CD Audio in Win ME

[cashcomp]

I have a system here with built in audio. I have had problems getting it to play audio cd's. The system recognizes the CD but locks any program that tries to play the disc. I have swapped mainboards, CD-ROM's, RAM, CPU, HDD, Video cards, Power Supplies, you name it. All have met with the same result. Re-installing the O/S has no bearing either. I have even tried the existing O/S in a completely different machine(move HDD over(it worked there)).

If you haven't guessed yet, it is an EPoX CU133A+ mainboard with an AC97 sound. It is running an intel PIII 850, w/256MB PC-133. Lite-On 52X CD-ROM.

any help would be greatly appreciated. Even a suggestion.

PS: I have tried changing every cable in the system as well.
:confused:

[Junky]

Hi there,

your quote: "The system recognizes the CD but locks any program that tries to play the disc."

What program are you using to play music off CD's?

You say you changed motherboards (MB). Did you replace the MB with the same make and model? Who knows, you may have gotten two bad motherboards in a row. Gigabyte makes a good MB, same with Aopen and Asus.

IMHO, motherboards with built-in sound or video are just asking for problems. If this MB that you have now has built-in sound, are you using that or are you now using a sound card? If you are using a sound card, are you sure you have disabled the on board sound chip in CMOS correctly?

The first moment I read your question for help I said to myself: Self? If all the hardware has been gone thru it's gotta be software...well maybe. Have you installed windows fresh to see if that clears up the problem?

:)

[cashcomp]

I appreciate such a quick reply. It doesn't matter what program I use to get audio off of the disc (Windows Media player, winamp, realplayer).

Yes I did replace the mainboard with the exact same make and model.

You are right about the built in components. However that is what their budget dictated. When I added an extra sound card I did disable everything in the BIOS in reference to the audio.

Lastly, I have taken the HDD out (left O/S in tact) and placed it into an AMD Duron system running the same via chipset and video and sound. Everything worked fine. I have also tried running windows 98 on the system and it allows me to play audio cd's but locks when I adaptec easy cd creator tries to do an audio extraction test.

I am quickly becoming hairless. I hate to think that I got to bum boards in a row, but stranger things have happened.

Thanx,
Shawn

[Junky]

By what you have discribed, I'd say its the motherboard causing the problems. Nothing else is left that I can see. :(

[cashcomp]

THanks for your help. I think I am going to have the board replaced with a different model.

Thanks Again,
Shawn

[Dawnstealer]

I had a similar problem with Windows ME, have you fixed it yet?

Let us know.

Some of my Audio "Bought from the shop" CD's would play, others would not.

This may not make too much sense - but try it...... now I can play more CD's than I could before and I dont understand why - some will work some wont.

If there is a new fimware update from the makers of your CD drive then install that - this will solve any known compatibility problems- go to their site and find out.

Download the full Windows Media Player again, install it and go to options/format and unselect everything.

Whatever you normally use to play audio, do the same, unselect all files associated with the player.

Go to System/Device manager/properties and settings for the CD rom - un tick everything and tick DMA (note that auto insert notification can sometimes screw things up- dont know why)

Restart your computer, test it out.

If that doesnt work, go back to System/Device manager/properties and settings for the CD rom, untick DMA, then completely remove CD rom from device manager. Reboot and reinstall.

This might not make sense but it worked for me.