The CD-ROM lens seems to be dirty. It reads audio CD OK but not data or programme CDs. It is a LG CD-ROM CRD_8483B.
Is there any way of cleaning the lens (apart from a head cleaning disc, which appears to be quite useless) ?
Is it worth paying to have the CD-ROM stripped and cleaned or would it be better to buy a new unit, which will presumably be faster?
Many thanks in anticipation.
Depending on how old your CD drive is and/or how much use it has had, it may well be dying on you. I have had the same problem where my drive will not read copied disks and no amount of cleaning will do anything to help...the same with my stereo in fact.
If a cleaning disk is not working I would get another one (CD-RW approx $200?) and keep the old one in to use for copying if and when it works. Cost would prohibit getting it cleaned and I wouldn't like to try to do it myself!
Matt
Hi -
If you have an old CDROM drive, 8x were about the worst, it may not read the blue CD's and you may need a new unit. CD ROM drives are about less than $100, or as suggested buy a CDRW.
I've found the philips cleaning disk (~$25 at DSE) great for getting old drives working again. Including one with a lense covered in grease (I had to chuck the disk when I was done).
Don't bother with cheap cleaners because the bristles come out and get stuck around the lense.
Definitley not worth taking anywhere to get cleaned,have a go yourself as you have nothing to lose.
I take the lid off my cdrom & clean the lens using meths & a cotton bud.
I find meths ok because its not too aggressive on the plastic lens & it evaporates.
Cheers steve
TOP
