Need help with bizarre playing issue!!!

[Phillygolf]

Hello, I need some help!!! If I pull anymore of my hair out, I am going to look like Kojac.

This is a CD-R issue, with playing - not a vcd or dvd issue. I know, I know - but this is the only place I think I can get legitimate help.

I have a Dell 4400 (XP) and NEC 7900a burner. I am now unable to play CD-R's. But I am able to play a manufactured CD. The other thing is, I cant play a CD-R that I burned and played on my burner a few weeks ago. I havent updated any hardware or drivers, and I rolled back system update to the day before I was able to burn the cd's and play them (in case a microsoft update jammed me up).

I dont have my original cd handy to reinstall the drivers (though have access to it in storage - just so happens I am in the process of moving), hoping someone has more suggestions. The other thing is, it seems bizarre I can play a normal cd, but not a burned one - especially since I burned it with recorder.....I am thinking maybe driver issue, but just doesnt make sense.

I just cant figure out why I can play a manufactured cd, but not a cd-r, and not a cd-r that was burned on this same machine 2 weeks ago!!!!

I am thinking drivers or firmware - but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

-patrick

[Phillygolf]

Update:

I uninstalled the hardware, and reinstalled it.

Then I checked my aspi - somehow that was missing. reinstalled version 4.71 - now my aspi is good.

Still - can play a professional music cd, but the cd-r isnt recognized and it locks up my computer. Again - I burned this cd and played it on here the last few weeks, so I am at a complete loss.

Thanks.

-Patrick

[808smokey]

Not sure if this will fix it but...

Go to Device manager
select IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers
Advanced tab
Change it to DMA if available not the PIO setting.

Try to update the drivers for the IDE controllers too. Maybe they got messed up somehow. I doubt it's problem but worth a try

Maybe even go as far as reset/verify that it reads the CD drive correctly in your BIOS/CMOS too.

Maybe your CD-R's are crapping out on you, try a different brand. I'd do that 1st before the other ideas.

[Phillygolf]

I dont think it is the cd's - I burned on that burner and played the cd's many times. Something happened - I am thinking drivers or firmware, just not sure.

Here is what I have done so far:
-I uninstalled the hardware, and reinstalled it.
-Then I checked my aspi - somehow that was missing. reinstalled version 4.71 - now my aspi is good.

-Then I checked device manager - no issue with cd drive

-Reinstalled old roxio patch for nec 7900a (keep in mind, I am not burning right now - just want to play)

-Inserted the resourcecd from dell, but it doesnt give an option to update or reinstall drivers for the cd drive.

Still - can play a professional music cd, but the cd-r isnt recognized and it locks up my computer. Again - I burned this cd and played it on here the last few weeks, so I am at a complete loss.

I will try what you suggested tonight. I think the answer really lies in if there is a difference in how the cdrom reads a cd-r and how it reads a cd (professional music manfuctured) ....if the difference is drivers, then I believe my issue lies there.

Thanks again.

Patrick