Missing icon

[stressbob]

I loaded the game Sims2 (dvd) on my computer but when I go to play the game I get an error message: "Cannot locate CD-ROM, please insert correct CD and restart application". Also the dvd (F) drive icon disappears from the computer and I cannot eject the DVD. Do I need a new dvd driver?

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers stressbob

Do you have more than one cd/dvd drive on your computer?

Are you running Windows XP with service pack 2?

In device manager (right click my computer, select properties, hardware tab, device manager button) under cd/dvd drives (click the + sign next to cd/dvd drives) does your cd/dvd drive show any !. Double click your dvd drive to show the properties - is there any error message? Or does it say "this device is working properly"?

[stressbob]

Hello NooNoo,
I got the message that this device is working properly. I have a CD drive and a DVD rom drive.

[NooNoo]

OK, so which drive did you use to install the game?
Are you using XP with service pack 2?

You are not alone in with this problem, a quick search of your error message brings up all kinds of misery. So answer the questions above - then tell me if you have a a virtual cd/dvd drive... you may not realise you have it, but most burning software comes with a virtual drive and with it installed, the game thinks it's being pirated and will not play.

[stressbob]

Hello NooNoo,
I am running windows service pack 2. I used the dvd rom drive. It loaded the game, put the icon shortcut on the desktop but when I go to play it comes back with the message that it cannot find the CD (even though it is a DVD).
I have even copied all the files off the DVD and put them into the computer but I still get the same response.

Stressbob

[NooNoo]

copying the files off the dvd may trigger an antipiracy response so remove them from your hard drive

What about a virtual drive?

[CCT]

A possible solution that is easilly reversible:


Control Panel-System-Hardware-Device Manager-IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers-right click-Properties-click on Secondary Channel-in drop down menu select PIO Mode for Master AND SLAVE (if you have 2 optical drives) under Select Transfer Mode

Reboot computer

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,
I did take them off of my computer when I realised that wasn't the answer.
What is a virtual drive?

Hi CCT,
I will try your idea when I get home tonight if I can. I am not sure if I have that option.

Thanks
Stressbob

[NooNoo]

Most burning software packages have one... it allows you to mount an image of a cd as if you had put it in a real cd drive. They show up in my computer as an extra drive, but on reading around, just installing the software without setting it up can cause sims2 to freak out.

What burning or cd related software do you have installed?

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,
I have Nero software.

[NooNoo]

What version? (Open nero, get rid of the wizard, click help, about)
Look in add remove programs - do you have INCD listed?

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,

OK here goes. In my device manager I have 3 drives listed, a ST driver, dvd driver and cd driver. When I click on the icon of my dvd or cd and go to properties they both end up on the ST driver.

Do I need to uninstall Nero? How do I get it back when I need to burn a cd?

[NooNoo]

I still need to know the version of nero you have installed,

ST Driver? Do you have a tape backup drive? What is the full name of this driver?

Nero is uninstalled the same way any good program is - control panel - add/remove programs. You can reinstall it any time using the Nero installation disk.

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,
Sorry for the delay, pressure of work.

Nero version 5.5.9.14

TYPE LOCATION
Drives: ST380021A Disk drives 0
IDE DVD-ROM 16X DVD/CD ROM 1
MITSUMI CR-48XCTE DVD/CD ROM 0

No tape backup

[NooNoo]

do you have a limited account? (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;307091)

Is the XP home or pro?

Have you downloaded the patch from EA games?

Have you got the latest DirectX (9.0c)?

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo
I have XP Home edition
What is limited account?
I have downloaded the patch and I am sure I have the lastest DirectX version.
Regards

[NooNoo]

A limited account prevents you from having full rights to the machine. Have a look in control panel, user accounts to see what account settings you have.

Do you have the latest driver for your video card?

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,
How do I know if I have the latest video card driver?

[stressbob]

I am the administrator on the computer so I have full rights.

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo,
I am the administrator on the computer.
How do I know if I have the latest driver for the video card?

[NooNoo]

Easiest way is just to update it... what video card do you have?

[stressbob]

How do I update my video card? Where do I go to find it? Will it update automatically?

[NooNoo]

First as I asked in the post before, I need to know what video card you have. Is your computer a branded computer (eg compaq, hp, time, emachine, etc)?

[stressbob]

Hi NooNoo
It is a Microstar Medion computer from PC World.

[NooNoo]

groan.....

Which one? there is a model number on the back somewhere...

[stressbob]

The model No. is PC MT5
TYP: MED MT165

[stressbob]

The model No. is PC MT5
TYP: MED MT165

[NooNoo]

go here and choose which model you bought (http://www.pcservicecall.co.uk/layout.aspx?ID={1b80797e-2134-45b1-9a70-ab73485136e0}&CatID={e9e18b10-b365-4b07-9891-6d4ef0fe0e4f})