Windows Virus affecting cd-rom's?

[Wingnut]

Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Anyone heard of a virus that kills your cd-rom in Windows? I just suddenly noticed that my cd-rom was ignoring me ... it powers, is recognized by the system, Control Panel/System reports everything is ok ... but nothing will see the drive ... anything using explorer reports no media or invalid media in the drive.
I checked out Symantec and don't see anything about a virus or worm that hunts and destroys cd-roms ... but since TBN is usually ahead of the rest of the world, I thought I'd check here...

peter

 

[GlueGuy]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

You may have a corrupted driver file or some such. You might try going into the device manager and deleting the device. Then restart. At boot up Windows should find the device, and install the drivers again (have your installation disks handy). An alternative is to use the system admin tool to check installed files, but that is a royal pain (lots of files tend to get replaced with questionable versions as Windows ages....)

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

The best and fastest test is substitution of another CD-ROM drive...

If you can see the CD icon on the control panel and under system properties... normally the Win IDE devices/drivers will be ok and points to a defective laser/electronics CD hardware...

Besides CD's are dirt cheap... maybe replace it with a DVD for a few dollars more...? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

 

[JeffRey30747]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Sounds like defective hardware to me, too. These things just die for no reason and not all in the same manner. I wouldn't recommend a DVD-ROM drive unless you were actually planning on using it as DVD. I have an Afreey or Delta or some off-brand like that and it is sometimes very slow about reading the regular CD format, especially after a disc is first inserted.

 

[StoneHeartFarm]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Wingnut,

Last time I saw that happen was on a friends computer. It just stopped reading the CDrom. Turned out that the CMOS battery was low. This allowed the BIOS to return to it's default setting which was for a SCUZZI drive. I reset the BIOS and everything was fine for a few days. Then the problem returned. Finally, we went to the local Hardware and bought a new battery.

SHF

 

[TerryinMD]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Wingnut,

I had a Kenwood 72X go flakey on me a month or so ago. It kinda acted funny for a couple of weeks and then - kaput. /w3tcompact/icons/mad.gif I tried the driver tricks, using a new channel cable, and switching the power cables. I just finally gave up and moved a spare CDROM from my other PC to replace the bad one. Screwed it in, connected the cables, turned on the PC, and everything was fine. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

I vote for a bad CDROM. A new one will cost you anywhere from ~$25 - $100 depending on your level of pocketbook pain.

Terry

 

[looch]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Here's me being real simple - Have you tried a different CD?

 

[RoyJackson]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Just as an info only...not all CD-ROM drives will recognise a CD-RW disk...like it's not even there!

Although I also lean toward a dead drive, this might be something to think about.

 

[Wingnut]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Sigh .... well, looks like the consensus is harware ... which I hadn't really considered but will have to now look at. I hadn't even thought of swapping drives ... since this is a CD-RW that I only planted in there 2 months ago and haven't even used (to burn a coaster) yet.
But .... yeah, now that you ALL mention it ... it does sound like the obvious bet.
I just finished playing Lazarus with one of the other boxes that I'd kicked in frustration (I treat all computers extremely gently) so I could use it's CDRom as a mapped drive ... and installed the newest version of Norton ... and, of course, found no virii .... so .... I guess it's surgery time.
Oh well ... at 2 months, the drive should still be under warranty.

 

[DocHeb]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

I just went to the Windows Update web page and downloaded a new device driver that the site recommended (Intel Hdc Driver Version 2.0.0.2093) for my W98SE machine with a HP 8100 CD-RW. I downloaded and installed the driver, and suddenly my CD-ROM disappeared. The device drivers were loading on startup, but the P:/ drive disappeared from "My Computer", and I couldn't access the drive. I uninstalled the .dll file, and my CD-ROM has re-appeared.

 

[scruffy]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Wingnut, what software are you using in conjunction with your CD-RW? Nero? EZCD, w/Direct CD? Hot Burn? What.
I ask, because some will not recognize a drive.

 

[Wingnut]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

That's the very first thing I though of, Chris, when I saw that it was not responding properly ... but on checking the properties, it doesn't have (or need) a driver.
Think that I'll try reinstalling the software, though, before pulling the hardware ... just to see if it is a driver problem. Windows 98 has always seemed to have a problem with CD hardware.

peter

 

[Wingnut]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

I'm using Roxia's software (previously Adaptec, previously Pinnacles, etc) .... but the problem is not the software ... Windows "sees" the drive but Explorer keeps telling me that there's no media or the media is not formatted for Windows.
And, no, I'm not trying to read a CD-R or -RW ... every OEM disk I put in is treated the same.
Reason I first suspected a virus was that the last time I remember reading a disk was a CD-R that I got from eBay. It's a compendium of info the "author" collected on R/C aircraft and helicopters ... and I figured he could have easily burned in a trojan .... but Norton reports no virus in 43,000 files checked.
I'll find time this weekend to try reinstalling the software and then doing some surgury.

peter

 

[scruffy]

Re: Windows Virus affecting cd-rom\'s?

Wingnut, IF you have both EZCD Creator installed, and Direct CD, I have had the same problem you are describing. Uninstall Direct CD and it should work fine. This is particularly so if you are running only ONE drive in your 'pooter. I had no issues with it, until my HP Driver/Software cd blew up in my CD player. THEN I found the issue with using the burner to run as a 'player'.
Direct CD, does not 'release' the drive for normal playback, even if it is taken out of the startup files.
Best bet, is to uninstall all the roxio software, and reinstall, unchecking the Direct CD in the new install. Should work like a charm then.

 

[DrdanInAbq]

Wow, So many experts, very few correct answers. There IS a virus that affects the drivers for Optical Drives. The correct method to find out if you have a corrupt driver is to use your bootable OS CD and try to boot from it. If the drive reads it during post you have a corrupt driver. If it doesn't read you have a bad drive. Simple as that. The hard part is if you have a corrupt driver you have to remove the virus that is affecting it and reload the OS to replace the bad driver. You can use Norton, McAfee, etc. I prefer Panda. Also go to Superantispyware.com and download their trial version and remove any spyware you have. Then reload the OS. DO NOT ERASE the partition unless you want to lose your data.

 

[Bird]

Wow, So many experts, very few correct answers. There IS a virus that affects the drivers for Optical Drives. The correct method to find out if you have a corrupt driver is to use your bootable OS CD and try to boot from it. If the drive reads it during post you have a corrupt driver. If it doesn't read you have a bad drive. Simple as that. The hard part is if you have a corrupt driver you have to remove the virus that is affecting it and reload the OS to replace the bad driver. You can use Norton, McAfee, etc. I prefer Panda. Also go to Superantispyware.com and download their trial version and remove any spyware you have. Then reload the OS. DO NOT ERASE the partition unless you want to lose your data.

Did you happen to notice that all of this thread is over six and a half years old? If the problem wasn't solved before now, I wouldn't have much hope for him.

 

[frank_f15]

Did you happen to notice that all of this thread is over six and a half years old? If the problem wasn't solved before now, I wouldn't have much hope for him.

Thanks Bird i was wondering the same thing but you beat me to it (as usual)

 

[SnowRidge]

And if he didn't find the solution in the intervening years, I'm sure an upgrade to Vista would correct everything just fine. You betcha.

 

[MossRoad]

There is some discussions about Superantispyware being legitimate or a scam. User discretion is advised.

 

[DocHeb]

There is some discussions about Superantispyware being legitimate or a scam. User discretion is advised.

Especially when recomended by a first-time poster .