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.

I also 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 in advance.

-patrick

[pelicanman]

If the system is throwing up with all CDRs, but it will play pressed CDs it's unlikely to be a driver issue. Drive laser is most likely failing. New CDRW drives are cheap ( $10-$30 after rebates).