Windows XP won't read my Data CD's

[joe@peacocks.co]

My problem is that when I put a CD in my Dell Dimension 4400 machine with Windows XP I can not "explore" the files on the CD so that I can get access to a .pdf file tutorial that comes with the disk. Putting the CD in this machine automatically starts the program and that is not what I want to do. I want to get to the files on the CD.
When I take the SAME CD and go to another machine with Windows 98 I can go to "my computer", click on the CD drive and there are all of the files that I am looking for!
I have also taken the CD to a friend of mine that has a XP machine and he can open the files on his machine like normal.
Do I have something set wrong in my software or is it a bad CD drive on my Dell.
Thanks for the help.
Joe

[jawaligt]

You need to disable the auto-insert notification (which automatically causes a program to run from the disk). I think you can either manage that by using the properties screen of my computer or by editing the registry. If you don't want to, you can right-click on your cd icon in my computer and then click on open, which will (hopefully ;) ) open the cd....

[BipolarBill]

Right-click the drive and select "Explore".

[joe@peacocks.co]

Thanks for both of the suggestions, Neither one of them worked. The CD still automatically starts up and I can't right click and get access to the "data" on the CD. Is there any other setting that I might need to change. Could it be a hardware problem?
Thanks,
Joe

[BipolarBill]

I would try shutting down, removing power to the drive, rebooting and then replugging it. If right-clicking isn't working, the drive (or Windows) is the problem.

[joe@peacocks.co]

I am kind of a rookie here so please bear with me. Are you saying cut the power off completly to the whole computer, take the cover off and remove the cable that supplies power to just the HD from the HD and then turn the whole computer back on with the HD power cable unplugged and then plug the power cable to the HD in?
Thanks,
Joe

[BipolarBill]

No....just the power to the CD drive. It beats removing ribbon cables.

[joe@peacocks.co]

My CD is an internal drive. Same deal? Is the power cable to the CD a pretty obvious thing?
Joe

[hlin]

Is this a burn cd? You migtht want to call dell and get new drive to try.

[PuterTutor]

Even if it autostarts, can't you quit the program, then open up windows explorer? Or are you saying it starts even if you click on the drive icon in explorer?

[Thinker]

There may be another option open to you Joe,

I don't have XP on my system but in most other versions of windows you may temporarily dissable auto insert notification by simply holding down the "shift" key while the CD drive performs it's initial scan of the CD.

Hopefully this will allow you to explore from "My Computer" :x