How to Fix a CD Drive That Does Not Start Automatically
Inserting a CD into a computer CD drive and waiting for it to play automatically, only to have nothing respond in terms of playback, can be a frustrating experience. Fortunately, more often than not, the remedy to such an issue is easily resolvable. Should any of the following tips not work, take a computer in to see a licensed computer repair technician.
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Instructions
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Check the cables. Computers, particularly PCs, can have their cables loosened by in-house traffic, moving or various other reasons. Eject the disk, reset the cables, then try re-inserting the CD to see if this results in automatic playback.
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Verify the CD is compatible with the accompanying drive. For instance, if one were to insert a DVD into a drive that only plays CDs, or vice versa, this would not result in automatic playback.
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Perform a dust cleansing. This requires users to remove the CD drive from the PC. To do so, follow the instructions in the computer pamphlet. If one isn't available, it's best to consult a licensed professional in order to avoid making the problem worse. For those who are able to remove the CD drive with a small screwdriver, blow some of the clean air from the compressed can into the CD drive, as this will help remove dust. This dust can build up over time, and make it nearly impossible for CD drives to read even the cleanest disks.
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Reboot the computer. For those who leave their computers on stand-by mode for weeks on end, computers need time to decompress and reboot via a restart.
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Try manually loading the CD to see if the CD drive simply isn't working at all, or just isn't popping up automatically. To do so, open the My Computer icon on the PC, then click on the CD icon in the folder. If it isn't visible, this means more attention is likely required to fix the drive. If it is visible, click on it to see if the computer responds and plays the CD.
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