Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

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jamieostrich
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Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by jamieostrich »

Hi Guys,

So On my Compaq Armada M300 it comes with a dock and in that is a CD drive.
When trying to install windows it comes up with cannot read file messages quite a lot,
It is random and does it on any version of windows. Or sometimes no errors occur.

So is it a drive failing or does it just need a clean or something?

And if it needs a clean how do i do this? and if a new one where can I get one from?

Thanks!

linuxlove
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by linuxlove »

Just pick up one of these CD cleaning discs. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keyword ... nk_code=qs
Goodbye.

jamieostrich
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by jamieostrich »

linuxlove wrote:Just pick up one of these CD cleaning discs. http://www.amazon.com/s?ie=UTF8&keyword ... nk_code=qs
Thanks, do they work without an operating system installed? haha

linuxlove
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by linuxlove »

I think most of them are CD audio nowadays. I do have a rather old CD cleaner somewhere that requires MS-DOS to run.
Goodbye.

killjoy323232
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by killjoy323232 »

You could try a different drive, just to be safe...
Offtopic Comment
Really? Never heard of one that requires an OS...I have to find that!!!
/!\YOUR COMPUTER MIGHT BE INFECTED WITH HUMAN STUPIDITY! /!\

xpclient
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by xpclient »

Optical drives have limited lifespan after which the laser wears out or the lens accumulates too much dust . On average, my optical drives have lasted 3-4 years. CD cleaning discs are useless in my experience. You are better off buying a new one. Amongst various brands, Liteon and Sony optical drives have lasted the longest for me.
xpclient
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I did the testing and feedback for Classic Shell.

jamieostrich
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by jamieostrich »

xpclient wrote:Optical drives have limited lifespan after which the laser wears out or the lens accumulates too much dust . On average, my optical drives have lasted 3-4 years. CD cleaning discs are useless in my experience. You are better off buying a new one. Amongst various brands, Liteon and Sony optical drives have lasted the longest for me.
Yes, only problem is it i for a Compaq Mobile Expansion Unit. They are relatively thin drives. Are they just standard IDE laptop drives or proprietary?

spunker88
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by spunker88 »

If it wasn't on some laptop dock Id say just replace it since you can find desktop IDE and SATA DVD burners for $20 or less on sale on Newegg nowadays. But since its an older laptop dock it probably wont be so easy to replace.

jamieostrich
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by jamieostrich »

spunker88 wrote:If it wasn't on some laptop dock Id say just replace it since you can find desktop IDE and SATA DVD burners for $20 or less on sale on Newegg nowadays. But since its an older laptop dock it probably wont be so easy to replace.
It Just pops out,

Has this connection:

Image

ultrawindows
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by ultrawindows »

This connector is an ''Multibay Connecter''.
They came in Floppy Disks, CD-Roms, DVD-Roms.
They could be used in Laptops, Computers and Servers
You got to get it from HP if you need a new one.

amdavadma

Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by amdavadma »

I have a similar problem with my Mac Mini. Am on OS 10.6.5; the drive refuses to read anything written using OS 10.4

liliwinnt6
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by liliwinnt6 »

Some times RAM damage or unstable may cause the same problem.
Are those CDs ok?
Main Computer:
Asus GL503VS Laptop
Memory: 2 x Samgsung M471A2K43CB1-CRC 16GB DDR4-2400/PC4-19200
HDD: Samsung PM961 256GB + Samsung EVO 860 4TB

File Server:
CPU: Intel XEON E3-1290
Motherboard: ASUS P8H67
GPU: GeForce 9300GE
Memory: 4 x 8GB Crucial Ballistix Tactical LP DDR3-1600/PC3-12800
HDD: WD3200AAJS + WD2003FYYS + WD6001FSYZ + WD/HITACHI DC HC320
PSU: Antec Neo Eco 620W Modular

dans34
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by dans34 »

jamieostrich wrote: Has this connection:

Image
you should be able to buy any standard laptop cd drive and unscrew the connector from the back of the one you have and just swap it over

jamieostrich
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Re: Is my CD drive dying or need a clean?

Post by jamieostrich »

dans34 wrote:
you should be able to buy any standard laptop cd drive and unscrew the connector from the back of the one you have and just swap it over
Thanks ill give it a go

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