Why does my CD player only play some disks?

Some CD players won’t play rewritable discs (CD-RW). Also, if you burned the disc yourself you should make sure the burn speed isn’t too fast for the disc. Each brand of CD-R has a certified maximum burn speed eg 24x. If you record too fast the data will not be written reliably. Finally it could depend on the brand of CD you are using. Some work well in some players and others do not.

@flutherother. Thanks. None of them are burned.

How old is the CD player in question? Have you had someone check the electronics? (the skipping noises can be a symptom of the step-by-step motor being broken or having somehting that jams it)

Do the unplayable disks have any fingerprints, smudges, or grease spots on them?

It’s best to handle CD’s only by the edges.

Its not vey old. It seemed to do it from day one. I may just have to replace it. But thank you I will also be minful of scratches and smudges.