? on gateway desktop with weird cdrom issue

[Soundguy]

At work we have a gateway E-1400 computer in one back office as a terminal.. Older unit.. pent III 850mhz / 128mb ram.. etc. has a teac cdrom according to device mangler /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif in win98.

Every now and then, the cdrom will pop open. In other words.. if a cd is installed, and you may be trying to install a file.. it may pop open. This isn't an auto try style cd.. it's a pop open.. mor looking like a laptop cdrom. In fact.. you can't even see the 5.25 form factor.. all you see is the little door.. for all I know.. it may not even be a 5.25" cdrom.

Any ideas on this? If it is a bad cd.. I'm guessing due to age that there are no parts.. but if it is a standard atapi/ide drive.. any reason i couldn't just run the ribbon cable out the bay along with a power extension cable to a 'regular' cdrom?

Or is this a software incompatibility / bios issue? Someone put zonealarm on it.. I'm not real fond of it.. not sure if it is causing problems.. but at leas on one occasion.. it has identified autoplay as a trojan horse.. it was on a cannon bublejet oem driver cd.. go figure.

I'd simply replace the computer due to age.. but they keep a tight rope on the coffers...

Any ideas?

thanks

Soundguy

 

[Holzster]

I had a cdrom that would open on it's own - (a full CDROM DRIVE) messed with it for a while kind of figured out that there was a short inside the Drive - replaced it all was OK.
I would get an old CCRom drive & just replug it in that IDE slot & test it out.

 

[buckle97]

Soundguy,
I know exactly which model Gateway you are talking about. If I remember right, the power and reset buttons as well as the power light are right under the cd rom drive. I never took the "laptop style" drive out, but I don't think it is a standard 5.25 drive opening. I remember the power buttons and stuff being too close to the bottom of the cd rom drawer for it to be a 5.25 drive. I don't know if this particular drive is an IDE drive, but I'm sure you could just hook up a standard cd rom drive to the existing IDE cable connected to the HDD and leave the cd rom outside the case.

Lawrence

 

[Soundguy]

Yep.. you are thinking of that model that we have. If it keeps doing this.. I'll pop the top.. and unplug that cdrom and chain an old spare one I have in it's place and just runt he cable outside if I have to... Might as well be junky looking since it's old too! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Soundguy

 

[JSUnlimited]

Yeah, I'll second everyone else. The CD-ROM drive is bad. Since it's at work why not sneak in a DVD/CD-ROM drive and then you could watch your favorite movies in the background while doing "work". /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[chili]

Soundguy, you could use that old cd-rom as a cupholder. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

 

[Soundguy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Since it's at work why not sneak in a DVD/CD-ROM drive and then you could watch your favorite movies in the background while doing "work". )</font>

My emachine pc has a dvd player.. and I.. um.. know it works... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The guy in the office across from mine has the weird cd... If work would spring for a new cd drive.. I'd drop it in. If it keeps having a problem, I will try to pry one out of them and just 'rig' it with cables hanging out the side.. etc..

Soundguy

 

[mikim]

or.... if you pm me your address I can send ya one - I've got 3 old ones in my bench locker ... you'll have to search for drivers ........

 

[CTyler]

Ummmm.....You realize that someone has snuck a program onto your PC right? Its' called MrCoffee and its opening your cup holder.

 

[Soundguy]

I take it that is a joke right.. and not a virus? It does have antivirus software on it..

Soundguy