CD-ROM problems please help!

Uli

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Hi
I hope someone could please advise for me.

everytime i put a cd in my cdrom the pc restarts, I have installed a new rom and it keeps on doing it.
i have also updated and downgraded my bios and still I have the same problem.
It also happens when windows starts up and starts reading the rom then it keeps on restarting, so it must be some kind of hardware problem that I just cant seem the fix.

the PC is fairly old so dont want to spend too much on it, I dont mind a couple of 100 rands to get it back into shape.
 
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Hmm, can you borrow a friend's ROM drive and cable and plug those in and see if it does the same thing?

Also try removing the device controller from your Device Manager and letting Windows re-install the drivers for the controller.

I would suggest buying a new rom drive and cable, but you are not sure yet if that is to blame.
 
Can we have further specs on your PC please?

Things I would trouble-shoot first:

Try swap IDE cables
Try swap power cables

And you are talking about a CD-ROM right? Not a DVD-ROM/DVD-writer?
 
OK I have installed a brand new cdrom today, and I have also tried uninstalling the drivers and still no fix for me.
The old rom was IDE and installed a SATA drive today. so its not IDE channels.
I suspect I might have to get a new power supply.???
 
Can we have further specs on your PC please?

Things I would trouble-shoot first:

Try swap IDE cables
Try swap power cables

And you are talking about a CD-ROM right? Not a DVD-ROM/DVD-writer?

Yes well its a DVDrom / Writer
 
I have also tried MS Fix it and doesnt seem to fix the problem,.
 
OK I have installed a brand new cdrom today, and I have also tried uninstalling the drivers and still no fix for me.
The old rom was IDE and installed a SATA drive today. so its not IDE channels.
I suspect I might have to get a new power supply.???

Yes, it could very well be the power supply which is failing when the drive powers up.
 
OK I have installed a brand new cdrom today, and I have also tried uninstalling the drivers and still no fix for me.
The old rom was IDE and installed a SATA drive today. so its not IDE channels.
I suspect I might have to get a new power supply.???

What else have you got running off the power supply? What I'd suggest you do seeing as you've ruled out IDE/SATA thing is try boot up off a Windows/Linux install CD with nothing but the optical drive plugged in and see how far you get.
 
Yes, it could very well be the power supply which is failing when the drive powers up.

Thanks, the thing is how ever it opens and closes normaly, but just as it reads the cd it restarts.
Well I think I will try a new power suppply then. I hope that works.
 
What else have you got running off the power supply? What I'd suggest you do seeing as you've ruled out IDE/SATA thing is try boot up off a Windows/Linux install CD with nothing but the optical drive plugged in and see how far you get.

When the pc starts up and reads the drive it reboots over and over again as soon as the cd rom starts reading the cd. It doesnt matter what CD I got in it it does the same thing.
 
I only have my hard drive, motherboard, and CD rom on it.
 
maybe the power supply is shot? Else maybe the motherboard. But plug out the hdd, and try a live linux cd and see if it does it...or even a windows install cd...see if it loads...but PLUG OUT THE HDD.
 
maybe the power supply is shot? Else maybe the motherboard. But plug out the hdd, and try a live linux cd and see if it does it...or even a windows install cd...see if it loads...but PLUG OUT THE HDD.

Ok I will give that a go. if it works without the HDD would that mean I need a new hdd?
What if it doesnt work? would that only mean one of two things, motherboard or power supply then?
 
maybe the power supply is shot? Else maybe the motherboard. But plug out the hdd, and try a live linux cd and see if it does it...or even a windows install cd...see if it loads...but PLUG OUT THE HDD.

ok I have removed the hard drive and still I have the same problem.
Can it only be the motherboard or power supply now????
 
Actually, whichever way around it sounds like it might be the motherboard. You did plug the cd rom into a different IDE slot?
 
Yes I tried that and I also installed a new sata cdrom drive.
Do I acrualy have to get a new motherboard then? Eash. then I will have to get new ram and the whole lot...
 
Unfortunately yeah, that might be the only thing. How old is the pc? It's easier sometimes to replace pc's than to fix certain things.
 
Yea well the pc is about 5 years old. I have a P4 3Ghz , model 531 proccessor. And yes the motherboard still takes DDR1 ram and that I have 2gig of.... I know I know... lol
Yes well maybe I should just go and get a i7 and get it over and done with.
 
I remember having the same problem on my girlfriend's pc. It rebooted every time you put a cd in, but if you just open and close it, it does not reboot.
Turned out to be the PSU if I remember correctly.
 
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