CD-ROM error

[animex2]

I am running KDE with Mandrake 9.0 and my CD-ROM drive (APTAI or whatever) doesnt work anymore, the hardware is fine but when i was running windows something went wrong with it, it opens and stuff but it cant read the cd and the lazer is fine. Im wondering if i should try to repair it or if i can use my USB cd rom drive as my primary drive when it asks for a cd when youre installing something.

[dunbar]

I've had a few CDROMs that failed in Linux but worked fine in Windows, and I have had one CDROM that failed in windows but worked for many more months in Linux..... Not a surprise since the hardware is designed with the idea that windows is the only OS out there.

Have you tried a CDROM lens cleaning disc recently? WalMart has them for <$10, I've been using a 'dead' CDRW drive for an additional 18 months so far, just because the lens was dirty.