Can't insert CD
 

I am visiting my parents in US and brought the data I need on CD's.
Sometimes the CD drive on their computer works fine, but sometimes the
computer does not recognize the CD drive (it fails to appear with the
other drives on My Computer).

Symptoms:
Cannot insert or eject CD---'shelf' doesn't come out when you press the
button.
Green CD light is on as though there is a CD inside.

Note:
When the player is funtioning OK, the CD drive appears in My Computer
even when there is no CD in the slot, and I believe the little green
light by the CD slot/shelf came on only when a CD was inserted.

Quick help would be greatly appreciated, as I can't access any of my
data...:-(...!

If I need to do something in Safe Mode, please tell me how to enter Safe
Mode. Please assume minimal knowledge on my part---need full directions...

Thanks for the help!
Janet

Can't insert CD
 

Janet,

If the CD-ROM drive is only being recognised intermittently in My Computer
or Windows Explorer, it *might* be a sign that it is 'aging' and beginning
to fail. Substitution or replacement may be the only real solution. BTW -
how old is the CD-ROM? If more than 3 years, then this is not uncommon. If
faulty, consider replacing with a CD or DVD Burner (Writer) - they aren't
very much more expensive than a Reader (which aren't expensive either!)

NB. You won't be able see your CD-ROM in Safe Mode, the drivers are only
loaded in Normal Mode. (BTW - To boot into Safe Mode, press and hold the
left hand Shift key as soon as you switch the computer on, throughout the
boot sequence.)

However, you could try 'testing' it in Real Mode DOS to see if you get
similar symptoms :-

Boot using the WinMe (floppy) Startup Disk and select the 'With CD-ROM
support' option and see if it is recognised in DOS. (It *should* report a
drive letter for your CD-ROM which is not necessarily the same letter as you
would expect in Windows). Confirm that the tray button works etc. You may
need to undertake this exercise several times if the symptoms are
intermittent.

If the CD-ROM is not being recognised in DOS, you could also boot into your
BIOS to confirm that it is recognised there. Has anyone been poking about
'under the bonnet' and knocked/dislodged any connectors?

Mart


"Janetb" wrote in message
...
I am visiting my parents in US and brought the data I need on CD's.
Sometimes the CD drive on their computer works fine, but sometimes the
computer does not recognize the CD drive (it fails to appear with the
other drives on My Computer).

Symptoms:
Cannot insert or eject CD---'shelf' doesn't come out when you press the
button.
Green CD light is on as though there is a CD inside.

Note:
When the player is funtioning OK, the CD drive appears in My Computer
even when there is no CD in the slot, and I believe the little green
light by the CD slot/shelf came on only when a CD was inserted.

Quick help would be greatly appreciated, as I can't access any of my
data...:-(...!

If I need to do something in Safe Mode, please tell me how to enter Safe
Mode. Please assume minimal knowledge on my part---need full directions...

Thanks for the help!
Janet