[cooljen]

I'm trying to install a new program I bought: Photoshop Elements. My computer doesn't recognize that there is anything on the CD. I have a CD/DVD drive and it works for music CDs, movie DVDs, but doesn't work or is very slow when looking at data CDs. Please help! THANKS!

[Elvandil]

What burning programs do you have installed?

[slipe]

Are you waiting for an install screen to appear or actually looking at the drive in My Computer or Windows Explorer? Sometimes the install screens take a while to appear. And if it has a self-starting CD in the drive clicking on the drive in My Computer just initiates the start screen. If you click on the drive in Windows Explorer you can be sure it isn’t showing anything in the drive. Right click Start > Explore. Find the drive and left click it. If it isn’t showing anything in the drive and other program CDs don’t show either you have a problem with the drive. If other program CDs do show you might just have a bad CD. It happens. Try cleaning it with a soft cloth with strokes toward or away from the center – you shouldn’t clean a CD like a record with strokes around the CD.

If nothing shows in the drive in Windows Explorer you could try right clicking My Computer > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager. Click on your DVD/CD heading until your unit shows and highlight it. Action > Uninstall and reboot the computer. Windows will reinstall the drive. I doubt that will help but it might be worth a try.

Otherwise it seems you need a drive. I see name brand CD drives on Pricewatch for $11 delivered if your secret location is in the US. Your cable probably has an extra connection for one if you have an open bay. It isn’t rocket science to install one. If your drive isn’t a writer you might consider a DVD writer. If you are allergic to opening your case there are inexpensive external USB drives.

[cooljen]

I'm not waiting for an auto-start, I'm looking at the drive in My Computer. When I put program CDs in (i.e. I tried my new Photoshop CD as well as an older program I've had for a long time, MasterCook) it shows the drive as DVD/CD-RW Drive (E but does not show the name of the CD. When I click on it, the light on the drive doesn't even turn on. Do you think this means I need a new drive? thanks for your help

[cooljen]

Originally Posted by Elvandil

What burning programs do you have installed?

to Elvandil: For burning discs, I use NTI CD-Maker Gold 6.5 but I'm not sure that's working either. When I open it, I get an error that says "No supported drive detected". I haven't used it for a long time. The CDs I've made previously using that program seem to work eventually, but take a really long time.

[slipe]

I’ll try again. If you left click the drive in My Computer you initiate the auto-run if there is a CD in the drive with code for that. If you left click in Windows Explorer you see what is on the CD regardless of what CD is in the drive. If it shows blank in Windows Explorer I would delete the drive in Device Manager and reboot.

[idowindows]

Try the install on another pc, if the install goes better than when you try it on your pc, your drive is likely the cause of your problem.

Keep us posted...

[cooljen]

well, it turns out it was my drive. we bought a new drive online for $10 + $5 shipping and all is well. thanks for all your help. ...cooljen