Computer isn't recognizing the cd

[Randmcnally]

The load screen will come up and take about five minutes to load, then a message will pop up saying that the cd isn't loaded. And other times it'll run up like usual, but when a mod tries to get loaded, once again, it'll say that there isn't a cd in the computer, when I know for a fact that there is one. Why is this happening?

 

[windmilltilter]

If I turn on the computer with the BtS CD in the drive, when I poke on a shortcut to run BtS, Civ4 will bring up the dialog about "Please insert the CD". If I bring up Explorer and look at my E:\ drive, it doesn't indicate a CD is in there. So, if I open/close the CD tray, after about a minute, it will bring up Civ4 BtS's autoplay dialog.

The last 3 times I've tried it though, opening/closing the CD tray hasn't resulted in the CD being recognized. I've had to put in another CD (such as my daughter's Barbie game CD) and then the E:\ will show that Barbie game. Then I take that out and put in the BtS CD and it will be recognized.

It flashes the CD green LED on the front about 3-5 times as it's tryiing to read the BtS CD, so I'm wondering if there's some copy protection that's making it difficult or more time-consuming to become active, and during the boot-up process it just times out.

I loaded the latest firmware on my Samsung CDRW/DVD SM-308B, but it didn't help anything.

Thanks,

Jeff

 

[aberwak]

I'm having this problem, as well. I've been able to play BTS before without hassle. Last week, I took the CD out to play Civ II. Tonight, I put in the BTS CD. It seems to load up- at least start to, but then I get a message saying it's not the right disc. I put in the other one, which just opens up explorer. Then I get smart. I put both CDs in, since I have two drives. Nope. It still doesn't detect the "right" CD.

 

[aberwak]

Oh, and I have tried opening/closing the CD-ROMS, without success.

 

[aberwak]

Update: I can't get Civ 4 Vanilla to load up, either. I get the same error. Each time I put the CDs in, I'll get the auto-play to come up and will select "Play." It'll act like it's loading for a while, and then I'll get the error message to insert the correct CD and restart the game.

 

[aberwak]

It was magically fixed by restarting the computer. *whew* I can play Civ 4 again!

 

[Randmcnally]

It was magically fixed by restarting the computer. *whew* I can play Civ 4 again!

Yeah, that's usually what it takes to get it to work. But it is very annoying to have to keep doing that.

 

[aberwak]

It did it to me again today. Instead of restarting, I just closed down other programs (namely Firefox and Trillian). After I closed down the bigger programs I had open, I opened and closed my CD tray... and it worked just fine. I guess it's just a memory thing. If you have a lot of other stuff running that uses a lot of memory, it'll just say you have the wrong CD in because it can't load. It also explains why when you start it, it works- you're starting out with fewer programs open.

 

[KMadCandy]

It also explains why when you start it, it works- you're starting out with fewer programs open.

not for me. the only disks i tend to swap out are versions of civ4, since my other games let you play without the disk. my drive has serious trouble recognizing any civ4 disk (but only them, all other disks are fine) when i restart the computer, so i try not to. i swap versions a lot, and ran into this with vanilla and warlords. i thought the disks were just barely scratched enough for my drive to be finicky but for hubby's drive to be fine. i even bought a 2nd copy from direct2drive, download version no disk to mess with, trying to resolve it. never could get that to work, so that was money wasted.

now i'm running into the exact same thing with BtS, which can't possibly have the teensy scratches i imagined causing the issue in vanilla and warlords. i think something about firaxis/take2 disks and my drive don't get along. all i can think of is something they do for the same of piracy protection. i mean come on, i paid good money for vanilla and warlords TWICE and they still don't start when i want them to reliably ... i'm not a pirate i'm a sucker *giggle*.

anyway, when i do have to restart, i go thru this 5-30 minute process, depending on my luck, of open drive / rotate disk a bit / close drive / pray that drive recognizes it this time. lalala browse forums rinse and repeat. if the trend keeps up, i'm afraid the piracy protection will drive me so up a tree that i'll end up buying the game to support the company, but playing a pirated version since it would just plain be easier. which makes sooooo much sense

i updated firmware, everything i could think of, no luck. i've given up and i just put up with it for now, one of these days i'll hit my limit and go on a WoW kick or something. i'm glad you guys fixed your issues tho

 

[An Nord Draoi]

Are we allowed to mention here how to get around this problem with certain files from certain websites that are made for folk who buy the game and want to tuck away the disc after installation? I do not see any prohibition on mentioning those files here in the Civ4BTS forum sticky threads, so I thought to ask about it before offering the details of the solution. Anyone know?

 

[ori]

Are we allowed to mention here how to get around this problem with certain files from certain websites that are made for folk who buy the game and want to tuck away the disc after installation? I do not see any prohibition on mentioning those files here in the Civ4BTS forum sticky threads, so I thought to ask about it before offering the details of the solution. Anyone know?

I would refrain from doing so since this site has a very strict anti-piracy rule (Forum Rules) - and while there are legit (sort of - circumventing the copy protection of your cd is not legal in most countries nowadays) uses of this kind of tools there are even more illegit uses of these

 

[An Nord Draoi]

<message deleted by author>

 

[FatSean]

I had to break the DMCA to play BtS. I was not allowed to return it. Without breaking the law, I would have been out 30 bucks.

Unjust laws should be ignored.

 

[PericlesOfAthen]

I've tried turning on and off my computer and I'm still having this problem. Has there been any other solution given besides restarting? I had problems the first time I installed BTS last month and then I restarted and it worked and my drive recognized the CD. Recently my first BTS copy was misplaced and I had to buy a second copy. I went to use it today and now even re-starting isn't working.