my-cd-rom doesn't read data disk

[skinandbones03]

:( hi i don't know jack about computers, but anyways so my brother gave me his old computer which is a windows 98 emachine, and i used to have a compaq also with windows 98, well i had burned soem data cd's from the compaq but the cd-rom drive on the e-machine doesn't recognize them. The light just blinks on the drive, and when i try to click on it on my computer it says "insert disk". The disk work cuz i have tried them on other computers. I burned the disk using nero if that helps. The e-machine doesn't have a burner, i know that the drive works because it still can read dvd's and audio cd's even burned ones, so i don't know what to do? do i have to download a driver of some sort? please please help. Thanks - jim

[photolady]

Are the disks themselves, cdr's or cdrw's. Some older cdrom drives won't read cdrw disks. If they are regular cdr's, try cleaning the drive with a cd lens cleaner. It probably hasn't been cleaned and they do get dirty....laser lenses that is.

[skinandbones03]

they are just cdr's, i will have to buy a cd-cleaber but can it be dirty if they drive still plays dvd's and even audio cdr's?

[photolady]

Were the data cds finalized after burning? That could also be a problem in older cdrom drives. Is this drive a dvd rom and not just a cdrom? If dvd rom, there are two different types of lasers in those than a regular cdrom drive would have. Could be the cdrom laser is dirty.

[Mike31z]

The first thing it would not read cdr or cdrw any way shape form. I clicked on the DMA block for the CD rom SETTINGS that is located in the DEVICE MANAGER tab in the SYSTEM PROPERTIES. I had to reboot after activating this setting but i could then read cdr.

[skinandbones03]

Hey Mike thanka for your suggestion but i have no idea what a DMA block is or how to even access it? but it sounds like it's worth a try, does anyone know can you please tell me? *remember i have windows 98.. thanks agian for all your suggestions:wave: