Fun with hardware diagnoses

richlevy · 07-14-2008, 10:04 PM

So I was happily using Itunes for the first time to rip a few CD's since all of my other apps no longer have CDDB access.

After about 4 disks, the computer suddenly doesn't recognize inserting a music CD. I check drivers, uninstall and reinstall hardware. After a few attempts, I begin to suspect an evil record company conspiracy. This would seem like paranoia, except there already was an evil record company conspiracy, and I was accessing older CDs.

So I found an downloaded the rootkit uninstaller, which did not find any rootkit installed.

Then, I decided to check and see if data disks would work. They didn't. The door closed, the drive light came on briefly, and Windows would not recognize a disk in the drive.

So, after using the troubleshooter, which came up empty, I went with the final option. I opened up the computer, pushed down on the ribbon connectors to both drives and the motherboard, and then took a vacuum hose and gave the motherboard and interior a quick clean.

Rebooted and everything is now ok.

I am now adding a full size vaccuum cleaner to the sledgehammer and crowbar in my computer repair kit.

SteveDallas · 07-14-2008, 10:13 PM

Exact Audio Copy might be worth checking out. It's what I use these days. The database it checks against (freedb?) seems to be at least as accurate as CDDB and it'll do variable bit rate MP3 with lame.

richlevy · 07-14-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveDallas

Exact Audio Copy might be worth checking out. It's what I use these days. The database it checks against (freedb?) seems to be at least as accurate as CDDB and it'll do variable bit rate MP3 with lame.

I tried an open source program connected to freedb and it did not find these CD's (set of 21 classical CD's). The CDDB license attached to the MP3 software I bought has apparently hit some sort of limit. Itunes was the only one left that correctly identified my CDs.

SteveDallas · 07-15-2008, 12:00 AM

Really, what did you have? There's a lot of useless classical info in CDDB. Or at least there used to be, relevant to my collection. (Example: 4 CD opera set. There's info for discs 1, 2, and 4.)

BigV · 07-15-2008, 09:24 AM

That sucks, rich. sorry to hear of your troubles.

07-14-2008, 10:04 PM	#1
richlevy King Of Wishful Thinking Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Philadelphia Suburbs Posts: 6,669	Fun with hardware diagnoses So I was happily using Itunes for the first time to rip a few CD's since all of my other apps no longer have CDDB access. After about 4 disks, the computer suddenly doesn't recognize inserting a music CD. I check drivers, uninstall and reinstall hardware. After a few attempts, I begin to suspect an evil record company conspiracy. This would seem like paranoia, except there already was an evil record company conspiracy, and I was accessing older CDs. So I found an downloaded the rootkit uninstaller, which did not find any rootkit installed. Then, I decided to check and see if data disks would work. They didn't. The door closed, the drive light came on briefly, and Windows would not recognize a disk in the drive. So, after using the troubleshooter, which came up empty, I went with the final option. I opened up the computer, pushed down on the ribbon connectors to both drives and the motherboard, and then took a vacuum hose and gave the motherboard and interior a quick clean. Rebooted and everything is now ok. I am now adding a full size vaccuum cleaner to the sledgehammer and crowbar in my computer repair kit. __________________ Exercise your rights and remember your obligations - VOTE! I have always believed that hope is that stubborn thing inside us that insists, despite all the evidence to the contrary, that something better awaits us so long as we have the courage to keep reaching, to keep working, to keep fighting. -- Barack Hussein Obama

07-15-2008, 09:24 AM	#5
BigV Goon Squad Leader Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Seattle Posts: 27,063	That sucks, rich. sorry to hear of your troubles. __________________ Be Just and Fear Not.

07-14-2008, 10:13 PM	#2
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Exact Audio Copy might be worth checking out. It's what I use these days. The database it checks against (freedb?) seems to be at least as accurate as CDDB and it'll do variable bit rate MP3 with lame.

07-15-2008, 12:00 AM	#4
SteveDallas Your Bartender Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Philly Burbs, PA Posts: 7,651	Really, what did you have? There's a lot of useless classical info in CDDB. Or at least there used to be, relevant to my collection. (Example: 4 CD opera set. There's info for discs 1, 2, and 4.)

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