Linda,

I have had three CD ROM drives go bad in the last two months (thank you
Russell Smith for vindicating those of us who happen to get the system at
the wrong time).  The most recent was on a system I was upgrading for
someone.  He wanted to learn, so we did a little interactive lesson with him
doing half the work.  Part way through the install, he got a lesson in
reality.  The CD ROM drive just up and died.

But wait, that's not all.  It was late at night, and we didn't want to run
out a get a new one right then (I had a temporary spare), so he took the
machine home to have it's CD drive replaced later.  Then it started working
again.  And then it stopped working again.  The drive was about a year old.

They can be fickle little things, and it's not uncommon for them to die like
this.  This particular one showed up just as you describe in the My Computer
window, but the drive simply would not work.  It sounds like this could be
your problem.  Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

Kyle Elmblade
[log in to unmask]

From: Linda McCoy <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Saturday, December 16, 2000 2:56 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] CD ROM message


> I received the following message accessing my CD ROM drive:
>
>         Drive inaccessible
>         Incorrect function
>
> It had been working fine for the last 3 months...never any problem.
> Windows 2000 Prof. operating system
> Acer 40X CD ROM (internal)
> I'm also running a HP CD RW external USB drive.
> Both were working fine with no problems.
> The only thing that I can think of that I've done differently is....
> I used the HP CD writer software to Copy a disk.  (It worked fine...copied
> the disk in the now inaccessible CD drive to the blank in the CD
> RW).  That's the last time I used the CD Drive.
> I've run all the troubleshooting wizards, etc from Microsoft.
> It doesn't play Audio CD's either.
>
> I've tried removing the CD RW from the system and then removing the CD
> drive and reinstalling it on reboot with new drivers.  It still does not
> work.  The system recognizes the drive...the drive letter is there but I
> get the same message.
>
> ANY SUGGESTIONS??????
> Thanks,
> Linda McCoy
> [log in to unmask]

         PCBUILD maintains hundreds of useful files for download
                     visit our download web page at:
                     http://nospin.com/pc/files.html