[indent][post=”782636″]Post 782636[/post]
[post=”789056″]Post 789056[/post]
[post=”777184″]Post 777184[/post]
[/indent]Edited to add: Here’s link directly to their Version 9 Burner IF you want to pay the $50 bucks price!
[indent]Ashampoo® Burning Studio 9
[/indent]

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A brief question before I install the software: What are the drawbacks to Nero? Greythings8

I have been using Nero for years and have no problems with it.

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I have been using Nero for years and have no problems with it.

I also had been using an older version of Nero (version 6, I believe) and was happy with the simplicity and straight forward approach. But when I started making my own DVD’s a friend sold me an old copy of Roxio’s Media Creator 8 that he no longer uses and the user interface is soooo simple, that I wish I’d found this when it first came out.

With all the available free trials of software today and programs like Total Uninstall to clean up any messes created by a bad installation or just a remove all traces of a program you simply do not like out there for free download, there’s really no reason not to try out several products to find the one you like best.

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I removed the Memorex drive from my computer, and bought an IDE dvd drive. There doesn’t seem to be that many IDE drives around. However I managed to find one at eBits (thanks eBits). Using the instructions generously provided by Doc Watson (thanx Doc), and the instruction manual, I was able to connect the new drive, along with the old one, to the motherboard. I am happy to say the icons appeared on My Computer.
New drive info: LG 20x Internal Super Multi DVD Rewriter: Model: GH20LP20: S/N: 811HDKD110197

The other junk goes back to the stores from whence they came (refunded of course). Greythings8

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The other junk goes back to the stores from whence they came (refunded of course).

Hardly junk – just equipment which didn’t match with your machine!

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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Mr. Greythings8 (and BATcher) – as you can see, I’ve tacked these recent two posts to the original thread about your saga in order to maintain continuity and maybe make the success easier to find for future searching Loungers.

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Mr. Greythings8 (and BATcher) – as you can see, I’ve tacked these recent two posts to the original thread about your saga in order to maintain continuity and maybe make the success easier to find for future searching Loungers.

Glad you got things worked out. I wasn’t trying to be condescending or sound incredulous. I was simply trying to protect you from your own good intentions working from bad information. The Office Depot staff are NOT the people to ask for assistance when selecting a piece of hardware and now you know why. They started you down your path to PC Hell by selling you the wrong drive for your system, when they themselves don’t sell an adapter (wonder why ???) and making a relatively simple job very difficult. It’s better to research your own issues online using search engines and simple terms like ”replacement DVD burners” or ”install replacement DVD burners” to educate yourself and then shop online for the best prices available and the widest choice of sources (you’re not limited to one store’s stock on hand) and often free or very reasonable shipping charges that make it less expensive, inconvenient and time consuming overall to buy online. I recently purchased a Sony DVD burner from Buy.com (no longer available) for $47 shipped to my door.

If your budget is tight (and these days, no one need apologize or be defensive about that) we can offer several free program options to download for most purposes. Just ask if there are any free versions and usually someone will provide a link like this one to a FREE version of Ashampoo’s Burning Studio 6.76.

Good luck and come back anytime. We’re always glad to help.

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This is a clarification to my [post=”791361″]Post 791361[/post] earlier in the thread.

First I tried a freebie burner that I found and I won’t bore you with its name because it doesn’t get maintained or updated any more.

Well, it seems the software DOES get updated and is still active, to my surprise. I haven’t tried this latest version since I’m “hooked” on Ashampoo but it might be worth a try and it’s free:
[indent]CDBurnerXP: Introduction and News . . . (it was called CDBurner XP Pro when I last used it.)
[/indent]

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