Problems with CD replay on PC - Help please!

Posted by: Clive B on 01 April 2010

In January I purchased a new PC (my first with an AMD processor). I am using the excellent 64 bit Windows 7 (and the dreadful Office 2007 - why did they have to change the old toolbars?).

This week I tried to copy a CD to play in the car. The process seemed to take a long time and when it was finished, although it appears the CD recorded correctly, there was dreadful noise / distortion on the recorded disc. It sounded like someone was frying eggs and amplifying it through the speakers.

I then tried just playing a CD which sounded just as bad. Obviously, the noise occurs when the CD is being read or in the signal processing. The CD also skips and/or jumps (rather like when you have a greasy disc or puck in a Naim player). I have tried various CDs. Some are fine, but about 50% exhibit this problem. I encounter the same noise on both Windows Media Player and Roxio. I have also tried one DVD which worked fine in Windows Media Player.

I am in contact by e-mail with the manufacturer, who having suggested some software / BIOS updates is now suggesting a change of optical drive.

Does anyone on this forum have any idea?

This is a most frustrating problem, so all ideas welcomed!

Thanks, CB
Posted on: 03 April 2010 by winkyincanada
Don't worry too much about Office 2007. I hated it at first, too - but now prefer it. Most people I know have the same experience. It takes a while to figure it out, that's all.
Posted on: 04 April 2010 by ewemon
Go with changing your optical drive as that's what the problem seems to stem from if you can't play cd's.
Posted on: 06 April 2010 by Clive B
quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:
Go with changing your optical drive as that's what the problem seems to stem from if you can't play cd's.


The new drive arrives tomorrow, so I will try that. It seems logical to me that it must be a mechanical issue - I can't see how software would differentiate between discs.

As for Office 2007, I have been using it at work for some time, but I still hate the toolbar 'ribbon'. I find it so much easier to use old keyboard shortcuts (Alt+, Ctrl+ etc.). And why did they have to change the file format and extension? It now means that my PC at work has to be set up to save in old .doc and .xls format so that when sent to anyone still using previous versions of MS software, the files can be opened. Bizarre!

Actually, once I get the CD replay sorted I think I'll start a rant on here about MS Office 2007, just to prove I'm not alone!
Posted on: 06 April 2010 by ewemon
quote:
Originally posted by Clive Blackman:
quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:
Go with changing your optical drive as that's what the problem seems to stem from if you can't play cd's.


The new drive arrives tomorrow, so I will try that. It seems logical to me that it must be a mechanical issue - I can't see how software would differentiate between discs.

As for Office 2007, I have been using it at work for some time, but I still hate the toolbar 'ribbon'. I find it so much easier to use old keyboard shortcuts (Alt+, Ctrl+ etc.). And why did they have to change the file format and extension? It now means that my PC at work has to be set up to save in old .doc and .xls format so that when sent to anyone still using previous versions of MS software, the files can be opened. Bizarre!

Actually, once I get the CD replay sorted I think I'll start a rant on here about MS Office 2007, just to prove I'm not alone!


Clive there is a Microsoft compatibility patch for users of the old versions of Office. Just Google Microsoft Compatibilty Patch and it comes up.

We have had the same problem as we have used 2007 for sometime now. Every email I send out I always include a link to the patch with the reason why. That has always worked for me.
Posted on: 09 April 2010 by Clive B
quote:
Originally posted by ewemon:
Clive there is a Microsoft compatibility patch for users of the old versions of Office. Just Google Microsoft Compatibilty Patch and it comes up.

We have had the same problem as we have used 2007 for sometime now. Every email I send out I always include a link to the patch with the reason why. That has always worked for me.


Thanks for that tip, ewemon. Although I think we're sorted on that issue by saving in compatibility mode, I shall have to let my mother-in-law know the link - could save me a lot of hassle in having to receive her e-mail attachments, open them, save them in MS Office 2003 format and send them back!

Cheers, CB