Hi all,

Being about as much use on PC's as your average 85year old I have a slight problem that one of you wonderful techies will be able to help me on.

When I install any games onto my pc it either doesn't get past 99% installation or when it does install it then says cannot locate cd-rom. I eject then restart the application but to no avail.

Is it a simple thing i'm doing wrong or is my PC knackered. It's an Advent 3063 with windows XP pro.

Help

What model is your CDrom drive? and do you have all the latest windows updates on XP?

There was an issue with one of the updates in xp that stuffed the cd drives, making it incompatible with modern cd protection stuff (safedisc etc)

also some oldish cd drives can have problems reading cds with protection on them.. can you post a bit more spec of your system please?

When I install any games onto my pc it either doesn't get past 99% installation or when it does install it then says cannot locate cd-rom.

I hope I'm not insulting your intelligence but is it possible that the game HAS installed correctly, and then when you try to run it, it warns you that it cannot locate the CD-ROM because you have ejected the CD ? Most games now require you to have the CD in the drive when you play them, anti-piracy measure. It's also possible (if the game has more than one disc) that the one you're putting back in is the wrong one ?

Try the simple explanation first ? You did say you weren't very PC literate so hopefully this is your solution ?

Otherwise, I had loads of problems trying to install XP with files off CDs not being read properly, then since XP no problems at all. May be worth looking for latest device drivers for your CD ROM.

What games are we talking about? Some games have copy/pirating protection which wont run if you have "back-up" software. For example, Ubisofts Raven Shield will not run if you have Alcohol120% installed on your machine, or a few others it recognises as a certain type of software.