I run windows xp. I ran knoppix off the cd on my dell 4550. Afterwards my cd rom and dvd player dont work the same under windows xp. Could have knoppix messed up my drives or is it just a concidence?

the problem is. the drives no longer get the volume label off the cds. so under explorer it wont list the cd name. I can still access the info fine. the reason i need to fix this is that when i try to burn a cd with explorer it says there is no disk in drive and the drives will no longer autoplay cds. the drives work fine and i can burn cds with other software. So it seems to be a change in the driver or drive or xp config.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Well for starters, when you ran knoppix, did you mount your windows partition and do anything? (unless you did that, knoppix probably isnt to blame)

This sounds like a problem with windows though (not your drivers). I feel like there is a setting somewhere in windows that will turn off or on autostart.

It would not be Knoppix problem. Knoppix does not mount your storage devices in read/write mode unless you told it to do so. Its a BIOS problem, so call DELL tech support about this. They might have a BIOS fix. For now you can try go into the BIOS and look for an option to reset Extended System Configuration Data (ESCD) or something similar. If that does not work you can disconnect your computer from the AC and open up your computer case. Move a CMOS jumper or remove the battery for a few seconds and move the CMOS jumper back where it was or connect the battery. By opening up your computer you may void your warrenty.

Use Knoppix to make CDs though your DVD drive have to be master. Knoppix has much better software than Windows XP to write to CD-R or CD-RW. If you use Nero in Windows then pick either Nero or Knoppix to make CD-R or CD-RW.