# So why doesn't my PC read my copied CDs?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 12, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665 "2004-04-12T20:57:53Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665/1 "2004-04-12T20:57:53Z")

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Is it purely a matter of age? Its an old 486 I have in my room back home, its from about 96/96, running Windows 95. Is it just purely the age of the CDROM? I’ve tried installing a cd drive of a similar age and it doesn’t read them either. Would a more modern CD ROM read them? I’m only interested because the PC lets me play VCD’s and music CDs when I get home 🙂

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**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665/2 "2004-04-12T21:13:11Z")

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Have you tried different brands of CDs? I didn’t think brands make a difference, but then I found my Mom’s PC couldn’t read Imations, but had no trouble with Memorex. All burned with the same writer and software.

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**Author:** ![Joe\_Random](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Joe\_Random](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joe_Random)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665/3 "2004-04-12T21:15:27Z")

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> [@Pushkin](#):
>
> IsIs it just purely the age of the CDROM?

Most likely. Did you burn the data onto a CD-R or a CD-RW? CD-RWs don’t reflect as much light as CD-Rs or normal CDs, and older CD-ROM drives aren’t going to have sensitive enough optics to pick up the reflected laser.

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**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\
**Post date:** [April 12, 2004, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-why-doesnt-my-pc-read-my-copied-cds/239665/4 "2004-04-12T21:36:36Z")

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Yeah, different brands, all CD-R’s. So I might pick up a new CD drive for £20 if I can. Like I said, its a kinda media centre for me when I get home so its worth it 🙂