CD-ROM won't activate

[LJMath]

My CD-Rom will not activate. I put in a CD and it spins and spins shuts down and then spins
again. I have tried cleaning the lens but this did not help.
Where do I start to troubleshoot the problem? This is an HP Pavilion with Windows 95.

[Jerkymom]

Welcome! http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif Have you tried other CDs in the drive? If it's doing that with all of them, then there's definitely something wrong with the drive itself. I have that problem sometimes with CDs created with a burner, but it the CDs you're using are retail that isn't your problem.

Hopefully someone else knows how to troubleshoot CDROM problems and can help you.

Kim

[Paleo Pete]

You might try cleaning the drive hubs inside the drive. They are round, about an inch diameter, and usually black rubber, they spin the disk so the laser can read it. If these drive hubs get dirty it will try to spin the disk but can't grab it, so it keeps spinning. They are above and below the laser lens, clean them with rubbing alcohol and Q-tips. Wait about an hour for everything to dry before powering the machine up. Be careful not to scratch the lens.

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

[LJMath]

To clean the drive hubs on the CD-ROM will it be necessary to take the cover off the computer? I cannot seem to see them looking into the CD-Rom when it opens up?

[Paleo Pete]

Yes, you have to open the case, remove the CD ROM and remove the top of the CD ROM drive. The hubs will be inside the drive. Usually round black rubber. Be very careful not to touch the laser lens, which sits just below and behind them.

------------------
If you had everything...Where would you put it?

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