CD-ROM Drive Not Registering CDs

[LiteAfterglow]

First of all -- thanks so much for having such an informative board!
The problem I'm having is with my CD-ROM Drive. In the beginning when I first noticed the problem, my CD-ROM Drive would have to spin a CD several times: I'd hear the normal loading noise, then right before the "click" happened when it finishes loading, the CPU would make a sighing noise, stop spinning the CD, then start the process over again. I would open the CD-ROM Drive, spin my CD around and put it in a different position, then try again. I might only have to do this once or twice, but as the problem got worse, I might be sitting at my CD-ROM drive coaxing it in that way for half an hour.
Now it has completely stopped working. When I put in a CD, it makes loud noises while spinning, the computer freezes for a few seconds, then the program for music CDs opens automatically. Game CDs don't load at all, and music CDs sound fuzzy, like the reception of a bad radio station.
I own a Dell Dimension XPS D300 that's about 2 years old.
Should I clean the CD-ROM Drive? Can I do it myself, and how, or should I get it professionally done? If I have to replace some parts, how much should that cost me?
Thanks so much! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif

[sea69]

I would clean it myself 1st, and if that didnt work , heres a hint:
I just bought a new cd-rom 50x for about $45.00

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lol...so I cant spell...

[Paleo Pete]

Yes, clean the drive. You'll find instructions in This Post (http://www.pcguide.com/ubb/Forum11/HTML/000116.html)

If that doesn't work, you might have to invest in a new drive. As stated already, they aren't that expensive these days...

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[LiteAfterglow]

Thanks for the instructions! How can I seperate my CD-ROM Drive from my CPU so I can clean it?

[Paleo Pete]

I've never seen a CD ROM attached to a CPU...it's usually bolted into a drive bay inside the case, which I suppose is what you mean by CPU...The CPU itself is an IC chip about 2" square mounted onto the motherboard.

Remove the cover, and look inside. You'll see several drive bays, containing the hard drive, floppy, CD ROM and anything else that happens to be installed. Look for screws on either side of the CD ROM, pull the cables off the back, carefully, and pull the CD ROM out the front of the case. Some have screws in front of the drive rails too, watch for those. Installation is the reverse. Note the orientation of the ribbon cable and audio cable. They have to be reinstalled exactly as they were.

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My hairdresser charges me a finder's fee!!

Please post your questions on the forums, not in my email.

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