In "modern" computers, the wire is not always necessary from the
CD-ROM (or RW) drive in order to hear CDAudio music.
The wire connection is an "analog link" for the drive to your sound card.

Some of the new software players (like Windows Media Player)
take the music off the CD as pure digital and puts the sound into
the sound card as digital and it is "there" that it is finally changed to analog
unless you have digital speakers...

            Hope this helps.    Rick Glazier

----- Original Message -----
From: "J. H. Meinema"

> If he puts a audio cd in it, you don't hear a sounds because he has not
> installed the cables from the writer to the audio card.
> If i put a audio cd in mine plextor and in mine system you hear the music loud
> and clear from the boxes, but here is the clue, i don't even have the cables
> attached between the writer and the audio card...

               The NOSPIN Group Promotions is now offering
              Mandrake Linux or Red Hat Linux CD sets along
         with our NOSPIN Power Linux CD...  at a great price!!!
             http://freepctech.com/goodies/promotions.shtml