Troubleshooting CD-ROM Problems in Windows NT

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, and 4.0

SUMMARY

This article describes how to troubleshoot problems with your CD-ROM drive in Windows NT.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are experiencing problems with your CD-ROM drive in Windows NT, follow these steps:

1. Make sure the CD-ROM drive is listed on the Windows NT hardware compatibility list (HCL).

2. If you use a SCSI CD-ROM drive, make sure the SCSI controller is listed on the Windows NT HCL.

3. If you use a CD-ROM drive or SCSI controller that is not listed on the Windows NT HCL, contact the device manufacturer for a Windows NT device driver or compatibility information.

4. Verify that the CD-ROM drive is installed using the manufacturer's specifications.

5. If you try to install a SCSI CD-ROM drive:

   - Verify that the SCSI bus is terminated correctly. On a SCSI bus, the last SCSI device should be terminated with a terminator provided by the manufacturer (refer to the SCSI adapter's documentation for more information about termination).

   - Verify the CD-ROM SCSI ID. The SCSI ID of the CD-ROM drive should normally be set to SCSI ID 2 or above. Make sure the CD-ROM drive is not configured to use the same SCSI ID another device is using. Refer to your CD-ROM drive documentation for information on how to set or change the SCSI ID of your CD-ROM drive.

   - Verify that the SCSI ID of the SCSI controller is set to SCSI ID 7.

   - Verify that no other adapters are configured with settings that conflict with the SCSI controller settings.

   - Check the Windows NT Event Viewer for error messages regarding the CD-ROM drive or SCSI controller.

   - In Control Panel, double-click the Devices icon, and make sure that the SCSICDRM device has a Startup value of System.

6. If you try to install an IDE CD-ROM drive:

   - Use a device driver designed for the CD-ROM drive that you have installed.

   - If a specific driver for your IDE CD-ROM drive is not provided by the manufacturer of the drive, install the IDE CD-ROM driver supplied in Windows NT. This driver is compatible only with IDE CD- ROM drives that are ATAPI 1.2 compliant. To verify the ATAPI compliance level of your CD-ROM drive, contact the drive manufacturer.

   - If you have three or more IDE devices on your system, including the CD-ROM drive, you may need to modify the Windows NT Registry to add support for more than two IDE devices. For more information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

             ARTICLE-ID: Q103934
             TITLE     : Adding More Than Two IDE or ESDI Drives in Windows
                         NT
   
   

7. If you try to install a CD-ROM drive that uses a proprietary, non-SCSI interface:

   - Verify that the proper device driver is installed by running Windows NT Setup and selecting Add/Remove SCSI Adapters from the Options menu.

   - Check the Windows NT Read Me (Readme.wri) file and the Windows NT HCL for notes concerning your proprietary interface CD-ROM drive.

8. Determine if the CD-ROM drive is recognized by Windows NT. Run Windows NT File Manager or Windows NT Explorer to see if a drive letter is assigned to the CD-ROM drive.

9. If the CD-ROM drive is assigned a drive letter, try to view a directory of the CD-ROM drive. Make sure a data compact disc is inserted into the CD-ROM drive.

10. If you can read a data compact disc, but cannot play a music compact disc, double-click Devices in Control Panel, and then set the Cdaudio device startup to System. Some SCSI-1 CD-ROM drives require the Cdaudio service, as do SCSI-2 drives that do not support SCSI-2 Cdaudio.

    If your speakers are plugged into a sound card, plug them directly into the headphone jack on your CD-ROM drive to test whether the audio CD is playing.

11. If the system is configured to dual-boot to another operating system, confirm that the CD-ROM drive functions in the other operating system. If the CD-ROM drive does not function properly in MS-DOS or another operating system, contact the manufacturer of the drive for assistance.

   ARTICLE-ID: Q139986
   TITLE:      CD-ROM Drive Not Recognized After Installing Windows NT