I have created a CD full of images. The CD works fine on my Windows XP PC at home and on a Windows 2000 machine at work. But an old second home computer running Windows 98 SE will not even recognise the CD. That computer does not have any problem recognising any other CDs, so I want to know if there is a way to make the CD run on it.

Answer

You have not supplied me with the type or make of recordable CD - CD-R (record once) or CD-RW (multiple recordings).

You are experiencing the often-perplexing realm of recordable CD and DVD disc-to-system incompatibility. Several factors can come into play with regard to system incompatibility with specific standards or makes of CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW and DVD+R discs.

With regard to your case, CD-RW discs are far less compatible in older machines than CD-Rs, so you may be able to resolve the problem by copying the data to a CD-R disc. If it already is a CD-R, you may be able to solve the problem by copying the data to a different brand of CD-R disc.

When I first started creating CDs, the JVC CD player in my car would play from every brand of CD-R except HP CD-Rs, and my Sony 6-disc CD changer would play from almost every brand of CD-R except Sony CD-Rs. Strange but all too true. So, you should try a different brand of CD-R discs.

If a computer is elderly in computing years, and cannot read any brand of CD-Rs, then it is the CD-ROM drive that is out-of-date and incompatible, and you will have to replace it if you want to read CD-Rs on that computer.

Unfortunately, it is now assumed that most PC users have DVD drives/writers and players, not CD drives and players. The following pages provides disc-compatibility information on a huge number of DVD drives/writers and players:

DVD Writer and Blu-ray Writer list - http://www.videohelp.com/dvdwriters

DVD Player and Blu-ray Player list - http://www.videohelp.com/dvdplayers

A good Q&A on the type and quality of CD discs to use for burning

From the Lockergnome Windows Fanatics newsletter dated 26 November 2003 [This newsletter no longer exists]

Ken Colburn of Data Doctors answers Bill, who asks:

Q: I noticed that there are two different types of blank CDs on the market: data and music. Is there any real difference and, if so, would the quality of the sound suffer by burning a music CD on a blank data CD?

A: The debate about blank CD quality and how to determine the best discs has been raging since the concept of burning your own CDs was introduced.

Blank CDs that are labeled as "music" discs are specifically intended for use with consumer, stand-alone audio CD recorders. If you make your discs on a standard computer CD burner, then there is no need to be concerned with what the disc has been labeled. My understanding is that the RIAA worked with manufacturers of stand alone, audio only CD recorders to create this special type of disc so that it could get a small piece of every 'music' CD sold.

Anyone that has burned any quantity of CDs has likely noticed that certain discs seem to last longer or take more abuse than others. There is no way to tell which discs are going to work better for you because there are so many variables, including your CD burner, the discs' manufacturing process, the dye formulation and, of course, how you care for your discs.

Every CD/R and CD/RW has specific information encoded in the 'pre-groove' section of the disc that includes the manufacturer, the dye formulation, Absolute Time In Pre-Groove (ATIP), certified writing speed, and actual time available on the disc. Much of this information can be helpful, not from a specific technical standpoint, but from the standpoint of what seems to be working well for you. Just because a big name brand is stamped on the label of a blank disc, it does not mean that it was actually manufactured by that company. A free download called 'CDR Media Code Identifier' allows you to place any blank media in your burner and quickly view some of the pre-groove information.

When you find discs that you feel are working better for your use, then you can look at specific things like the actual manufacturer or type of dye used to help make future selections.

The folks at CD Media World have lots of technical data about CD media and have posted some extensive test results on various manufacturers of blank media. According to their various tests, Imation, TDK, Sony, Kodak, Ricoh Premium and Phillips Gold and Silver discs all scored well.

They also list actual factories that scored poorly in their tests that include Ritek and Fornet (this is what will appear in the 'Disk Manufacturer' section of the CDR Media Code Identifier program).

CD Media World echoes the same sentiment that I have preached for years when it comes to technology: never buy the lowest priced items!

In the case of blank CDs, steer clear of those cheap no-name bulk CD offers unless you don't care about how long the disk will last. And don't pay extra for 'audio' CDs for your computer's CD burner!

Computer diagnostics: How to solve or fix common desktop and laptop PC problems

To diagnose and troubleshoot specific and general problems with Microsoft's software (Windows 95, 98, Me, XP, Vista, Internet Explorer, and Outlook Express) using the MS Knowledge Base, visit the Diagnostics page on this site.

Click a relevant link below to visit the information it describes on this website:

1. - Recovering and repairing Windows XP when a computer crashes or fails to boot

2. - Recovering and repairing Windows Vista when a computer crashes or fails to boot

3. - Windows Vista problems: How to fix problems with Windows Vista

4. - Recover, restore and repair Windows 7 (Win7) when a computer crashes or fails to boot

5. - Windows 7 problems: How to diagnose and fix problems with Windows 7

6. - Windows XP: How to troubleshoot and fix shutdown, restart (reboot), and startup problems

7. - Typical DLL (Dynamic Link Library) device driver problems

8. - Software problems: How to fix problems with Windows, programs, and utilities

Also visit the Software pages on this site for more information on specific software-related information and problems.

9. - Motherboard and power supply problems: How to fix common problems with faulty motherboards (mainboards) and power supplies (PSUs)

10. - RAM memory problems: How to fix problems with the Random Access Memory

11. - Hard disk drive problems: How to fix computer hard disk drive (HDD) problems

12. - CD/DVD drive problems: How to fix problems with CD and DVD drives and discs

13. - Processor problems: How fix common processor (CPU) problems

14. - Video/graphics card problems: How fix common computer video and graphics problems

15. - USB and FireWire problems: - How to fix common USB and FireWire problems

16. - Network problems: How to fix common wired and wireless networking and internet problems

17. - Laptop/notebook problems: How to address or fix the most common laptop/notebook problems

How to fix problems with device drivers in Windows XP and Windows Vista and Windows 7

Although the information on the following page is specific to Windows XP, much of the advice is relevant to the earlier versions of Windows. Click here! to read Troubleshoot Device Driver Problems. Click h ere! to go to Tips for fixing common driver problems in Windows Vista. Those tips should also be applicable to Windows 7.

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Visit the Build a PC page for information on how to build a desktop PC and solve self-build problems, and visit the other pages, such as the Video/Graphics, Sound, Motherboards, and Monitors pages for more problem-solving information, all of which can be accessed via the menu items and jump menu on the orange navigation bar, or via the site search engine at the top of each of the main pages.

The Tips & Tricks pages of this site contain additional useful tips, tricks, and problem-solving advice.

The safest way to upgrade RAM memory: Use the UK and US Crucial Memory Advisors

Paul Mullen, who was the highly-respected computer guru of the Helpfile at ComputerShopper.co.uk - "I have recently been buying my memory only from Crucial Technology. I would rather pay the extra cost than waste time trying to track down the obscure program faults that bad memory can cause."

The best way to choose RAM memory for a brand-name desktop or laptop computer, or memory for a particular make/model of PC motherboard is to make use of the Crucial Memory Advisors (provided under the brief guideline on the minimum memory requirements for Windws XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7). If the Crucial memory you receive does not work, you are guaranteed a refund and standard shipping is free.

The memory requirements of the versions of Windows Vista and Windows 7

Most of the versions of Windows Vista require more RAM memory to run optimally on a computer that doesn't use memory-hungry applications than Windows XP. A video-editing application is an example of memory-intensive software. Only Windows Vista Home Basic has a recommended minimum amount of memory of 512MB, which is the same amount recommended for Windows XP. Windows Vista Home Premium, the most popular version, and Windows Vista Ultimate require a recommended minimum of 1GB (1024MB) of memory, which is twice the amount of minimum memory recommended to run Windows XP. Note that if you are using a 64-bit version of Windows, up to 4.0GB, it requires twice the amount of memory as a 32-bit version, which can only use a maximum of about 3.5GB. For more information on computer memory, read the RAM pages of this site, which includes information on the lower memory requirements of Windows 7.

UK - Crucial Memory Advisor - UK

USA - Crucial Memory Advisor - USA

How to Use the Crucial Memory Advisor

For example, if your computer has an Asus motherboard, open the menu, scroll down to ASUS, and click GO. If, say, you have a Dell computer, scroll down to DELL, and do likewise. You will be taken to the relevant information on Crucial's website.

If you don't know the make and model of the motherboard installed in your computer, here is a good free utility - Belarc Advisor - that creates an analysis of the hardware and software on a personal computer. Look under FREE DOWNLOAD - http://www.belarc.com/. Another utility that also provides detailed information on the memory itself is CPU-Z.

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