Some operating systems allow you to create a "virtual" XP drive on which to play old data CDs, but this can be complicated and I found it slowed the computer, even when not in use. Ruth >They were still working on Microsoft XP systems which is no longer supported through Microsoft.

I'm slightly puzzled that Archive CD Books stuff doesn't run as I thought that was straight .PDF files. Unless you were just using that as an example? There are various options: 1. There is a fault on your CD drive - obviously, try other CDs to test this idea. 2. The CD is "rotten" - yes, they do degrade - if it's all brown and manky, you are possibly stuck. 3. The CD uses a program actually on the CD to access the data and this is not compatible with current Windows. You can try right clicking the program it runs and accessing various compatibility options that mean Windows will attempt to run it as if it were Win XP (say). Not sure if this works when the stuff is on a CD. For Archive CD Books, I am reasonably sure that the data will be in .PDF files. In that case I'd use Windows Explorer to look at the files on the CD. If you have room on your hard-drive I'd copy the whole CD into a folder on your hard drive - that way it'll run faster. Either way, just double click the .PDF files and Adobe Acrobat Reader should run. Use the Adobe version - it's possible to get other versions of the Reader but if your files have used JavaScript, then the non-Adobe version may not have that capability. (The maps of Cheshire from Cheshire FHS need a full Adobe Reader, for instance). Adrian ​