Cd rom drive not working. runs but does not read anything. Have tried drivers etc, opened it - cleaned it!! Installed external drive and am using that but need advice on how to check if the internal cd rom drive is busted! Also there are SATA 1234 slots on the board - do drives have to be slotted 1:3 and 2:4 as a rule?

should recognize the cd rom /dvd unit automatically
lower picture is of the c300 cd unit
anything look different from the original ............lowest picture
CRX880A Compaq Presario C305LA C508US C551NR Optical Combo Drive CD-RW DVD- ROM

Your DVD-ROM drive will also play CD's. You can also easily remove it and replace it with a CD-ROM drive if you like. Simply open the case, unscrew the DVD-ROM, remove the power and data cables from the back and pull it out through the front of the case. Installing the CD-ROM just involves doing this in the reverse order. Make sure your computer is off and unplugged during this process.

try other known good windows installer. if it boot, then the problem is in xp installer, if it not. try other external cd-rom drive. also be sure the disc rom drive are dvd rom drive because a cd rom drive cannot read dvd disc but a dvd rom drive can read cd rom disc installer

When the CD player loads properly and still reads as no disk this indicates that the player lens (Optical device which reads the disk information) Is either dirty or bad. The only option you have is to get a disk lens cleaner and run it on the system. Once you run it, it is supposed to work if the lens is not spoilt. Otherwise you will just have to replace the lens by taking it to a repairer.
Hope this solution has been helpful?

your drive is not being read,
have you set BIOS to boot from CD ROM,
is your CD ROM working,
is your XP CD working

Do the following
1 go to BIOS and re-set to BOOT from CD ROM
2 use another copy of XP/Win98/Vista etc to verify if CR ROM is reading the CDs else...
if you doubt CD ROM drive has a problem....
3 use a USB external CD ROM, and to do that u need to re-set the BIOS to boot from USB CD ROM

1. Make sure the CD-ROM is clean & does not have scratches.
2. Try cleaning the lens of your CD-ROM drive using a lens cleaning kit.
3. Try reading the CD-ROM on another CD-ROM drive.

You must determine if the problem is the media you are using (CD, DVD) or the drive itself. (CD/DVD Rom)
First see if the driver is installed for the CD/DVD ROM by Right clicking My Computer and choosing Properties, Hardware, Device Manager. Clikc the plus sign next to DVD/CD Rom Drives to see if there is a yellow exclamation point, or question mark. This means you need to install the correct driver. If there are no yellow exclamation marks or question marks your driver is installed properly.
Next try playing difffernt CD's to see if any of them work. Confirm they are good CD's by playing them on another device, then try them on your Compaq. If the Cd's play on another device you may possibly be experiencing read errors on the CD/DVD Rom drive. Try using a CD Laser Cleaner that will clean the laser head of the CD /DVD Rom. it looks like a CD with small brushes on the music side. This may solve a read error problem. if that does not solve your problem you may need to replace the CD/DVD Rom drive.

try to separate the ide cable. /

hard drives dont read cd's
does the door close?
if not close it.

1)left clik my computer
2)double clik the cd rom drive, making sure theres a disk in it.
3)right clik on my computer
device manager
look for a yellow exclamation point or red X where the cd-rom is.
high light the cd-rom
right clik
uninstall
restart the computer
windows will detect and re-install the cd-rom drive.
try a cd

if that doesnt work update windows

also buy a cd-rom cleaner at your local electronics store
clean the drive w/th cleaner
try a cd

if updating your driver for the cd rom drive and all ive suggested then its time for a new cdrom drive

hi try taking a air can spray with a nozzle and clean the laser eye other option is to buy a more quality CD's good luck