CD Player Problems

This article has been written to deal with the problems that may be encountered in the CD player technology. Though it is not required to mention it, but just to give a right start to the article, I should mention that a CD player (Compact Disc player) is a device that we use to play CDs. The CDs that we try to play on our CD players, can be anything ranging from data CDs to audio or video CDs. But it is not necessary that the ordinary CD players that we use at our homes, will be able to read data discs, as they were not built with these functionalities. The data CDs that we run on computers will be able to play as computers can read such CDs. However, without going into the functionalities with which they are designed, let us try to understand the problems with CD players and the troubleshooting procedures.

Problem #1: CD Player Cannot Read Certain CDs
The basic CD player problem is that the CD head gets misaligned. You may get a sound that indicates that the CD is rotating inside the CD player, but the CD player is unable to read the tracks. Moreover, if a display device is attached, then an error message may get displayed.

Solution
Most of the time, this simple step helps you in restoring back your CD player back to its normal self. Use a proper CD head cleaner and clean the head very carefully, without applying any pressure and using a piece of cotton.

Problem #2: CD Player is Not Getting Powered Up
It may happen that your CD player may not get power, or the power that it receives is fluctuating.

Solution
Check if your CD player is getting proper power supply. Use the power cable for your CD player on a different power socket and check if it is working or not. If in case it still does not get powered up, then get the power cable to your CD player changed. This is the basic solution when your CD player is not getting the power supply.

Problem #3: CD Player cannot Read any CD
If it happens so, that you have tried innumerable number of CDs on your CD player, and it cannot detect or play back a single one. Your CD head is probably misaligned

Solution
To start off with the troubleshooting process, we need to first remove the case of the CD player. Getting the CD player out from the case is a quite cumbersome task, that requires a lot of patience. You have to unscrew each of the screws carefully. Keep the screws in such a way so that you can identify them, when you are fixing back the CD player into its case. Once you get through this process, you can have the CD player in front of you. You will notice a CD tray with a arm operated by a motor, which moves the lens over the CD. You will also see that there is a small circuit board. Now, attached to this board or somewhere nearby, you will find a small potentiometer. This is what you need to adjust. Move this potentiometer within a range of + or - 30 degree rotation. This is a trial and error process where you put the potentiometer at one position, and then check if the CD player can detect the CD. In case, it can't, then you have to rotate it again within the range. If you have sound knowledge about electrical and electronic appliances, the task is not very difficult for you because you can check whether your CD player starts working or not, without fixing it back into the cabinet every time and handling it safely. Once the potentiometer finds itself back in its proper position, the CD player will be able to read the CDs, that it couldn't read before.

Important Things to Take Care of When Troubleshooting CD Player Problems
Be sure that you have some technical expertise before you start off with the troubleshooting process. Handle the electrical connections carefully. Do not think that your CD player is not working just because it cannot read a few CDs. Try a good number of audio CDs before starting off with the troubleshooting process. Data CDs become a bit difficult for the CD player to read, but reading audio CDs is comparatively simpler task for the CD player.

The methods given for troubleshooting CD player problems in this article are not meant for improving the performance of your CD player. There are advanced CD players in the market which can read even scratched discs. Using these processes will not upgrade the performance of your CD player to match those advanced players. Also keep this fact in mind, that when you proceed with these troubleshooting processes, have some discs with you for checking purposes, which are not of much use for you otherwise. This way, you do not damage important discs during the repair process.