Can't Play Music CD's

Deebhoy · 07 May 2011

Folks

Anybody any suggestions. My PC won't play music CD's. The information on the CD loads but then nothing. I've tried just about everything I know and trailed the internet. I also tried uninstalling itunes and playing CD's through windows media centre - but it froze when after the information on the CD came up.

This is really frustrating - I can watch DVD's and install software from a disc but can't listen to music on CD's.

Deebhoy · 14 May 2011

Bump - tried everything - still can't do it

marsmimar · 14 May 2011

Will the CD play on another computer or a stand alone CD player (just to verify it's not damaged in some way?) You could also try another almost universal player called VLC. It's free and will play almost anything.

VideoLAN - Official page for VLC media player, the Open Source video framework!

And there may be something in this Microsoft tutorial.

Playing music in Windows Media Center: frequently asked questions

Deebhoy · 14 May 2011

Thanks for the response Marsmimar. I tried VLC - same thing happens. CD information loads but then won't actually play. This is really beginning to piss me off and is a complete mystery to me. All the CD's work on the laptop. I know its going to be something daft.

marsmimar · 14 May 2011

Sorry if this is a lame question but if you're using AutoPlay is it set to a default action? From the start menu search box type in Change Default Settings for Media or Devices. In the dialog box that opens look under Media, find the type of media that you want to change the AutoPlay setting for. Click the action that you want AutoPlay to take when you insert that type of media into your computer.

Any possibility of malware interfering?

What happens if you manually try to select a music track? (Start > Computer > right click CD/DVD drive > Open > select a song to play.)

You're right, this is a puzzler.

Deebhoy · 19 May 2011

Sorry its taken me a while to respond.

1. The PC was set to autoplay
2. Re. malware - would my anti-virus not pick this up? (I use ESET)
3. When I put the music cd into the drive the name of the songs and album loads but then it acts like its being saved to my PC. In itunes it jumps to the odd numbered track (1,3,5,7,)
4. If I try to manually listen to the track nothing happens. The PC isn't frozen but it makes no difference what track I choose - it won't play.

Very unusual but would effin love to get this sorted its driving me crazy.

Ponmayilal · 19 May 2011

I have a vague feeling that your media player may be set to rip CDs automatically. Just go to WMP Tools>Options>Rip Music and uncheck Rip CD automatically if it is checked. ( I am really shooting in the dark.............it is ages since I played an audio CD and my present lappie does not have an optical drive to check out on this.)

Deebhoy · 20 May 2011

Thanks for the response Ponmayilal but the rip cd's wasn't ticked. For what it is worth I am using a Samsung SH-S223c model.

DVD's play fine, software loads fine - cd's don't.

marsmimar · 20 May 2011

Are the problem CDs store bought, home-made, or both? What format (CD-R, CD+R, CD-RW, CD+RW?)

Ponmayilal · 20 May 2011

Samsung SH S223C does not have good reviews unfortunately.

But before dumping that, try and replace the power cable to the optical drive. Also connect it to a different Molex connector from the power supply. Recently one user had reported that the problem with his optical drive was traced finally to the molex connector from which one pin had come out resulting in insufficient power to the drive and erratic performance. This was least expected.

Next try an external optical drive or slip in another good optical drive and check whether they perform OK. If you can't do this and your Samsung drive is within warranty, return it and get another brand optical drive.

EDIT 2145 hrs ET: Find some posts here at http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...7-d858b98ee283 and http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/w...2-030ba2a41d50 expressing similar problems with the Samsung drive. Atleast one user had indicated that he dumped the Samsung, replaced it with another brand drive and then all was OK. I have also read a user stating that this drive has problems with non intel/non AMD SATA Controllers like Marvel and Promise in one newegg review. Overall, there seems to be some hardware compatibility problem with the Samsung drive. Hence my recommendation to dump it after doing what all you can possibly do.