How to troubleshoot CD-ROM drive problems in Windows XP

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If you are experiencing problems with your CD-ROM drive in Windows XP, follow these steps:

1.Use the Windows Hardware Compatibility List (HCL) to verify that your CD-ROM hardware is compatible with Windows XP. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Visit the following Microsoft Web site to view the latest Windows HCL: http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hcl/default.mspx

For additional information about Windows HCL, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base: 314062 The latest Windows XP hardware compatibility list


b. Make sure that the CD-ROM drive is listed on the Windows hardware compatibility list (HCL).

c. If you use a SCSI CD-ROM drive, make sure that the SCSI controller is listed on the Windows HCL.

d. If your CD-ROM drive or SCSI controller is not listed on the Windows HCL, contact the device manufacturer for a Windows device driver or for compatibility information.

2. Verify that the CD-ROM drive is installed according to the manufacturer's specifications.

3. If you installed a SCSI CD-ROM drive:

• Verify that the SCSI bus is stopped correctly. On a SCSI bus, the last SCSI device should be stopped by using a terminator that is provided by the manufacturer. For more information about termination, see the documentation for the SCSI adapter.

• Verify the CD-ROM SCSI ID. The SCSI ID of the CD-ROM drive is typically set to SCSI ID 2 or higher. Make sure that the CD-ROM drive is not configured to use the same SCSI ID that another device is using. For information about how to set or how to change the SCSI ID of your CD-ROM drive, see the documentation for the CD-ROM drive.

• Verify that the SCSI ID of the SCSI controller is set to SCSI ID 7.

• Verify that no other adapters are configured with settings that conflict with the SCSI controller settings.

• Look in the Microsoft Windows Event Viewer for error messages that pertain to the CD-ROM drive or SCSI controller. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, and then click Control Panel.

b. Double-click Administrative Tools, and then double-click Computer Management.

c. In the left pane, expand Event Viewer, and then click System to view the system log in the right pane for error messages that pertain to the CD-ROM drive or SCSI controller.

• Verify that Device Manager detects the SCSI controller and the CD-ROM drive, and that your device is working correctly. To do this, follow these steps:

a. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.

b. Click the Hardware tab.

c. Under Device Manager, click Device Manager.

d. Find your device on the list of devices.

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4. If you installed an IDE CD-ROM drive:

• Make sure that you are using a device driver that is designed for the IDE controller that the CD-ROM drive is attached to. To do this, follow these steps:

a. See the product documentation that is included with your CD-ROM drive and note the device drivers that the manufacturer recommends.

b. In Device Manager, verify that the device driver that the manufacturer recommends matches the device driver that is installed.

c. If the device driver does not match, contact the manufacturer of the CD-ROM drive to obtain a device driver that is designed for the IDE controller that the CD-ROM drive is attached to.

• If the manufacturer does not provide a specific driver for your IDE controller, install the IDE controller driver that is included with Windows XP. This driver is compatible only with IDE CD-ROM drives that are ATAPI 1.2-compliant. To verify the ATAPI compliance level of your CD-ROM drive, contact the manufacturer of the CD-ROM drive. To install the IDE controller driver that is included with Windows XP, follow these steps:

a. Right-click the IDE controller driver that you want to replace, and then click Update Driver.

b. Follow the instructions that appear on the screen to update the driver.

5. If you try to install a CD-ROM drive that uses a proprietary, non-SCSI interface:

• Verify that the correct device driver is installed. To do this, run Windows XP Setup and select Add/Remove SCSI Adapters on the Options menu.
Note You must have your original device driver disk available to install during this procedure.

• Check the Windows XP Read Me file (Readme.wri) and the Windows XP HCL for notes that pertain to your proprietary, non-SCSI interface CD-ROM drive.

6. Determine whether Windows recognizes the CD-ROM drive. Start Microsoft Windows Explorer, and see if a drive letter is assigned to the CD-ROM drive.

7. If the CD-ROM drive does have a drive letter, try to view a folder by using the CD-ROM drive. Make sure that you insert a data CD into the CD-ROM drive.

8. If you can read a data CD but cannot play a music CD, use one of the following methods:

• In Control Panel, start Sounds and Audio Devices, click the Hardware tab, and then make sure that the CD/DVD drive is listed, in addition to Audio Codecs.

• If these items are not listed, use the Add/Remove Hardware program in Control Panel to reinstall these drivers.

9. If the system is configured to dual-boot to another operating system, confirm that the CD-ROM drive functions in the other operating system. If the CD-ROM drive does not function correctly in MS-DOS or in another operating system, contact the manufacturer of the drive for help.