Microsoft KB Archive/911815

= You cannot immediately access a CD or a DVD after you insert the disc into the optical drive of a Windows XP-based computer =

Article ID: 911815

Article Last Modified on 1/17/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
 * Microsoft Windows XP Professional
 * Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005

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SYMPTOMS
Consider the following scenario. You insert a CD or a DVD into the optical drive of a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer. Then, you try to access the drive or to eject the disk. In this scenario, you experience the following symptoms:  The pointer is displayed as an hourglass icon, and Windows Explorer appears to stop responding (hang) for 10 seconds or longer.

Note If the CD or the DVD contains many files, the delay may be longer. You receive an error message that is similar to the following, depending on the program that you use to access the drive:

Cannot Access the Drive



After a delay, you can eventually access the drive.



CAUSE
This problem occurs if one of the following conditions is true:
 * You try to access the drive before it has sufficient time to spin up to speed.
 * You try to access the drive before the computer has sufficient time to detect the disc.

For example, this problem may occur if you insert a CD or a DVD into the drive and then promptly perform one of the following operations:
 * Right-click the drive icon in My Computer or in Windows Explorer.
 * Click Play in a DVD decoder program.
 * Press a button on the keyboard or on the computer that controls drive functions. For example, press Eject or Play.
 * Perform any operation that accesses the disc or the partition information for the disc.

This problem occurs because the information on the disc is unavailable until the disk spins up to speed. After the disk spins up to speed, the disk type and format can be determined by the computer. The standard time-out value for CD or DVD optical drives is 10 seconds. Therefore, the delay may be 10 seconds or sometimes longer.



WORKAROUND
To work around this problem, give the optical drive sufficient time to complete the initial spin-up and detection process before you try to access the disc. For example, wait until you receive the following message before you try to access the disc:

Windows can perform the same action each time you insert a disk or connect a device with this kind of file.



Media Center Technical Support
Because Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition was included with your hardware device or system, the hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for this software. Your manufacturer may have customized the installation with unique components such as specific device drivers and optional settings to maximize the performance of that manufacturer's hardware. If you require technical help with Windows XP Media Center Edition, contact your manufacturer directly because the manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that the manufacturer has installed on the hardware.

You can also visit the Windows XP Media Center Edition product information Web site at the following Microsoft Web site: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/mediacenter/

Keywords: kberrmsg kbtshoot kbexpertisebeginner KB911815

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