Click the MS Knowledge Base article reference number to go to that article	Description of the problem
	The 50 most popular Knowledge Base articles - http://support.microsoft.com/gp/topkbs Note that you can enter the six-digit KB article ID number in the Search box at http://support.microsoft.com/ to bring it up or enter a search term of your own to find KB articles.
CD-Recordable FAQs (covers CD-R and CD-RW)	http://www.cdrfaq.org/
929461	The CD drive or the DVD drive does not work as expected on a computer that you upgraded to Windows Vista - Describes a problem that may occur if the filter drivers in the CD and the DVD storage stack are not migrated successfully to Windows Vista.
310123	Explanation of error codes generated by Device Manager in Windows XP Professional [and Windows XP Home Edition] - You probably reached this article because Device Manager reported an error code, and you are not sure how to resolve it. In this article, we will help you find your error code and suggest what you might try to correct the error. If a computers CD or DVD drive produces a Code 10 to a Code 49 error message, the resolution is listed for it. - APPLIES TO • Microsoft Windows XP Professional 64-Bit Edition (Itanium) • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
306641	How To Erase Files From a CD-RW Disc in Windows XP - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/306641
-	Erase a CD or DVD - Applies to all editions of Windows Vista - http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/...
324129	How to troubleshoot issues that occur when you write data to a CD-R or CD-RW optical disc in Windows XP - Describes how to troubleshoot problems that occur when you write to CD-R and CD-RW discs. This includes hardware and device driver compatibility issues, specific error messages, links to related articles, and other online support options.
930526	How to enable the DVD Library in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer - This article describes how to enable the DVD Library feature in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer. Note In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, DVD content that is stored on the hard disk appears in the My Videos folder. Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer displays DVD content in a DVD gallery. However, the DVD Gallery is not automatically enabled in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer.
321641	How to troubleshoot common problems that may occur when a Windows XP-based computer cannot read a CD or a DVD - This article describes how to troubleshoot common problems that may occur when a Microsoft Windows XP-based computer cannot read a CD or a DVD in a disc drive. This article contains several methods that you can use to try to resolve these problems.
930526	How to enable the DVD Library in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer - This article describes how to enable the DVD Library feature in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer. Note In Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, DVD content that is stored on the hard disk appears in the My Videos folder. Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer displays DVD content in a DVD gallery. However, the DVD Gallery is not automatically enabled in Windows Media Center on a Windows Vista-based computer. APPLIES TO • Windows Vista Home Premium • Windows Vista Ultimate • Windows Vista Home Premium 64-bit edition • Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit edition
314060	You can no longer access the CD drive or the DVD drive, or you receive an error message after you remove a CD recording program or a DVD recording program in Windows XP: "error code 31" - After you remove a CD or DVD burning program from your computer, the CD drive or the DVD drive no longer appears in the My Computer window. You might also receive an error message when you try to access the drive. This problem is caused by two Windows registry entries that have become corrupted. [Applies to Windows XP Home Edition - Windows XP Professional]
316529	CD-R drive or CD-RW drive is not recognized as a recordable device - When you attempt to burn data to a compact disc recordable (CD-R) drive or compact disc rewritable (CD-RW) drive, you may not have the option to send data to the CD-ROM drive. [Applies to Windows XP Home Edition - Windows XP Professional]
307844	How to change [hard disk or CD/DVD] drive letter assignments in Windows XP - Also visit Changing Drive Letters in Windows XP? - http://www.dougknox.com/tips/xp_drive_letters.htm
310436	Cannot play a DVD in Windows XP
315350	"Incorrect function" error message when you access the CD-ROM drive, the DVD-ROM drive, or the CD-RW drive [Applies to Windows XP]
921476	Error message when you try to burn a CD or a DVD in Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005: "CD DVD Recorder Required" - When you select the Burn CD/DVD option in Microsoft Windows XP Media Center Edition 2005, you receive the following error message: CD/DVD RECORDER REQUIRED Ensure that you have a CD or DVD recorder installed, and select Create CD/DVD Additionally, the following Error event is logged in the Application log: Event Type: Error Event Source: SonicMCEBurnEngine
314060	CD-ROM access is missing and messages cite error Code 31, Code 32, Code 19, or Code 39 after you remove Roxio Easy CD Creator in Windows XP [Note that the error can occur with any type of CD-writing or DVD software, not just Roxio software.] APPLIES TO • Windows XP Home Edition • Windows XP Professional
194846	How to Make Your CD-ROM Drive Accessible in Safe Mode [Applies to Windows 95, 98, 98 SE]
282530	How to Prevent Drive Letters from Changing After You Add a Hard Disk or a CD-ROM -• Windows Me • Windows 98 Second Edition • Windows 98 Standard Edition • Windows 95
188433	Example page of the Windows 98 CD-ROM Directory Listing - the Contents of the CAB files - (6 of 14) - How to find out what is in the Windows 98 CAB files.

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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