Comp optical drive won't read certain discs

[masraum]

I've had this problem before on other comps, and now it's beginning to frustrate me on my current PC. I've got music CDs (not pirated commercial CDs) that this comp just won't read. I stick some in and it spins right up, others will make a repetitive noise like it's trying to read for a few mins and then stops. I've even had one or two read if I popped the disc out and back in a couple of times. Is there anything that can be done. Hell, some of the discs are from a multi-disc set and it'll read one disc from the set but not another. It just doesn't make much sense.

I may end up pulling an old drive and hooking it up via a external enclosure via USB to see if another drive fairs better.

I guess I'm just hoping that someone like ID10T or slodave has a trick (besides smacking the comp, that hasn't worked).

[Joe Bob]

Mine did that. Hooked up an external drive and the CDs played fine.

Had to replace the internal player. they die in layers. You could try and clean it.....compressed air, etc.

[Aragorn]

Could be a dirty drive lens. Try a kit and clean it out.

Check the CD's themselves to see if they are ok. Sometimes a hairline crack or scratch will prevent the disk from loading. If the CD's are cracked they could come apart at speed in the drive and cause a mess. If the CD's are scratched there is a two part filler and polish out there that I have had success with for some games and audio CD's.

Seems some anti-virus software might cause problems playing Audio CD's also. Check your anti-virus software provider's message boards to see if there is anyone else having a similar problem.

Just a few thoughts if it is not already fixed.

[masraum]

Thanks.

It shouldn't be a bad drive, it's just not that old, and it is only certain CDs.

I guess it could be dirty, or more affected by scratches than your average CD player since I think most computer drives spin a bit faster or something. Most of my CDs are in great shape because I only hold them by the edges.

[Cajundaddy]

Yep, happens a lot when they get dirty or worn out. A USB ext drive is $18 and will work like new
Amazon.com : USB External DVD Combo CD-RW Burner Drive Black : Computer External Optical Drives : Computers & Accessories

[WolfeMacleod]

I have a DVD player in the 911. No screen. Plays discs loaded with MP3's. Worked great.

Won't read DVD format any more.