CD-ROM playback problem - all formats jitter & skip

[hockey2112]

I have a Dell computer, running XP Home, with a Samsung SC 148C CD-ROM and a HL-DT-ST CD-RW GCE-8483B burner.

I use my computer to play AVI and SVCD files. I have a TV-out, and use this to watch those files on my TV.

Here is my problem:

I would use my CD-ROM drive to play my AVI, SVCD, and VCD files, as well as mp3 and store-bought music CDs, so they would play out of my TV set. That worked fine for quite some time, until a problem arose. It happened suddenly, and has not gone away to this day. When I use my CD-ROM drive to play any kind of files on a CD (even store-bought music CDs), the audio and video jitter and skip very badly. It almost sounds like someone speaking through a big box fan (you know, trying to sound like darth vader or whatever). I tried updating my ASPI, and then I called Dell to get their support. They had me change something in the registry, unistall the CD drive, and take everything off of startup and reboot, but nothing worked. They told me the only thing I could do was to reinstall Windows. After raising a stink, I finally got them to send me a brand new CD-ROM drive instead, but the problem persisted, and still does even today. I have not reinstalled windows, and would like to avoid doing that if at all possible.

So it sucked not being able to use my CD-ROM drive, but I made do by using my CD burner to play all of my files on CD. This worked just fine for quite some time, until about one week ago. The CD burner started to do the jittery thing like the CD-ROM drive, and I cannot get it to stop. It is almost like the problem spread from the CD-ROM to the burner, since they both have the exact same problem.

In regards to the burner, the only thing I can think of that was changed on my computer around the time of the problem starting was that I installed Symantec PC Anywhere, and (unsuccessfully) tried to install Norton Firewall 2004. I tried to do a system restore to a day or two before the burner problem occurred, but it would not allow me to restore to that point. The only point I could restore to was about 3 days into this problem, and so of course it did nothing for me. I do not recall any system changes around the time of the CD-ROM's problems, since it was quite some time ago.

Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be? I called Dell again, and they are stumped. The next thing they are going to have me do is remove the drives and plug them into different slots or whatever, but I won't be doing that until later tonight. Once again, I would love to avoid reinstalling Windows, but I will do so as a last resort.

Thank you in advance for any advice you can give.

[hockey2112]

Anyone? Anyone?

[havaham]

Sounds like your Drive is in PIO mode. go to Control Panel--->System.
Click the harware tab then the Device Manager Button.
In the IDE ATA/ATAPI controller heading, right-click the IDE bus that your CDROM is on and choose properties. Click the Advanced Settings Tab and make sure the Devices are in DMA mode. You might have to reboot for the change to take effect. When you do reboot, check to make sure that the changes you made are still there. If it reverted back to PIO mode you may have to set something in the machines BIOS or see if there is a newer firmware for your drive.
Hope this helps...

[hockey2112]

Havaham,

That was the problem after all. Everything now works great! Thank you very much for your help.

[havaham]