I have a Packard Bell iConnect. I have been experiencing problems with the CD Re-Writer that came with the computer. I have only used the CD Re-Writer once (to create the Master Discs). The problem is that either during boot-up or when working on the computer, the CD Re-Writer "Disc In" light illuminates, either orange or green, and this causes the computer to crash, and I have to turn it off by pressing the Power button. When it occurs during boot-up , I can neither get into Windows, or reach the stage where I can press Ctrl to enter Safe Mode. This first happened about two weeks ago. The following events may be unrelated, but I thought I would tell you just in case. There had been a thunderstorm on the day it first happened, but the computer was off, the Broadband modem was disconnected from the socket, and the power travels through a surge protector, and so I didn't feel I needed to turn it off at the mains. Also, two days previous to this, I had received a movie over MSN Messenger from a friend, but this had been virus-checked before I received it. When I tried to play the movie, Windows Media Player told me that I was required to download a codec to play the movie, which I did (I think the codec was called Xvid). After the first occurrence of the aforementioned problem, I deleted the movie and uninstalled the codec, and the problem seemed to go. However, yesterday, I tried installing the webcam which came with the computer, as I noticed that I had never actually used it. I checked the compatibility of the webcam, and my computer met all the system requirements. The software was installed successfully, but when I tried plugging in the webcam, "Plug and Play" recognised it and then the CD Re-Writer lit up and the computer once again crashed. It took several attempts to get back into Windows, but I eventually did, and I uninstalled everything related to the webcam. This, like before, seemed the solve the problem, but when I turned the computer on today, the same error occurred, and it took seven attempts to get back into Windows. I have, in fact, had to write this email three times and have saved it in Notepad in case it crashes when sending it! Do you have any suggestions? I have thought about possibly using Smart Restore to restore the CD Re-Writer. Thank you, and apologies for the length of this message!

Nick Cooper, strikes me that your concern about the surge might be spot-on. Sounds like you might have protected things well on the power side and still gotten bitten! A lightening strike on cable broadband or DSL broadband can travel from a distance and zap sensitive electronics on your machine. Says here in the fine print that both have supressors, but... HTH. Ed in Texas.

Thanks, Ed. I emailed Packard Bell, and haven't yet received a response, but it's only been two days. Do you, or anyone else, think that using Smart Restore (a Packard Bell program for restoring hardware to its factory settings) would work?

Hi Nick Not sure I can help with this, though a bit more information would be helpful. e.g. What makes you think that the CD light coming on is the cause of your problem rather than just another sympton of it? Get my drift? I have an HP i-Media machine so should be able to emulate most things for you. Regards Stuart

Well, to be honest, I don't know, but I presumed that it was the cause because the light comes on, and then there's a sound like the machine's trying to read a disc, and this is when the computer either freezes up, or stops booting. I have noticed that sometimes, when the problem is during boot-up, if I leave it for about five minutes, it eventually sorts itself out.

Hi Nick Not a lot to there to help! As for what your computer is doing for 5 minutes I really have no suggestion. Will it let you do a CTL/ALT/DEL whilst it is contemplating its navel? If so, what is running? Regarding "Smart Restore", I too would love to know what it can do. It came bundled with Win Me but totally undocumented. If anyone can shed light on its capabilities I too would like to know!!! Let me know if you can shed any more light on what's running during those 5 minutes. Regards Stuart

Well in the five minutes, it doesn't really appear to be doing much at all- the CD Re-writer sounds like it's looking for a disc (it sounds stuck). And then suddenly, it all returns to life and continues with boot-up. As for Smart Restore, I read my old Packard Bell manual- it's a program for restoring software and hardware to its factory configuration.