Genealogy Chat

Hello Can anyone help please. Some of my CDs are not working properly. When I put the CD in and go into either windows explorer or into Adobe reader 5.0 I keep getting a box come up with Exploring(C:\) D:\ not accessible The device is not ready. Please can anyone tell me what the device is? What should I be doing? It does not happen with all my CDs. Thank you Shirley.

I'm no expert but I think it happens sometimes when a CD is a bit dirty. You could try wiping it gently - apparently you have to do it outwards like the spokes of a wheel. The other thing I did was to try the CD on another computer if you can. The one I use seems to be a bit sensitive but my husband's work computer was fine. He burnt me a new CD and that one works. (Suppose it was illegal, but there you go!!!) Anne

Hi Anne Thanks for your help but, I have just received these CDs. My sister can get them up perfectly on her comp. I hope someone can help me out here. Thanks Shirley

Hi, know its sounds daft, but try putting the CD in after you have called it up on the pc. I know I kept getting a similar message if I put the CD in already. Have a go anyway.

Hello Heather Thanks for the tip but, I still keep getting the same message. even if I go into my computer. I hope it's something simple. I have been waiting ages to look at these CDs. Thanks Shirley

Try some other CDs in the drive and see what happens - might be a hardware problem. Jonathan

Actually, are they CD-RW (RE-writable CDs)? If yes then they'll only work on a CD-RW drive. Jonathan

The "device" is the drive you are trying to access and the message shows that is can't access it . It is a good idea as Anne said to make a copy and try that. Some copiers can actually correct errors on the original disks and different brands work better than others. Bob

Hello Jonathan and Robert Thanks for you help. They are CDs of Parish Registers I received from S&N . My sister can access them with no problem. I will have to find out how to copy them now then. Thanks for all your help. Shirley

If you've downloaded the Microsoft SP2 critical udpate, it may have changed a few things in your settings. To see: 1. Click on START 2. Click on CONTROL PANEL 3 Click on INTERNET OPTIONS 4. A box with labeled tabs at the top appears. Click on ADVANCED tab. 5. Scroll down to subheading MULTIMEDIA and make sure that the following has a check mark off in front of it. * Allow active content from CDs to run on my computer. If you need to mark this off, make sure aterwards you click on APPLY and OK. J

Hello Judy I did download some critical update some time ago. But, I can't remember what it was. I have done what you suggested but, all I can find about multimedia when I scroll down is this. JIT compiler for virtual machine enabled (requires restart) multimedia. it did have a tick next to it. I did not see anything about CDs. Shirley

Shirley, If they're new CDs and your sister can get at them I would get in touch with S&N about it. They may have sent them in a different format or something? Come to think of it, it was an S&N one that didn't work for me, but there was a long story attached to why I couldn't contact them about it. Anne

Hi Anne I don't think it's the CDs. I have had a problem with a couple of others too. I just wondered if I should get my Comp checked out. Shirley

The error is a basic one. You can get the same sort of message with the floppy drive. I would change the CD Drive. Even cd/rw drives are quite cheap. I just changed one in 5 mins so some shops may put one in for you for free. If your CD is like mine it will install ancestry view software or similar. I think your drive is struggling/failing. Bob

Hello Bob Thank you for letting me know that. I will see if I can get it sorted tomorrow. Cheers Shirley