My CD ROM drive

[mcov523]

I have quite the problem with my CD Drive, Its the Plextor Plexcombo drive (I think theres only one version of it) and there are two related problems with it, it has been spinning CDs so fast they are nearing the point where they burn my fingers when I take them out, and also, with random CDs it makes a horrible grinding sound and scratches thier outer rim, no damage is done to the data, as long as it's not within a few millimeters (4-9) of the edge. I reinstalled windows and that was no help, so it must be the hardware. Could the problem be that the drive was mounted vertically? I had it in a slim case that made the drive tilted on it's side, but it was in the instructions that that was OK as long as it was rotated so that the right side (when horizontal) pointed up. Ill update if my current testing (horizontally) works out. (PS, not that anyone cares for this random complaining, but i've returned every single component in my case for an exchange, except the ram and CD ROM)
Thanks.

[mdwatts]

Why not contact Plextor support and ask them the same question? New drive should be under warranty.

Does the same happen in Linux?

[michaelk]

Well it appears that the CD is rubbing against the tray so that it destroys the edge and the rubbing generates excessive heat. So my first guess is that the CD isn't staying in the tray correctly.

Look at the tray. On the bottom side of the tray as it is mounted are there extension devices to hold the CD in place? They should be on the bottom corners. Or are they on the top side? If so then you mounted it the wrong way. If you don't have any then it isn't a side mounting drive.

And sometimes they swivel so they don't get in the way when it is mounted horizontal.

[mcov523]

They are mounted on the side so that they catch the CD properly, and they dont retract. I think you hit the nail on the head though, because the scratches match up with a raised area all around the outer edge. I think it's just bad design, or the drive loses grip of my CDs somehow and they are scratching that surface, and sometimes, but not always, spin out of control and stop. I think i'll leave it horizontal for the time being, thanks alot that was a big help. :)