Member Avatar for greeneyyedgurl

hello
i am having a problem with my cd-rom..:( it plays dvd's just fine...but i am trying to install a anti virus cd and i keep getting a cd icon next to my cursor but nothing else happens..i tried cleaning the lenses to the cd-rom with no luck....if anyone has any suggestions i would appreciate it...thanks

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  • Latest Post Latest Post by cguan_77

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Building on points from and , the next steps should separate quick Windows/config fixes from tests that reveal hardware failure. The checklist below is ordered so software problems are eliminated first, then the focus moves to the drive itself and possible replacement options.

Recommended diagnostic sequence (do these before swapping hardware):

  1. Inspect Device Manager (run devmgmt.msc) — note the drive model, right‑click to Uninstall, then reboot so Windows redetects it.
  2. Check the Shell Hardware Detection service (services.msc) and ensure AutoPlay isn’t disabled.
  3. Backup the registry and remove UpperFilters/LowerFilters at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318} if present; reboot afterward.
  4. Test the same discs in another PC or with a cheap USB optical drive to rule out media or format issues (CD‑R vs CD‑RW vs pressed audio/data). Also try a bootable CD or BIOS boot test to verify hardware-level detection.
  5. If the drive is internal and uses SATA/IDE, reseat or swap the cable and port as a sanity check.

If Windows-level checks fail, the symptom of reading DVDs but not CDs commonly points to a failing CD laser or optical pickup (different laser/wavelengths for CD vs DVD). Firmware updates from the drive/OEM are worth checking before replacement, but if the CD laser element has failed, replacement is the practical fix. For laptops, an inexpensive external USB optical drive is the fastest workaround. Always make a system restore point and back up important data before registry edits or firmware flashes.

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Member Avatar for sillyboy

Try different cds, is it just that cd that is unreadable?

Member Avatar for cguan_77

hi greeneyyed gurl, are you sure that your cd-rom are reading dvd's or is it a dvd-rom that can read cd's only but unable to read dvd's?
in most cases if a dvd rom can't read a dvd it might be that its End Of Life of the device already..but try to make sure that your disk is all okay no scratches, dirt or whatsoever...

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