Computer Help Needed - MP3 files showing as .cda files - vanity

04 jun 2006 | me

[Khurkris]

Need some help Recently mp3 files on cd's I put in my box have started showing up as .cda files that are 1 kb big instead of mp3 files. I cannot transfer these to an mp3 player nor copy them to a cd. My older music files still remain as mp3's. What has happened? And what must I do to once again read these as mp3's?

Thanks for any help

[Khurkris]

Help with this will be appreciated. Thanks.

[Quix]

. . . . to piggy back with another recurring problem . . .

Was trying to install the update of SpyHunter.

At about step 4-6 somewhere in there, got the error message that I did not have permission to do so, that I needed to log-in as ADMINISTRATOR.

I'm the only user. Am always "name" ADMINISTRATOR etc.

Infuriating.

Finally had to reboot in safe mode and click on ADMINISTRATOR for the final boot-up step.

HOW CAN I FIX THIS 'PERMANENTLY?' It's been a recurring problem probably as long as I can recall with XP-P.

[Malsua]

CDAs are just a shortcut to Audio tracks.

You're going to have to RIP the WAVs from the CD using something like ISOBUSTER http://www.isobuster.com/ (The free part of it will rip the WAVs) and then convert the WAVs to MP3s using a tool like http://www.audiograbber.com-us.net/ and the LAME(that's the name, not a criticism of it) encoder.

There are other tools around as well.

[Malsua]

Oh, and one other thing.

If you stick the disk in, does it pop up its own player and if you close it, the disk ejects?

If so, the disk is could be protected by something called copy control.

[Khurkris]

Malusa thanks for your help.
However the original music (files) on the CD's are mp3's. Not wav files.
However, for some reason, mu box is now reading them as only .cda's and not mp3's.
My Q is how to revert this unexpected conversion - .cda back to mp3.

[Khurkris]

Nope. These are cd's that either I have made from my music or someone else has compiled. I use WinMedia player, Nero, WinAmp and a few other media players.

[Auntie Mame]

.cda files are literally the directory of the music--note they're only 1 kb? So, you're not looking at the actual music files.

[Keeper of the Turf]

You thought you put mp3's on the cd, but the program that you used to burn them to the cd assumed that you wanted to make a music cd, so it converted the files to .cda. Use any one of the many free cd rippers out there to convert them back to mp3's.

[Malsua]

However, for some reason, mu box is now reading them as only .cda's and not mp3's.

Is this an Audio CD(you know, one you could play in a CD walkman, car or whatever) or just a disk filled up with MP3s?

The reason I ask is that you said these are 1kb files which is consistant with CDA. CDA files are located on Session 2 and are a shortcut to WAVs located in session 1 on an AUDIO Cd.

Is it just that the file extension is associated with the wrong program?

[Khurkris]

These are music cd's that have mp3 music on them. I have played them in my car and my home cd player, which will also play mp3's on cd rom's.
I have been trying to copy some of the mp3's onto ,y boys mp3 player. Previously this was a simple drag from the cd or fie and drop into the mp3 player which is hooked up to a USB port. The mp3 player is recognozed by the computer. Np problem there, I can look inside it w/no problem.
But ,cda files will not bring the music into the mp3 player. I hope this helps explain the situation.

[Khurkris]

Apologies for the terrible spelling. Its late on a Sunday evening here and its been a long day & week-end.

[KoRn]

ping

[KoRn]

It sounds like the account you are using when you are doing this doesn't have administrative rights on your computer. You can fix this by right clicking on the 'My Computer' Icon and selecting 'Manage'. This will open up the local computer management MMC.

Click the + symbol next to the 'Local Users and Groups' Node to expand it. Click on the users folder symbol and on the right you will see the list of local users on your computer. You will see 'Administrator', and a few others that are built in. See if you see a username on there that you may login with. Next click on the Groups tab on the left below the users folder symbol. On the right a list of groups will appear.

Double click on the Administrators group. This will open the properties of the Local administrator's group. Click the Add button at the bottom. On the next interface that pops up click Advanced, and then Find Now. This will show you a full list of every user and group locally on your computer.

Locate your username and select it, click on OK. Then you will see the username filled in for you on the last interface you were on. Click OK, and this box will go away, then click Apply. After this you will have to logout and log back in for the change to take effect, or just reboot.

This will fix your problem, unless there is some problem with your Operating System.

[N3WBI3]

TechSupport PING

If you are interested in the TechSupport ping list please mail me

[Quix]

THANKS SO ENORMOUSLY.

Had done part of that correctly and evidently the rest of it wrongly.

Will try.

AM SOOOOOOOOOO THANKFUL FOR YOUR KIND REPLY.

God's best to you and yours.

[KoRn]

Good luck!

[zeugma]

Use any one of the many free cd rippers out there to convert them back to mp3's.

Not entirely a good idea. If they were mp3s, then convered back to cdas, you're likely to get audio artifacts if you re-rip to mp3. You're better off doing clean rips from the originals again. 

[KoRn]

LOL! I hit the link to "More" at the top of the boards and saw my post count. My last reply to you before this one was my 5,000th post.

/cheers

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

The mp3 player is recognozed by the computer. No problem there, I can look inside it w/no problem. But .cda files will not bring the music into the mp3 player.

Try using a converter like dBpowerAMP Music Converter.

I use it all the time to convert one music file format to another. Perhaps you can locate a codec on their site to convert .cda to .mp3.

Though....my guess is that if they show up on the CD as .cda using Windows Explorer then they have been converted when burned from .mp3 to .cda...which is the format used by CD players. You may have thought they were .mp3 but were actually converted when burned.

No problem though. Download and install a copy of the Freeware AudioGrabber and see if you can rip the .cda files from the CD back onto your hard drive into the .mp3 format.

If they show up in the AudioGrabber window when the CD is loaded then they are definitely .cda and NOT .mp3 files as you first thought.

That would be the definitive test.

[Coleus]

so, I would need to use both programs to convert .cda to mp3?