[TomUK]

My CD/DVD RW drive has worked perfectly for 14 months. Now tracks from audio CD's sound slow and laboured like a 33rpm vinyl disc at around 25rpm. There is also a popping and crackling in the background. The PC maker 'Gateway' suggested uninstalling the drive and restarting my machine. This made no difference. Is it a software problem or a mechanical (motor) problem?
Any ideas out there?

[Hybr!d]

What about music playing off the hard drive?

[TomUK]

Good question Dave

Just played music saved in Windows Media Player - also sounds slow - although it's a little harder to tell because it's instrumental stuff - but it does seem slower than the other day.

Tom

[Hybr!d]

Try updating your sound card drivers, I highly doubt it's the actual drive.

[TomUK]

Will try that later Dave - time is pressing right now (off out soon) - but will certainly try updating sound card drivers tomorrow morning. Will report back on results.

Tom

[Hybr!d]

Also try installing a codec pack; http://www.free-codecs.com/download/...oDecS_Pack.htm

[TomUK]

Installed latest driver update from Realtek site (makers of my sound card). No success - problem remains. Looked at the free-codecs site, but a bit put off by the poor reviews posted, seems to have a lot of bugs! Streaming audio from websites via Windows Media Player sounds fine.

[TomUK]

Further info re CD/DVD player problems. Audio tracks do play ok from tracks saved on hard drive. Also perfect reproduction from tracks saved to a flash card. I have rooted out my older Freecom external CD/DVD unit which I used with my previous PC and plugged in via USB. This also plays audio perfectly, which perhaps suggests that sound card is ok. I downloaded latest driver from Realtek for my computer's player, but problem remains. Slow playback and crackling.