Ok, so this sounds like MC is having trouble with either the drive or the media.
It doesn't appear to be path related.
Audio ripping location is specified by File Location > Audio and the base path, Folder rule and Filename rule. If other discs are ripping to this location, and setting the CD fields in the CD dialog (those referenced in the File Location above) to know-good values, then the ripping folder doesn't appear to be the issue.
CDs won't generally be in cdplayer.ini - this is an old, legacy file. Some other programs may update this file, and MC can use it for reading, but MC doesn't update it.
Perhaps one of the devs has more insight...