| The world of computer data storage media certainly | | | | the drive can help reduce this problem. |
| has moved on since the old days of 8 or 5.25-inch | | | | Try re-recording the data onto a CD-R, if it was |
| floppy disks. Modern and far more reliable recordable | | | | originally stored on a rewritable CD. This is useful in |
| and re-writable CD's have virtually completely | | | | that CD-R's are often more easily read by CD drives |
| replaced the floppy disk. Unfortunately problems do | | | | since they have improved physical recording |
| still exist, which can cause data to be corrupted and | | | | processes. If the CD drive is old then the opposite |
| lost. | | | | may be true, in this case place a rewritable CD in the |
| When disaster strikes and you find you've got a data | | | | old drive, older CD drives will have more of a chance |
| loss issue with one of your recordable/ re-writable | | | | of reading this type of disk. |
| CD's there are a number of simple troubleshooting | | | | The computer BIOS needs to be looked at to ensure |
| moves you can make to try to get that all important | | | | it is not corrupted. The BIOS can be found upon the |
| data back. | | | | initial boot-up process of the computer, usually by |
| First of all, make sure you know the disc in question | | | | pushing a specific key, e.g. F1. Once in the BIOS the |
| is a CD and not a fairly similar looking DVD disc. It | | | | CD drive should be listed in the boot-up sequence. |
| follows that you should ensure the disc drive on your | | | | When booting up the computer, the CD drive should |
| computer is designed for CD's and not DVD's. CD | | | | be listed in the right place, typically second within the |
| players don't function properly with DVDs, but, some | | | | drive sequence. |
| DVD players can read CD's. | | | | The driver(s) can be reinstalled by their careful |
| Next you should try and make the CD as clean as | | | | removal from the 'device manager list'. After this |
| possible using an air canister or, lint-free cloth or | | | | reboot the system and wait for Windows to install |
| wiper. The best cleaning hand motions are from the | | | | the driver automatically. Upon following this many |
| centre of the disk out to the disc edge. Don't move | | | | small problems can be ironed out. If problems still |
| the wiper in a circular motion. A small quantity of | | | | persist you can remove the CD drive from the |
| distilled water can help very tough marks to come | | | | registry, then using the windows 'device manager' |
| off. Removing marks such as dirty fingerprints or felt | | | | you can reinstall it. |
| tip pen ink will improve the discs readability. | | | | If after having tried these basic methods of |
| Ensure the cabling connecting the computer to the | | | | countering a data issue on your CD with no positive |
| drive is snug and secure. Cables are actually able to | | | | results you will most likely have to travel to a |
| move out of their sockets with repeated shutdowns | | | | specialist data recovery expert. Specialists have an |
| or startups due to associated expansion and | | | | array of equipment and procedures that will more |
| contraction cycles. Screwing or clipping the cable to | | | | often than not yield good results fast. |