[RESOLVED] cup holder problems

[terryZ]

earlier this year, my dvd/cd burner drawer developed a mind of it's own.

it randomly opens and stays open. when i try to burn a cd or dvd, it may take a few tries before the drawer remains closed.

it's pretty random.

i can go for days with it remaining closed. then it starts randomly opening.

just now, i powered up and the drawer opened. it took 5 tried of hitting the close button for it to remain closed. this happens whether or not there is a disc in it. i have tried it empty, with a burned dvd, with a blank dvd, etc.

no pattern.

i'll take any suggestions. thanks in advance.

[Ridgerunr]

It's been around for a long time now and I can't say if it's 'your' problem. There was a so-called 'joke' virus that would cause what's happening to you on opening the drive drawer randomly. Your labeling your post about a 'cup holder' makes me wonder if you already knew about this? 'Cause that's what it was called originally. Anyway,run a virus check would be my advice and also a trojan scan at:
http://www.windowsecurity.com/trojanscan/
and/or
http://www.moosoft.com/

[Steve R Jones]

Or since life is so short - for 30 bucks-> Replace it

[SuperSparks]

Faulty tray microswitch. All you can do is replace the drive, but as Steve says, they are cheap.

[terryZ]

thanks guys.

i did google this and came across mention of a virus that did this ... but it was dated years ago. i didn't know it was called "cup holder". i used that title because of the urban legend of the tech call about someone's "cup holder" being broken.

i have and run AVG but it has found nothing. i will try the online scans suggested.

i was wondering if it could be a software switch someplace ... before i go to the trouble (tho as you all say ... cheap) of a new burner.

but if it IS a virus that i can't remove or a software switch, a new burner would have the same problem, no? would an external burner be a better choice?

[SuperSparks]

but if it IS a virus that i can't remove or a software switch, a new burner would have the same problem, no? would an external burner be a better choice?

Yes it would, so it would be a good idea to make sure the computer is clean before buying a new drive. But I doubt that it is malware, as that type have mostly died out these days. Try one (or all) of these online AV scanners and see what they can pick up:

Housecall

Panda Online scan

eTrust Web Scanner

[Steve R Jones]

External burners cost more and are much slower.

[terryZ]

back for an update.

i ran the on-line scans. nothing shows up.

a point i forgot to mention ... i have both a dvd/cd combo burner AND a dvd/cd player. the burner exhibits this opening business. the player does not.

additionally, the burner is a dual layer burner. the last 2 dual layer dvds i burned were not readable (one was data, the other a movie). all those burned previous have been okay.

so ...

with only one of the disc drives showing this problem, scans showing nothing and dual layer not burning correctly .. maybe it is a problem in the drive itself.

gives me an excuse to go to best buy and microcenter ... ahhhhh labor day sales!

[SuperSparks]

Yep in that case, with only one drive exhibiting the behaviour, I stick with my diagnosis above, it's a faulty tray microswitch.

[bistro]

gives me an excuse to go to best buy and microcenter ... ahhhhh labor day sales!

Microcenter......yummmmmmmmmmm. My favorite place to go and stress out my credit card.

Go for it!

[104456]

You dont have a multimedia keyboard with a key to open the drive by any chance do you ?
Second thoughts on a re-read Id go with a faulty drive too.

[terryZ]

hi gang. just wanted you all to know.. i couldn't pass up a sale at bestbuy. i bought a HP LightScribe burner. it's been in my pc since yesterday. and no mysterious tray opening. woot!

[Ridgerunr]

Glad you found the prob and thanks for letting us(and possibly many others) know...