I made this before we found out that music CDs from the store had viruses on them,
because I knew it was possible and suspected it was true.

I had to "fix" it today because the belt slips and the CD wouldn't come out,
which gave me an excuse to un-make and re-make it.

Although I made mine in an external drive case it is actually easier to make it inside your (PC) Box,
but then there is the danger of someone being dumb enough to play the CD in the wrong drive.

Step 1: Find Stuff...

You just need a CDROM drive, in working condition.
If it's used it may be full of dust.
The one I used I got new, but the belts got slack and it no longer ejects,
and that is why I am working on it "now".

AND... any amplified computer speakers that have their own power supply,
and volume controls... as loud as you prefer...

AND... a power supply that has the power for the CDROM drive.

AND... a box to make it in. Could be a cardboard box. Could be your PC.

Just one more thing about the drive, it should have at least 2 buttons.
Mine has "stop/eject" and"play/skip".
A drive with the Play button can play CDs without the computer.
You KNOW you have a virus if your other CD drive (only) stops playing CD's.
Follow this instructable and it will be able to play CDs again.

Step 2: Connection Options

Most IDE (or SATA?) CDROM drives have a volume control and ear phone jack in the front.
You can easily plug your amped speakers in front, but the wire gets in the way.

You must remove any IDE connector from the drive,
but make sure the power supply is connected.
(There was already a small power supply in my external drive box.)
Don't worry about whether the drive is set as a "master" or "slave". It doesn't matter.

The option I used was to mod the CD-to-soundcard cable so that it has audio jacks at the other end.
That is a line-out connection, and so the volume must be controlled by the speaker's amplifier.
You may cut up an old useless sound card leaving Only it's audio jacks. (NO mobo slot)
CLEARLY LABEL the drive and the jacks and pray that no dummies with mu-sick CDs come by.

I never did this to a SCSI drive. I think it will work, but if you try please comment on the result.

Step 3: How to Use It

Plugin, Connect and Turn on your amped speakers.
Push the eject button and put a CD in the CDROM drive.
Push the play button and hopefully you hear sound.
if not, turn up the volumes,
if not, test the drive with head phones,
if not good, try another drive from an old box.

When you get it working tidy it up and
make it look extra attractive to dummies with mu-sick CD's
that might wander around your PC.

Step 4: Other Stuff You Can Do

CD rom drives run on 5 and 12 volts.
It should be easy to make this work in a car with the cig lighter plug,
you just need 5 and 12 volt regulators. USE A FUSE!
(7805's go up to 1A current, I'd recommend more, if I find the part number it's _______.)
I haven't tried it in a car, do at your own risk.

...

You can do just about anything you want with CDs played in this without worrying about getting a virus.
This won't spy on you and tell anyone what you are listening to.