CD Drive Makes Static Sound With Music - PC Hardware Questions & Answers

Robert writes in with a hardware question

Question: I have 2 optical drives. When I play music in the CD drive it has static. When I play the same CD in the other drive it is clear. The same thing happens with other CDs. There is no indication of a problem in the device manager. Also software functions ok in this drive. Any suggestions? I tried a lens cleaner CD already. Didn't work.Thanks!

Answer: This sounds more like a hardware problem than a software or Windows problem. Usually a CDROM works or it doesn't. You should check the cable that connects your CDROM to your sound card or sound port on your motherboard if you use built in audio. You can swap the cable, port or both with your other CDROM and see if it makes a difference. If so then you may have a bad cable or sound port. This cable will be a small wire most likely with a 4 pin connector on both ends that plugs in the back of the drive where the IDE and power cables connect. Don't confuse it with the larger 4 pin power connector. Here is what it looks like.

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