h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

When I put a disc into my cd drive the computer does not notice it. It says the drive is working perfectyly.
Is there anything I should do to make it see the deiscs again?

Check the software? Maybe uninstall & reinstall the CD drive saoftware.

Not an expert on such things, but can we take it you have tried a load of diferant discs, and tried cleaning one, then tried again?

yes, lots of different discs.

no software for the drive.

Thank you both for answering.

I'm sure someone more techie will be along sooner or later. They will want to know lots of detail like operating system, specification of drive, type of disc, colour of your socks - well maybe not the last one

yup, tell us those please

If it is old (3 years+) I would be tempted just to buy a new one....
BCNU - Crescent

Windows XP Home, ATAPI-CDROM-DRIVE-52MAX, both cds and cd-roms, light grey cotton.

It probably is older than 3 years but i cannot afford a new one.

If you go to "My computer" do you see the CD drive?

If so, right click on it and check the auto-play options.

It is set up to ask what to do whenever a disc is inserted. A couple of weeks ago it suddenly stopped asking.

Oops, forgot to say, click on properties first.

Did you download any security updates or similar?

The green light on the drive flashes and a little picture of a disc flashes 2 or 3 times above the cursor on the screen, but it does nothing else after that.

My son installed a wi-fi connector for a PSP. He thinks that was the first time it happened. It did not see the disc for the software so he had to put it on another computer and transfer it to his using a memory stick.

It's probably just built-in software rot to encourage you to go out and buy a Vista-based system (when they become available).

Autie, what happens when you double click on My Computer, then double click on the CD you've put in?

It says "Please insert a disk into drive E".

What is a Vista-based system?

Vista is the Microsoft creation that will supercede XP.