Age of Empires Forums

If someone has made this post, please redirect me to it (I can't find anything like this)

Anyways, recently, I tried to play AOE 3 TAD on my laptop, but for some reason, the disk wouldn't read (The driver is running and stops and runs again but nothing pops up). I clicked on the icon but it says "please insert disk" and when I clicked on the driver (which simply says "driver E") it wasn't loading, until I eject the disk and it says "please insert disk". It's all the AOE 3 disks and I don't know what is going on. I tried all my other games, and they all work, so for sure it is not a driver problem, but it's just the AOE 3 games that will not read at all. I even tried to uninstall and install but the disks will not read. What is happening?

if u have to post in continuation , than better u edit ur first post , 

have u checked ur dvd reader ?

You said you tried reinstallling -- does that mean you succeeded in reinstalling, or it gives the error again when you try to install?

If it's an issue with the game simply not launching, the latest patches make it so the game no longer requires the disc:

AoEIII: http://www.agecommunity.com/gameUpdates.aspx

The WarChiefs: http://www.agecommunity.com/gameUpdates_xp.aspx

The Asian Dynasties: http://www.agecommunity.com/gameUpdates_yp.aspx

If it's problems with both launching and installing, perhaps try cleaning your disc? Use a glass cleaner, such as Windex, and then wipe it with microfiber clothe, or if you don't have one, a tissue (the kind without any kind of lotion in it, of course). Make sure it's good and dry before putting it back in your computer.

Ok, well here's what's happening:

 I insert any of the AOE 3 disks (all expansions and the original game) and the driver begins to read it. However, it keeps looping (like the driver reads the disk and all of the sudden it stops reading it. It tries to read it again, but stops again), and the driver is not reading any of the discs at all. I thought it was the driver, but I played 20 different discs (even AOE 1 and 2) and they work fine except for the AOE 3 games. I clicked on the logo for AOE 3 and it said "Insert AOE 3 Disk" and when opened up my computer, it didn't say AOE 3 but "Driver E" (I clicked on Driver E but it wouldn't open up any window, that is until I eject the disk and it says please insert disc in driver E).

 So bottom line, the disc will NOT read at all and I'm sure it is not a driver issue. The discs have no scratches at all and are practically the same quality as the day I bought them from the store.

It's not commonly known, but physical disc media actually degrades over time.  Generally a CD is probably going to be good for at least a decade, but in some rare occasions the disc may just degrade enough to not function properly. 

In addition, laser tech has changed over the years, so your new drive may operate slightly differently than old ones.  Usually backwards compatibility is not an issue, but if the disc is a number of years old it is possible that may be a problem.  

It does seem a very rare occurring, but it is possible.  Can you check the disc on another PC to see if it works by any chance? 

Sorry about the long delay;

 Yes I've tried it, it works on several other computers. Is there any other possible methods I can try to get (at least one of the disks) to read?

Cleaning Discs

Using them in another computer?

Do other game discs work?

Is it all AoE3 discs, or just one?

If just one, and you tried cleaning it, I'd call Microsoft and try to get replacement media.

It's just the TAD disk. Is there a specific way how to clean it?

edit

ignore that