Hi, my DELL desktop has a DVD/CDRW drive, it will spin and work OK for CD's with basic data on them (jpeg files), I can also burn CD's OK......... but if I insert a software installation disc/game or even the CD lens cleaner disc it will even not spin the disc.

Any suggestions? Please reply in basic english as I am not very computer literate.

Keith.

Have you inadvertently turned auto run off?

If so to re-enable it go to:

My computer> right click drive > properties >autoplay > and click the restore defaults button

Should fix it.

I assume you are using Xp, if not its a bit more complicated.

David

Thanks for reply David. I tried that, it's allready on the default setting. No change.
A disc with files on it will spin stright away, but any software disc won't spin at all.

I am running XP.

Any other suggestions?????

What happens when you browse to the drive?

It does recognise the drive, and will show any files if the CD is one that I burned myself (photos/back-up files etc.) But if it's a software disc then the drive just clunks about 6 times and that's it.

Go into control panel and delete it then let windows find it again and reinstall it. It's worth a try. Do you have more than one user on the accounts, need to sign in as administrator?

I've just had an almost identical problem with the CD/DVD drive on my Dell, decided that as you can buy a new one for less than £30 it wasn't worth mucking about with. Piece of cake to swap them over.

hmmmm think I'll call the dell helpline tonight. Seems strange that it's OK with some CD and not with others. Thanks for yer help!

Are you still in warranty on your Dell? Then let them sort it. Otherwise, what they said above is good advice. If all fails, buy a new one, internal drives are dirt cheap. Unplug the old, plug in the new and away you go. The hardest part is usually opening the case!

I call Dell helpline, they called me back and spent 1 hr on the phone. Then concluded it was a hardware problem, so sent me a new drive the next day for free (3 yr hardware warrenty with Dell). Problem solved!!!
Even had 2 further calls checking if the problem was sorted.

Excellent customer service.