Problem with CD/RW DVD ROM drive. Help please.

[Scooter79]

I have a Toshiba Satellite A10 laptop (2003 model) that I use for my recording studio. Since last week whenever I try to play a CD it plays with glitches. Stop start, stop start etc. Doesn't matter if it's a burnt CD or original. I can still burn an audio CD successfully using the drive and play it on another computer or in the car but it just won't play properly on the laptop.

So far I've deleted to driver and rebooted which let the computer automatically reload the CD driver but made no difference.

I can get a replacement one for about $60 all up off ebay but I'm wondering if it could be a hardware conflict issue before I start replacing parts.

Any suggestions?

[Not_An_Abba_Fan]

Have you searched for a new driver for the drive? Not just reinstalling the original. Go into your system properties and get the model of your drive and search for an updated driver for it.

Other than that it sounds like it may be a reading issue with the actual laser, it may need cleaning.

[Astranomical]

I second Not_An_Abba_Fan, try a CD lens cleaning kit on it, I had a drive once that would read CDs, but not DVDs...ran a CD lens cleaner in it, fixed it right up. You should be able to pick one up for somewhere around $5.

[vlv8vic]

Had a couple at work doing this and without knowing much about computers i remember the tech upgrading the ram or memory or something which fixed the problem.

[holdensupporter2005]

try a different audio program (I suspect you are playing the cd through windows media player) try downloading and playing it through winamp or another audio player

[Scooter79]

try a different audio program (I suspect you are playing the cd through windows media player) try downloading and playing it through winamp or another audio player

^ Not a bad Idea! I'll give it a try tomorrow.



UPDATE: I tried playing a CD with winamp today and it made no difference. Also does the same thing with DVD's (audio and visual both have glitches)