Computer will not recognize CD

Hi,
I was trying to help a friend who is still running Windows 98 and her virus protection was expired. She is using a slow telephone connection to access the internet.

I was going to put the FREE AVG AntiVirus program on her computer but to download it was going to take 3 to 4 hours and I had to give up on that idea.

Next, I went home and downloaded it on my computer, then put the program on a CD-R disk. This way I figured she would only have to update the program to begin using it.

Well, for some reason, it didn't recognize my CD in her drive. Is there anyway I can get my home made CDs to be seen by her computer?

I tested the CD player and it plays music and also recognizes CD that were with her computer, such as Card Games, Greeting Card Programs.

Any help will be most appreciated. I hate to see her go without any virus protection and she really can't afford to buy a $50.00 virus checker.

Jean

 

Hello Jean,

Some older CDrom drives do not like the "coloured" dyes on modern burnable disks, they won't read ones with green or blue colours, only the silver based ones. Also check that they are "multi-speed" in case the speed is too high for her CD drive.

You are burning on CD-R, not CD-RW. Some CDrom drives won't read CD-RW disks.

An alternative to AVG is the free F-Prot DOS program. About a 4MB download. Note that it is a basic DOS program, no mouse control, navigation is by keyboard. It is small and handy (for FAT based file systems, it won't read NTFS).

Matt

 

I'm not sure exactly how to check the CDs but when I downloaded AVG I put it on a Memorex CD-R (700 mb, 80 minutes) 52x multispeed. This was silver based.

I also have a imation CD-R (700mb/80 min) that says 48x (1x-48x compatible). This also is silver based. Do you think her CD-ROM will read this CD.

Yes, I'm definitely burning on a CD-R.

If possible, please tell me what type of CD-R that I may try to see if her computer will read it.

Thanks,
Jean

P.S. I don't think I want to try to download the DOS based virus checker as I don't believe she will understand how it works. She is an elderly senior citizen with no much experience.

 

If you can not get CD drive to work, could try using floppy drive.
Will need a file splitter to span AVG over required number of disks. If you need a file splitter, choose one that includes a process on the floppy to restore the file.

 

Jean, another thing to try is to turn of the "Auto Insert Notification" setting. To do this go into the Device manager, click on the CDROM option, select the CD Writer, click on the Properties button and uncheck the "Auto Insert Notification" box. I have found this to work at times when the CD writer will not recognize or accept a CD-R either new or used. Unchecking this will not affect the CD writer execpt it will not auto start a CD. You would have to start the CD from Start>Run>select CD/RW drive then type in the *.exe file name to run it. Otherwise go back to the Device Manger and re-check the "Auto Insert Notification" when you have finished.

 

Yes, try an Imation disk, although it may be a matter of trial and error. You have used a silver based disk and it should be speed compatible. Try any other suggestions before rushing out to purchase other brands.

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John B's reply sparked something. Check that you are "closing" the burnt disk. Closing means that no further information will be written to the disk. New CDrom drives seem to be able to read disks that are not closed, older CDroms drive won't be able to read them.

Look in the Help menu when you are in the burning program. If the Help menu has a search option, search for "close ".

Matt

 

I want to thank everyone for helping me solve this problem.

I have burned the Imation disk and also made sure I closed the burnt disk.

I'll see what happens the next time I go over to help my friend. I will let you know then. If it doesn't work then I think I'll advise her to get a new PC as the one she has is very old.

Thank you again for all the help.

Jean

 

If the computer is real old it's quite possible it just isn't capable of reading cdr disks. I've got an old one here that won't read a cdr disk no matter what kind it is. If she insists on not getting a new one the file splitter thing that Dennis mentioned would be a good way to get AVG installed on the computer. There's a lot of free ones available but my favorite is Chainsaw. It uses a batch file to put the file back together once you've transfered it to the other computer so there's no need to have any special software installed on hers to do it. You might have a look at it if she wants to keep the computer. Works great.