A friend has a computer that has a malfunctioning cd rom. It powers up but repeatedly opens and closes by itself and will not read.

Hi ShadowRidge,

Has your friend recently had the case apart for some reason? If so, have him check the cables. Has your friend tried to clean the CD-ROM with a CD cleaner? If the cables are tight and cleaning the heads doesn't work, then it might be that the CD-ROM is toast.

Maybe someone else will have a better idea.

Good luck.

Big Blue 66

What kind of computer is this? My sister has a Compaq with a CD ROM that did the same thing, plus wouldn't open most of the time when you pushed the button. Never did figure out why, and their so-called "tech support" claimed it was a software problem, which is the only explanation they ever give for anything. (That means they don't have to send out a tech to look at it.)

She later replaced the CD ROM and it solved the problem. I now have the same unit and in another computer it refuses to open at all, whether by the mechanical button or the Eject option in Audio CD player programs. I have to try for 10 minutes to get it to finally open. So I'm thinking it's a flaky CD ROM, replace it. By the way, the unit I described is now in the junk box...

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Soon as I come up with all the answers...they change the questions!!

Computer Information Links (http://www.geocities.com/paleopete/)

Why toss it in the junk box when you can use it for a boat anchor... which is what I think compaqs are good for, boat anchors... but that is just my opinion

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Joe Redd
MCP

Now come on ReddDogg they can be used for many more things than boat anchors (like doorstops and.....)

Carefully look inside when the CD is open. Is it dusty or are there any pieces of paper inside? Most if not all CDs use an optical sensor to know when it has a disk inserted. Try cleaning with a blast of air then other cleaning techniques.

If it is a 24X or slower don't waste too much time on it because a 40X can be had for about what a service call would be on this one!

I would strongly caution against using a blast of air inside the CD-ROM. I toasted mine when I tried that. Better to use a cleaning CD with little brushes on it.

However, if the tray won't stay closed long enough to run the CD, it may just be time to trash it.

MJC is right, CD-ROMs can be had for little of nothing nowadays. Try not to go too generic though. Brand name is usually more reliable.

Cheers,

Big Blue