Query and a prob.

[houllier*]

Hey

Couple questions

1 - My CD-RW hasn't been working for a while, i get errors with whatever prog i use, and me not being computer buff in any way don't wanna mess about inside the case, so my question is, if i reformat my computer to how it was when it arrived, should that fix my CD-RW prob? I don't wanna reformat and lose everything if it doesn't fix it, but willing to do it if i know it will.

2 - I have latest version of Windows Media Player, now when i play some stuff in there that i have downloaded, or even stuff that i haven't, most of the time the sound is bad with fuzzy noises (Loud noises) and lyp synching is bad, yet when i use PowerDVD, the sound problems go and so does the lip synching prob, i just wondered why this is? Why in one prog do i hear loads of fuzzy noises and other loud congestion, but in another prog it is perfect?

Thnx

[NooNoo]

Answer to question 1 - Probably, however no guarantees.... it may be related to other programmes you have installed.

Question 2 PowerDVD is a dedicated player, windows media player isn't. What version windows media player you using?

[Sneakers]

had a similar problem with the media player.
reinstallation solved it.

[houllier*]

I am using 7.1 version of media player, i have uninstalled then reinstalled etc, but it still acts up on things and causes distortion on things, but in PowerDvd everything works ok.

It also tends to crash sumtimes when i double click on WMP, and when i goto look at the properties of a WMP file, it sometimes takes 10 minutes for the properties to show up, not big prob as i say cause i can just drag and drop stuff into PowerDvd, just little annoying.

Thnx.

Also, stupid question, but how do i reformat again?

Need to upload sme stuff first though.

Thanks

[Kymera]

How big are these files you are trying to view? Also, in some cases, you might not have the proper video codec installed to watch the video (most likely .AVI's than .MPG's), which will result in messed up playback. I've experienced this problem myself, because WMP didn't know that it didn't have the proper codec, or I accidentally over wrote part of the codec when I installed another program.

[houllier*]

File sizes differ, some are small like 3meg and some are music videos like 50meg, some work ok, other's don't, but the one's that don't, work PERFECT in PowerDvd

I forgot to add that it isn't just WMP that takes ages to load the properites when i click properties, it's most files, and it slows down my comp too, which is annoying..I haven't reformatted in 2 yrs so maybe now is good time.

[Kymera]

That is probably because powerDVD uses it's own codecs, and not the Window's system codecs. I'lll have to find out about this, but that is what I suspect. Do you know how those videos that don't work were encoded?

[houllier*]

The files do work, just the sound etc aren't that good at all, for example one music file i have is VERY fuzzy , very loud congestion in WMP but is perfect in PowerDvd, so i know it isn't the file, it's WMP being crappyi think.

But i can't even right click and check properties as it doesn't load, it's annoying me.

[houllier*]

Ok, so i uninstalled and reinstalled WMP again, and now none of my files will work, just comes up with 'An object or name could not be found' ?? It worked before.

[Dark Millennium]

1) Completely remove wmp 7.1. Reboot the machine after you have done this. Then download the file again and reinstall it. Reboot it again after this and then configure it like you want.

2) Try doing a reinstall/repair of the OS. If its 2k, ME, or XP, just put the cd into the drive, let the menu come up and the option to repair should be there. If its 98, redo the setup program and if all goes well it should just reinstall over the old files, (if it asks to format its not working).

3) Your computer could be slow if you don't have enough RAM. I realize you probably have more than 256, but could please tell me how much more?

4) if these suggestions don't work, and if none of the other suggestions from the other members don't work then its definetly reformat time.;)

Have a good day.

[houllier*]

Originally posted by Dark Millennium
1) Completely remove wmp 7.1. Reboot the machine after you have done this. Then download the file again and reinstall it. Reboot it again after this and then configure it like you want.

2) Try doing a reinstall/repair of the OS. If its 2k, ME, or XP, just put the cd into the drive, let the menu come up and the option to repair should be there. If its 98, redo the setup program and if all goes well it should just reinstall over the old files, (if it asks to format its not working).

3) Your computer could be slow if you don't have enough RAM. I realize you probably have more than 256, but could please tell me how much more?

4) if these suggestions don't work, and if none of the other suggestions from the other members don't work then its definetly reformat time.;)

Have a good day.

1 - I got that working now, tho it doesn't seem to play certain ASF files.

2 - Could you explain bit more detail pls? What would it be doing if it wasn't a complete format? I have Win98, i am only reformatting to try and get my CD-RW to work, would be good if i could get it working without losing everything.

3 - I only have 128 ram, i badly need new comp, but this has only started happening last few days, i shouldnt have to wait 10 mins when i click on properties.

Thnx for the help.

Also, how do i reformat, so i know?

Cheers

[Dark Millennium]

Sure thing.

Again in Windows 2000, ME, and XP, all you have to do is put the cd into the cd-rom drive. After it spins up a menu will appear with options such as browse cd, etc... One of these items is called REPAIR. Clicking this causes the cd to search the OS and make any repairs to the OS, (a corrupted dll for example).
There is also the option to REINSTALL. This option reinstalls the entire OS without you losing any files though you may have to reinstall some of your programs.

In Windows 98se boot off the cd. This will cause the setup program to run. It should then go out, read the contents of the hard drive and start reinstalling the OS. As before be careful because it should skip trying to format the drive and go down to the step of copying files. If it doesn't then its not reinstalling. So you should definetly back up your data before trying this.

As to a reformat. Create a boot disk and make sure that the format program is listed on there. If not, do a search of your hard drive for format and copy it to the disk. Then boot off the A: and type format c: