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CD-ROMs Failing In Win2k & XP Boxes?

Posted by timothy on from the knoppix-time dept.

jptechnical writes "I have an interesting hardware/software development brewing. I have a friend with a computer shop down the way and he has had a rash of nearly a dozen Win2k & XP boxes come through with disabled or missing CD-ROM drives. They work in DOS, and are bootable, but are either disabled, not functioning or simply missing in Windows' device manager. Does anyone know of a virus that may be causing this? I cannot find any common vector from system build to software installed or anything. MS says reformat, but where's the fun in that? What resources aside from MSKB and google searching do slashdot readers use for troubleshooting strange problems?"

11 of 116 comments (clear)

  1. Well... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    If it works in "DOS" that means your computer can probably boot off one of these CD's. Try booting off a Linux CD. If it works, install a Linux partition. If the CD-ROM drive works under linux, erase the Windows partition and Voila!
    Working CD-ROM drive. (Also, improvement in speed and security).

    1. Re:Well... by richie2000 · · Score: 2, Funny

      Just don't install Mandrake if you've got a LG drive.

      --
      Money for nothing, pix for free
  2. There was a virus that did this, in fact. by immanis · · Score: 3, Funny

    You could be in serious trouble. There was such a virus - or at least it had the powers to do what you are experiencing.

    I got infected with this virus once. It caused uncontrollable cachinnation.

    --

    best web host ever

  3. Definitely viruses by kinnell · · Score: 4, Funny
    There are a couple of well known viruses which can cause this problem. Details here and here.

    --
    If I seem short sighted, it is because I stand on the shoulders of midgets
  4. My 'common vector' by (H)elix1 · · Score: 4, Funny

    A couple years back I had a couple slot loading DVD's fail. The second seemed like a mechanical problem, so I opened it up and found a floppy disk, scraps of paper, and some thin plastic toys that belonged to my two year old. Same errata with my bride's drive. YMMV

    --
    +++ UGUCAUCGUAUUUCU
    1. Re:My 'common vector' by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
      You Mumbling Monkey Vagina.

      er...actually, Your Mileage May Vary.

    2. Re:My 'common vector' by Artifex · · Score: 3, Funny

      I'll bet he was glad to get his toys back.

      --
      Get off my launchpad!
  5. What resources aside from MSKB and google searchin by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    Q. What resources aside from MSKB and google searching do slashdot readers use for troubleshooting strange problems?"

    A. I just post a question to ask slashdot, and have all the geeks trying to avoid troubleshooting at their jobs do it for me.

  6. Re:Same Problem by Doc+Squidly · · Score: 2, Funny

    Maybe your drive just wasn't into jazz.

    --
    I think I think, therefore I think I am.
  7. Re:Hmm by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    You offend me

  8. Re:Hmm by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny
    > My parents computer was having this problem. It occured when I have the CDRom in Master Mode on the second IDE port with a slave HD.

    Ahem. In Soviet LA, it happened when you had your CDRom in Comrade Mode on the second IDE port with a Comrade HD.