I think I already know the answer to this, but:
I have a CD-RW that I’ve owned for about 2 years, and it has started to fritz-out on me. I hear it spinning up to read a CD, but then it stops, and starts up again… over and over and over. So, it tries to read CDs, but never gets around to it.
Has anyone else had a problem like this? If so, were they able to fix it? I have bought another CD-RW in the meantime, but I could still use this “broken” one in my other computer.
LilShieste
If it is truly broken then it doesn’t matter what computer you put it in…it still won’t work.
On the face of it the drive sounds like it’s broken but you haven’t given enough information to make that determination here.
Have you tried different CDs in the computer? Try an audio CD (store bought), program CD (store bought), burned CD with data, etc.
Have you updated the drivers for the CD drive? Updated your motherboard drivers? Updated your Operating System (if a PC then do it from http://windowsupdate.microsoft.com )? Scanned for viruses? Rebuilt the system (extreme and maybe not worthwhile but a possibility)?
PC components are manufactured as throw-away items. It’s no longer cost-effective to determine the exact hardware problem and repair it. The decision is, if it cannot be fixed right then and there, then toss the entire component and install a new one.
Unless you are into a healthy intellectual and hands-on exercise just for the sake of it, forget it. Better yet, if there is a local PC repair shop, donate to them if they will take it. They might salvage it for spare parts, and maybe not. In any case it will be a start in building up some goodwill with you local support folks. You might need them in a desperate moment down the road.
Who made it? Is it a cheap generic one? Get a new one they are cheap, try fatwallet.com or techbargains.com for lists of those on sale.
Who made it? Is it a cheap generic one? Get a new one they are cheap, try fatwallet.com or techbargains.com for lists of those on sale.
Thanks for the replies everyone.
I was kinda figuring the situation was going to be as Duckster described.
I have tried multiple CDs. Several Audio, and several data… it will do the “spinning up” thing, 80% of the time (regardless of the type of CD), and the remaining 20% it will read the CD, after spinning up and restarting several times.
Basically I was just making sure it wasn’t something as simple as “it just needs a good cleaning” before I toss it out (or donating it to a PC shop was a good idea).
Thanks again for the input.
LilShieste
Try looking thru Sam W’s CDROM repair FAQ. Please read his warnings first.
I have successfully repaired many CD-ROM drives (same tech as CD-RWs) but a few were unfixable. Typical problems: too much dirt on the spindle (the disc doesn’t engage and spin right), misaligned loading drawer (people put in the disk wrong a lot), dirt in general. While it might seem that cleaning the lens is a good start, I have never run into a problem with this in a CD-ROM drive. (CD-boomboxes do though.)
Cool. Thanks for the link, ftg. I’ll go check it out now. If I can get it to work, great… if not, I already have another.
LilShieste
I usually give them a shot of compressed air first…sometimes the disks are just dirty & have to be cleaned too.