a CD that freezes your computer?

Canon EF 17-40mm f/4.0L USM

11/05/2005 05:23:11 PM · #1

I just bought Alanis Morissette's Jagged Little Pill Acoustic CD and was all excited to hear it, but... when I put the darn thing in my computer it causes whatever program I try to play it with to quit responding and I am unable to close it, even with Task Manager. I have heard of CD's that aren't supposed to be able to be played on computers or even car CD players (which I have never had a problem with) but this isn't one of them. What is going on here? I don't have a regular CD player in my apartment and I dont want to have to sit in front of the TV to listen to it on my DVD player.

What's going on here? and how can I get the program to close without restarting my computer?

Message edited by author 2005-11-05 17:24:17.

peecee

Canon EOS-5D

11/05/2005 05:33:42 PM · #2

firstly, does it play on your normal dvd player? if yes then I would get the latest media player d/load and try again, if not could be faulty or dirty. Alt F4 should close it down, does on most programs.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/05/2005 05:45:38 PM · #3

Copy protected??

ClubJuggle

Canon EOS-400D Rebel XTi

Canon EF 28-135mm f/3.5-5.6 IS USM

11/05/2005 05:45:40 PM · #4

Where did you get the CD and what is the record company?

~Terry

Olympus OM-D E-M5 Mark III

11/05/2005 05:47:53 PM · #5

Originally posted by peecee:

It plays on my DVD player. It is brand new, no dirt, fingerprints, or scratches.. Other CDs work on the computer. Alt F4 doesn't work, neither does using Task Manager (Ctrl-Alt-Del) to end the program. Even when I try to restart the computer it closes everything else and just sits there, presumably because it cannot close the program. I've tried iTunes, Musicmatch, and Windows Medis Player, all latest versions.

Pretty weird, huh?

GinaRothfels

Olympus 8mm f/1.8 M.Zuiko Digital ED Fisheye PRO Lens

11/05/2005 05:48:14 PM · #6

I don't know if there's any connection, but I've been reading some weird things about Sony CDs at dpreview. I think it's something to do with trying to stop piracy.

//www.cnet.com/4520-6033_1-6376177.html?tag=nl.e501

11/05/2005 05:49:15 PM · #7

Originally posted by strangeghost:

Copy protected??

It doesn't claim to be copy-protected. Even so, I have CDs that do claim to be protected that play. The record company is Maverick and I got it from Amazon.com new and unopened.

Message edited by author 2005-11-05 17:49:47.

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

11/05/2005 06:25:38 PM · #8

Update: As long as I quickly skip the first track it works beautifully. Must be some strange defect-- one that causes be to restart my computer about 5 times. It's all good now.

coolhar

11/05/2005 07:00:51 PM · #9

Here's a link to a story about Sony's screw up I heard on the radio: Sony Unit to Distribute Software Patch

AP is the source for this article.

Message edited by author 2005-11-05 19:01:50.

stare_at_the_sun

Canon EOS-10D

11/05/2005 07:07:49 PM · #10

"The software affects only PCs running the Windows operating system."

Just another reason to use a mac....

:P

coolhar

Canon PowerShot Pro 90 IS

11/05/2005 07:10:04 PM · #11

Originally posted by stare_at_the_sun:

"The software affects only PCs running the Windows operating system."

Just another reason to use a mac....

:P

And another reason not to buy Sony products.

strangeghost

Canon EOS-7D

Tamron SP AF 28-75mm f/2.8 XR Di for Canon

11/05/2005 07:41:21 PM · #12

Originally posted by coolhar:

And another reason not to buy Sony products.

Unfortunately it's not just Sony who is dabbling in this disabling practice. The big record companies still don't "get it" and will continue trying to protect their kingdoms in a manner that ends up hurting honest consumers.

I don't think Apple's got it completely right yet, but the iTunes Music Store is the best thing going right now, and clearly a model of the Shape of Things to Come.

hankk

Canon EOS-5D

Sigma 24-70mm f/2.8 EX Aspherical DF for Canon

11/05/2005 10:26:52 PM · #13

Sony is not just disabling, they are installing a "rootkit". A rootkit is a program that installs itself on your PC and hides so you can't see its there. It takes up memory space and uses processor horsepower. The technical journals report that Sony's rootkit technology is similar to the technology used by some viruses.

There are a couple of problems:

1. Sony is only one company, others may be doing this. If all the labels have thier own rootkits, together they all will take up a lot of memory and processor cycles.

2. What testing have the rootkits been through to insure they don't crash all the other programs on my computer? And that the rootkit is stable by itself? How many funny things happen to your PC where the program vendor denies there's a problem? The program vendor probably does not have the record company's rootkit installed, and so doesn't check for compatibility.

Message edited by author 2005-11-05 22:28:11.