CD ROM problem?

[Quatro]

Ok... I went to my uncle house to help him out over his PC... and here is the problem:

Well the CDROM is running ok, it CAN read and play audio tracks but the problem is we can't open or browse the content of the CD... I tried checking the, placing a CD cleaner but we can't still explore the CD content...

Is the CDROM busted? Can the problem be repaired?

[Betamax]

I don't think It's busted,... if it was it wouldn't play back anything.

Seeing how it's playing back audio fine, my guess would be that the ide data cable is loose (cd audio is sent via a different cable to your soundcard). Take a screwdriver to the case and make sure all cables are firmly plugged in.

[tonyyeb]

I agree with Betmax. It sounds like an ide cable problem. But are you use a piece of software to control the playing of the audio cd? If so the information to tell the cd rom to start playing a certain track is sent via the ide cable.

[james.miller]

cd-audio is rearly if ever sent via a different cable now. It is almost always sent digitally via the ide cable unless you have an old cd-rom that cant do digital extraction so i say it isnt the cable, but the drive itself.

[tonyyeb]

Errrm not too sure about that james. I've built a few systems recently and found that without the CD audio cable direct to the soundcard, the cd audio wont be heard.

[james.miller]

well, i haven't used the cable for years. If you have Winxp and a cd-rom that isnt 7 years old then you dont need it. Trust me - either that or search google

[tonyyeb]

Fine. What do you think is the solution to Quatro's problem is?

[james.miller]

Originally Posted by tonyyeb

Fine. What do you think is the solution to Quatro's problem is?

You're attitude stinks

Honestly - i dont know. i'd be very suprised if its the cable that is at fault. As i said before, i think its the drive - i had a similar problem with a dvd-rom drive. It could be the cable, but again - i don't think so.

[tonyyeb]

Im not the one rubbishing peoples advice. Im only trying to help the guy. Which is something you're not doing.

[james.miller]

how the hell am i not helping?

FACT cd-audio is sent VIA THE IDE CABLE on any pc that has windows and any from of recent cd-rom/dvd-rom drive unless you tell it not to. Is that not help? Am i rubbishing what you are trying to do? Go look up the F*****g facts then.

FACT. I had the same problem. The drive (a dvd-rom) would play audio cd's fine, but took at LEAST 2 minutes to access any form of data cd. Same problem - possibly the same fault.

Again - a fail to see how i am not helping.

[tonyyeb]

Heh, no need to get testy! Calm down. Just leave it. This will get us and Quatro nowhere. I apologise if my attitude didn't come accross as i intended. My intention is to simply help the people who ask questions. Im not all seeing all knowing when it comes to pc's but i hope that any little piece of advice i can put someones way might help.

[james.miller]

i have no problem with that. just dont tell me im rubbishing your advice when your advice is wrong.

[tonyyeb]

Like i said im not all seeing all knowing with pc's and i'm willing to accept that i was wrong on that matter. So are you saying that when i run say 'cd player' the audio is sent down the ide cable? When did it change from using the cd audio cable? And why will systems (new) not play cd audio without the cable? And why do they bother to still bundle the cable? (Not having a go, just want to know)

[james.miller]

Originally Posted by tonyyeb

Like i said im not all seeing all knowing with pc's and i'm willing to accept that i was wrong on that matter.

So are you saying that when i run say 'cd player' the audio is sent down the ide cable?

Yes

When did it change from using the cd audio cable?

I don't honestly know. The ide cable has been used ever since digital extraction was designed.
here's some info on DAE. http://www.teamcombooks.com/mp3handbook/15.htm
Note that whenever you rip an album, DAE will be used unless you want to limit your ripping to 1x. PLaying audio also uses DAE, unless you specify otherwise

And why will systems (new) not play cd audio without the cable?

They will have no problems assuming the drive is capable of DAE and 99% of the drives you can buy today are. The only software requirement is WinXP.

And why do they bother to still bundle the cable? (Not having a go, just want to know)

Backwards compatibility.

I will say this:

I haven't used an audio cable for years, and ive never had a single problem playing audio cd's. Also, Out of every pc i've built (around 10), none of them have the cable either and they all play audio cd's quite happily.

[tonyyeb]

Thanks for answering my questions. And again sorry if i offended you in any way. Cheers.

[Betamax]

Okeydok keep things civil gentlemen, otherwise I will be forced to close this.

As it seems to have been my suggestion that ultimately started this, I'll add that James schenario did cross my mind. But most player software will fall back onto the audio cable if the digital extraction fails (assuming the cable is present of course ). I normally stick them in regardless (what the hell, it doesn't hurt ). It seemed the best thing to check first before writing it off completely.

Anyways please don't knock anyone else's suggestion as they are all equally as valid as the next man. It never hurts to trying everything, becuase that way we can eliminate possible problems.

[hushypushy]

well i havent used the cable for a few years (i stopped plugging it back in when i took apart my old computer, and ive never had it in on this drive)....so i dont think thats the problem, likes james said.

quatro: explain more. what do you mean you cant explore it? if it's an audio CD...there's nothing to explore right. if it's a data CD....are you sure the CD works?

[james.miller]

exactly.

Originally Posted by james.miller

You're attitude stinks

Honestly - i dont know. i'd be very suprised if its the cable that is at fault. As i said before, i think its the drive - i had a similar problem with a dvd-rom drive. It could be the cable, but again - i don't think so.

I never rubbished any replies.

[tonyyeb]

If I put an audio cd in my cd drive i can explore it and see the tracks as cda files i think.

[Quatro]

> quatro: explain more. what do you mean you cant explore it? if it's an audio CD...there's nothing to explore right. if it's a data CD....are you sure the CD works?

ok... I check the IDE cable and plugged it in properly but still the same effects. It can read audio as I said, meaning it will automatically play over the Windows Media Player. I can also play MP3 files in a CD via winamp...

I'll be bringing some software cd to check if it still have the same effect, I'll keep you guys posted...

When looking over My Computer, you can see that the CD ROM detect the name or volume label of the CD but you CANNOT access the CD content, meaning whatever Open and Explore you use, nothing comes out...