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        General >> Off Topic Subjects >> really annoying computer problem
        
(Message started by: craig on Nov 17^th, 2004, 7:36am)

Title: really annoying computer problem
Post by craig on Nov 17^th, 2004, 7:36am

not being to technically minded ( ;)),my computer seems to have gone into a world of it's own,i have a 2 1/2 year old packard bell i-media,my problem is this.......
every so often,and totally un-prompted the cr re-writer drive just keeps ejecting/re-loading the tray in and out continously this can go on for an hour at a time,then stops,couple of hours later,starts again,this can happen off and on line,the computer has a dvd rom at the top,re-write drive below,then the floppy drive,does anybody know if this sounds like a major computer problem,or simply a need to replace the cd re-writer,would really appreciate any help,because what should be an hours surfing turns into a 3/4 hour time consuming night-mare ??? ??? ??? ???

craig..

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by gadgetmandb on Nov 17^th, 2004, 8:19am

HAVE YOU GOT ANTI VIRUS SOFTWARE INSTALLED ?
It could be a viruse . If the answer is yes Nortons ARRRRRRRRG, I don't trust it , It has caused nothing but problems on several of my mates XP systems.... Personaly i would unistall it and download AVG 6 personal edition from .... www.grisoft.com it is free to non corporate users i.e the general public at home. very easy to use. If that fails borrow a cd drive from a friend and try it in your system. if it is ok change yours if not do the above.

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by Vulcan on Nov 17^th, 2004, 8:27am

Yep a virus is my thinking too... I seem to remember that the W32/Fakerr virus opens and closes the CD drawer. It's a bit of a nasty too as it can delete serious system files.

Do an AV check immediately.

regards

George

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by craig on Nov 17^th, 2004, 12:32pm

s**t do i need that right now >:( >:( >:(
running bloody norton as well ???..
thanks guys for the advice,will get into my norton set up now :-/ :-/ :-/

craig..

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by craig on Nov 17^th, 2004, 3:07pm

not sure if this is good or bad,have just finished my AV scan,and nothing was showing :),but have norton AV ,and by what you guys are saying,that dont count for much :'(..................
if it the the rewrite drive,do i jut replace the re-writer,or do i have to also to install more/different software because of the new installation ???..........

sorry for the ignorance guys,all this "electrical-inter-web" is a little too much for me.....

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by Vulcan on Nov 17^th, 2004, 3:22pm

If you replace a CD drive/ RW drive/DVD drive or the like you should not need to install any software to drive it as the system contains all the necessaries to detect them and make them available for use.
Your existing CD creation software will detect any new burner drives installed too so now worries there.. ;D

First of all though I would go to AVG website and download a free copy of the AV soft then uninstall Norton and install AVG then do a full scan.

If nothing then shows up you could look at the drive being wonky. Here at work I would swap it out into another PC to see if the symptoms still occurred... I realise this isn't always possible in the home situation but if you do happen to have a second PC it's worth a try.

regards

George

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by daven on Nov 17^th, 2004, 7:13pm

Hi Craig,

Without overloading you on suggestions you could try un-plugging the offending cd and see if the problem transfers to the DVD - if so it could well be a virus and finds the cd first?

Good luck mate

Dave ;)

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by Eddie on Nov 18^th, 2004, 5:45am

A usefull little proggy is Startup CPL.
Sits in the control panel,2 clicks and you can see whats starting up when you switch on.
get used to it and as soon as anything suspicious starts to happen take a look at the startup programs for something new.

eddie

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by craig on Nov 18^th, 2004, 6:56am

well,done a scan with my norton,and nothing untoward has shown up,removed the offending cd re-writer yesterday,and all last night,and so far this morning,all seems to be fine,(will be obtaining another re-writer today to install and check)..............
one thing i would like to ask though is this..
does anybody have anything good to say about norton,i use 2002 (installed when the computer was new),i have always used and ran live update,and to date have no problems,i have just renewed my subscription as well(3 weeks ago),now i'm being told norton is not up to the job,and to try this AVG stuff, so is there that much of a difference between certain "free" software,and norton which i subscribe too ?.......

craig..

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by daven on Nov 18^th, 2004, 7:34am

Sorry mate - I don't like Norton either - used it once on a 98 machine, ran too slow so I took it off and used AVG which was recommended by an network manager mate - ran fine from then on!

Now use Sophos which I get free as the licence we have at work covers home PCs :)

Most IT guys I know don't recommend Norton for one reason or another! ::)

IMO the software is only as good as the updates and the speed at which they are released AVG and Sophos have a good reputation in this area. But like all software it should run well on your PC and not cause to many other problems and at least user friendly enough to configure without costing money or hartache!

Regards

Dave

http://www.savastore.com/default.aspx

Good place for parts too!

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by Snoopy on Nov 18^th, 2004, 8:07am

Norton YUK!

I do as a hobby build and service 'friends' computers and the only ones I seem to have trouble with are the computers with NORTON software on them .. As soon as it is removed then things seem to go OK so MY advice get rid.. there are cheaper and really MUCH better alternatives out there....If you want a cheap source of parts for your computer I can recommend http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/home/ I use them a lot and there service really is good....

There are loads of free AV software about but the best according to most of the reviews I have read is 'Kapersky personal' but have not got any reports from pepole that use it but its really like cars its a personal thing.. whatever 'suits sir!

There's a free AV scanner at http://vil.nai.com/vil/stinger/
runs in memory so its not installed.... Quite good..

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by David_South_West on Nov 18^th, 2004, 9:03am

Had lots of problems with Norton on variuos machines.I recomend grisoft's avg6.For hardware I also use ebuyer quite a lot as well as pcnextday for urgent stuff a little more expensive but lots cheaper than Pcworld.

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by scorpio_man on Nov 18^th, 2004, 9:33am

hi there

well i use norton 2000 with no problems at all! it was all that was lying about when i built my 2nd pc, so i've stuck by it. i update it every couple of days (+5mb file). i will agree that it does slow down start-up a bit, but i've not noticed any issue will running the pc (xp pro, sp2 & the windows firewall ;D).

all works for me (touching wood, crossing fingers, etc)

Title: Re: really annoying computer problem
Post by craig on Nov 18^th, 2004, 4:48pm

thanks to everyone for there input........ :)
and to andrew for supporting norton ;),just renewed my subscription last month,so kinda feel i got to get my money's worth right ???......
snoopy,downloaded the virus scanner (thank-you),and again,this showed nothing,so i'm assuming it must be a "wonky" CD re-writer,am well on the case now...
thanks once again everyone..... ;D ;D

craig..