Problem reading CDs

[gillersuk]

I recently bought some PC games but am having trouble running them. They seem to install fine, going through all the usual questions of where i want to install them, and the progress bar etc. The problem is that when i tried to start the games up i got an error message reading 'please insert the right CD into the drive and restart the program'. I have both a DVD drive and a CD-RW drive and am using the DVD drive mostly to play games on. If anyone knows whether this problem can be fixed, it would be much appreciated.

Gillersuk

[saphalline]

Older games are tied to whichever drive you installed it from, so if you're installing from the CD-RW drive and trying to play them on the DVD drive, that could be your problem. If you are installing and trying to play from just the DVD drive, then something else is the culprit. Perhaps DMA is not set on your DVD drive?

Post more info about your system if you still have the problem.

[gillersuk]

Thanks Saphalline for your reply. I have tried installing and playing on the same drive for both drives so thats not it i dont think. the other thing is they're mostly new games, GTA3, MOHAA and Mafia and a few more. Ive got a very new system: Dell Dimension 4500, INtel Pentium 4 Processor 2.26GHz, 256MB DDR Ram, 64MB nVidea GeForce 4 Graphics Card, Creative Labs SB Live 1024 Voice Sound Card. My two drives are a 16x DVD Drive with PowerDVD Software, and 40/10/40x CD-RW drive. If you can think of anything else that might have an effect please leave a reply here, it would be much appreciated.

Whats DMA?

Gillersuk

[NiroTToriN]

There may be another cause for the problem...

Many games cds use a "cd-checks" copy protection to insure their games aren't copied. Something could be hampering that program. No idea what. You said you bought the games, so it shouldn't be an issue of a bad or copied disk since it seems to be on all of your games.

A quick fix is to download a no-cd patch. It's basically an altered .exe file that you copy into the game dir that enables you to run the game without the cd. I use them myself since it saves on wear-and-tear of the original cds. The problem with them is that if you update the game, you most likely will need an updated no-cd patch.

{edit}

Also, what OS are you running? AND... I'd think about getting some more RAM. Depending on the type or RAM, it can be pretty cheap. Consider another stick of 256mb or more. You'll find improved performance... Just a suggestion.

Good luck!

[mjc]

Be forewarned, the "No-CD" patches can be considered "cracks" and in many areas they could be considered illegal....

But...that is not the reason I removed that link....I removed the link because of the links to porn sites, even on the main page. If that is the only way they can support their site, then it is time they fade into oblivion.

Those sites are also tremendous security risks, in that they will download (drive by downloading is a favorite tactic on porn and warze sites) all manner of dialers, hijackers, and some will even give you outright trojans ....

[saphalline]

I wonder if Dell would be able to help? I mean, custom-built machines don't usually have this problem, so maybe Dell put some extra thick OS junk on your PC. And since Dell may have screwed up your system you may as well use their help desk! Or have you already?