I have a strange problem with my CD writer (Memorex Fortymax). I can write CD's and browse some data CD's, but can't see music CD's (and none of the media players recognize that a CD is in the tray). I also can't install new software - the windows explorer doesn't see the CD. It's probably something simple but I'm at a loss! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

hello have a look in device manager? any errors?

Sounds like the problem is down to the data book format on the disks from what you're saying, or more likely down to the software's ability to read it. I take it that since it can write to disks but not read from them, it has no problem dealing with blank or rewritable disks? I'd be tempted to set a system restore point and backup the registry, then uninstall the CD writing software. From that point on after a reboot Windows should see the drive as a CDROM only, rather than a CD Writer. If the drive can now read disks ok, then it sounds like the software for the writer was at fault, maybe worth a reinstall? Worst case scenario is you can always restore back to the point before you uninstalled the writer software (just in case it does still not read data discs). Any other thoughts guys? Mark

I've looked in device manager - no problems or conflicts. I also updated the firmware for the CD burner, did the Windows ME troubleshooter, etc. to no avail. I doubt that it is related to the CD burner software because Windows can't browse in the explorer, and CD's burn just fine. I have a second CD drive - read only, that also can't be read in Windows explorer. So I'm thinking that it's a problem with Windows ME - some setting that is awry.