iTunes not playing CDs?

Question

Level 1

0 points

iTunes not playing CDs?

Help. When I put a CD into the computer, everything appears fine - i get the CD info from Gracenote. But try to play, and the little speaker icon quickly moves through all the tracks (like ~1 sec for disc). It’s as though it cannot find the tracks. Moreover, I don’t hear the drive spin up.

Everything works fine in Windows Media Player, so i don’t think it’s hardware related.

I had this problem in v7.4.3(?). Then, I upgraded to v7.5 - still have problem.

dell optiplex c521, Windows Vista

Posted on Nov 8, 2007 5:13 AM

Reply

Answer 1

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 8, 2007 5:27 AM in response to aleone

There is some Apple help on troubleshooting CDs here:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=302974

If CDs are not playing properly, the section on updating firmware may be worth a try.

Reply

Answer 2

aleone Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 8, 2007 4:51 PM in response to aleone

Well, i did as you suggested. iTunes reports all tests passed. Below is the output.
Thing is, i don't even hear the cd drive spin up. And, i am still stuck with my issue. Everything was working fine as recently as a month ago....
more help?

Microsoft Windows Vista Home Edition (Build 6000)
Dell Inc Dimension C521
iTunes 7.5.0.20
CD Driver 2.0.6.1
CD Driver DLL 2.0.6.2

Current user is not an administrator.
The current local date and time is 2007-11-08 19:46:57.

Video Display Information:

NVIDIA, NVIDIA GeForce 6150 LE (Microsoft Corporation - WDDM)

** CD/DVD Drive Tests **

UpperFilters: GEARAspiWDM (2.0.6.1), SiRemFil (1.0.0.0),

E: HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GSA-H31N, Rev B109
Audio CD in drive.
Found 12 songs on CD, playing time 35:55 on Audio CD.
Track 1, start time 00:02:00
Track 2, start time 02:36:57
Track 3, start time 05:49:50
Track 4, start time 09:09:55
Track 5, start time 12:21:02
Track 6, start time 14:55:57
Track 7, start time 17:43:47
Track 8, start time 20:53:47
Track 9, start time 23:55:00
Track 10, start time 27:01:02
Track 11, start time 29:19:07
Track 12, start time 32:33:62
Audio CD reading succeeded.
Get drive speed succeeded.
The drive CDR speeds are: 8 10 16 40 48.
The drive CDRW speeds are: 8.
The drive DVDR speeds are: 8.
The drive DVDRW speeds are: 8.

Reply

Answer 3

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 9, 2007 1:31 AM in response to aleone

Have you tried updating you optical drive firamware, that's usually a good thing to try if CDs don't play properly. I think this may be the site for your model of PC:
http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=gen&Servi ceTag=&SystemID=DIMP4C521&os=WW1&osl=en&catid=&impid=

There seems to be an update for your GSA-H31N

Reply

Answer 4

aleone Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 10, 2007 4:56 AM in response to polydorus

I upgraded the firmware, but no luck. Recall that CDs play fine in WMP. Both iTunes and WMP recognize the CD and grab the CD info from online sources. It's just that iTunes (when trying to play OR import) spends about half a second on each track. At the end of the CD, there is no error message. ???

Reply

Answer 5

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 10, 2007 5:37 AM in response to aleone

I am afraid I run out of ideas pretty quickly on CD problems. The only other thing is you check the rest of the Dell downloads to see if you are upto date with all your drivers. You have done you optical drive firmare so check on: System BIOS, Intel Mobile Chipset and Graphics Controller.

Reply

Answer 6

Nov 10, 2007 8:23 AM in response to aleone

I have exactly the same problem! Windows Media Player works fine, but iTunes doesn't play CDs. I have a new Dell Inspiron 531 Desktop with a TSST DVD-Reader and a TSST DVD-Writer (neither works with iTunes). Is Dell sabotaging Apple?

Reply

Answer 7

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Nov 10, 2007 8:44 AM in response to aleone

Do you by any chance have the "Use Error Correction When Reading Audio CDs" option checked in the iTunes preferences for importing? If so, try unchecking and see if it acts any differently.
Patrick

Reply

Answer 8

Nov 10, 2007 9:14 AM in response to PT

Yes, Error Correction was activated. I just unchecked, and now i can play and import CDs. Thanks! But i don't regard this as a real solution. Importing CDs without Error Correction is IT stone age! I don't want to hear every scratch from older CDs or every Reading Error in Imports. I prefer a certain level of quality. Otherwise i would simply stick to Windows Media Player. 😉

Reply

Answer 9

polydorus

Level 6

11,967 points

Nov 10, 2007 9:24 AM in response to DyaNaSore

I am kicking myself as I have a note about that one, thanks for helping out Patrick. And sorry DynSore for putting you through the extra work. Still it never hurts to be upto date with drivers.

Reply

Answer 10

PT

Level 7

20,888 points

Nov 10, 2007 1:16 PM in response to DyaNaSore

The error correction is only needed if you actually have troubles with imported CDs. If your CDs normally import fine and you don't notice any issues, then you don't need it.
Patrick

Reply

Answer 11

aleone Author

Level 1

0 points

Nov 14, 2007 2:54 PM in response to PT

Well, that's what i thought. However, turning off error correction solved my problem. Grr.
Thanks everyone

Reply