it is a FREECOM 8x4x32 writer but everytime i open the tray regardless of whether i put a disk in or not when i close it it just keeps trying to read forever until i restart, i cannot burn any disks and it sometimes stalls my computer. i have Win XP Pro installed and burning software Nero 5.5.82 and Clone CD 4.0. please help as i cannot do anything.

I had a ricoh that started doing that, had a m8 who fixes these things for a living. he had a look & said it was dead.

it has done it before for about a month but then worked again. so it could be dead? oh well looks like i'll have to get a superfats Lite-On

Moving this to CDRW........

Try removing the Freecom from Device Manager then reboot to let Windows autodetect and reinstall the proper driver for the burner. Also, the new ASPI v.4.71 (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/drivers_by_product.html?cat=/Product/ASPI-4.70) is available. Get it and update your ASPI layer.

this is a link to a repair your cd drive site

www.deinmeister.de/cdrep_e.htm