Computer help

[56FordGuy]

I know we have some computer folks here, but I'm not one of them. I need some help with my laptop. It's a Sony Vaio, running Windows Vista. It will no longer auto- start audio CDs, and I can't figure out how to make it start them using Winamp. I put the disc in, I can hear it spin for a few seconds, then it stops. It used to work, it would auto start and pull up Winamp when I put the disc in. At the advice of a friend, I downloaded and ran CCleaner tonight, and now it doesn't work. I would uninstall CCleaner and try that, but I don't see it listed when I open the start menu and go to all programs.

Any ideas?

[Oh Shoot]

My Computer or Win Explorer

Right click on CD/DVD drive

Properties

Auto Play Tab

See if Winamp is listed as option for music files.

Note there are options for different file types to be found on the CD/DVD

Or similar to above, I have XP and Win7, managed to skip Vista

- OS

[Jonnin]

keep ccleaner. Its ability to clean up junk, fix the registry, and remove annoying auto start programs makes it a program all windows computers should have. Use it early and often it is safe and I have never heard of it causing any damage to a PC.

Can you verify that the CD was read? Open my computer (or whatever vista calls it), open the CD, and you should see wav files or something, I forget but the computer acts as if it has a disk inserted. If the computer seems to act as if no disk is inserted, you have a problem: the drive may be bad, or a bad driver for it, or something.

If it used to work and suddenly does not, either the drive is dead or you changed related software or settings (by accident or intent).

[56FordGuy]

I figured out how to uninstall CCleaner and I did. I may download it again at a later date if necessary. CD still doesn't work. I tried three different audio discs, none functioned.

When I open Computer, it shows the hard drive (C: ), and two 'Devices with Removable Storage', (D: ), which is called Memory Stick and (E: ), which is called SD/ MMC. With a disk inserted, clicking either of the two removable storage devices causes a button to come up that says "Please insert a disc/ removable storage device into drive."

I did find that there is an update package out that I will try to download tonight.

Edited January 8, 2011 by 56FordGuy

[Oh Shoot]

I figured out how to uninstall CCleaner and I did. I may download it again at a later date if necessary. CD still doesn't work. I tried three different audio discs, none functioned.

When I open Computer, it shows the hard drive (C:), and two 'Devices with Removable Storage', (D:), which is called Memory Stick and (E:), which is called SD/ MMC. With a disk inserted, clicking either of the two removable storage devices causes a button to come up that says "Please insert a disc/ removable storage device into drive."

I did find that there is an update package out that I will try to download tonight.

d and e are card reader drives (cameras and whatnot)

Sounds like puter has "lost" CD drive for whatever reason.

Never a good thing. Being a laptop, afraid I have no real advice, since ya can't open her up.

If it still doesn't find CD drive after total shutdown and restart (not just warm boot), 'fraid I'm out of this loop...

good luck,

- OS

[RobertNashville]

It's sounding like your CD drive is either dead or dying. Even if it won't autorun you should be able to navigate to your CD Drive (as mentioned above) and see the files there and manually start one...it could still be a software problem but I'd bet the drive itself.

[dralarms]

If your CD rom has quit, I have a Sony Vio that I scrapped and still have the drive, your's free just for the shipping.

It's not a DVD burner, but it is a DVD reader. Also youwill have to take your faceplate and use it, this one was cut down to fit another computer.

Edited January 8, 2011 by dralarms

[Pain103]

It could be your drive giving out. I have had that problem on a brand new dvd drive on a desktop. I would at least try downloading drivers before junking the cd drive.

[analog_kidd]

If the CD drive is one that is ejectable, remove it and put it back in. On some laptops, there is a slider on the bottom that you can push adn will allow the entire drive to come out. On some cheaper laptops the drive is built in and you would have to open up the whole laptop guts to remove teh drive. Wouldn't recommend that unless you are confident in your ability to get it all back together.

sometimes just reseating the device will make it come back to life.

Have you tried booting in Safe Mode to see if the drive is still there? You could also try to insert your Windows CD and reboot to see if the PC will try to boot from the CD. If it does, then you know that the drive is OK and it;s a problem inside Windows.