Computer won't recognize CD-RW drive

[music1111]

Hi. I have had my computer for 6 years now and I run WIN 98SE. 2 days ago, my computer no longer lists my CD-RW drive as a valid drive on the computer (it was listed as drive E). It now only lists my Hard Drive (C) and my CD/DVD drive (D). My E drive won't eject or anything. It's like it's gone. It doesn't show up anywhere on my computer when I serach for it. When I try to access that drive from the Start - Run command, it says the drive it not accessible or has been removed. Does anyone know how to get this drive back? and where did it go?

Thanks.

 

[Lemon13]

if its not recognized by bios at startup the drive has failed, maybe just a loose power connector, or it just died.
verify in bios that the atapi controller is enabled for both channels (prim./sec.)....

 

[music1111]

How do I check it in BIOS?

 

[cdogg]

To get into the BIOS, look for a hotkey listed on the first screen when you turn the PC on. Usually it's F1, F2, DEL, or ESC. Be careful not to change anything in here, but look in the "System Information" area for your CD-RW drive's make/model. If you see your hard drive and CD/DVD drive but not the CD-RW, then like Lemon13 said, it has probably died. It might also be listed under IDE settings.

If it's showing up in the BIOS, then use a Win98SE bootdisk to start your computer in DOS mode with CD-ROM support. Usually, your CD-ROM drive letter will be E. You need to see if you can pull up the contents of a CD (try your Windows CD). At the DOS prompt, type:

e:
dir

Be sure to hit enter after each one. You should see the contents of the CD in your drive (assuming E is the right letter here). If not, then Windows is not to blame.

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[music1111]

The problem grows bigger.....

First let me say tht before I checked anything in cdogg's post, my D drive disappearred now too. D is my DVD/CD drive. ANd I don't think either drive has died beasue when I reboot sometimes, the lights come on for BOTH drives and then one it boots they go off and they are not listed under MY COMPUTER.

Now, I went into BIOS and don't see either drive (D or E)listed anywhere. DO I have some kind of virus or something that is deleting my drives or something?? Now what should I do?

PLEASE HELP!

Christine

 

[music1111]

update ... I also ran a virus scan and nothing came up. I don't know what else to try.

christine

 

[cdogg]

Well, it's quite possible you have a failing power supply. CD/DVD drives don't require a lot of power, but the devices that do (like your motherboard and hard drive) will often get first priority from the power supply. Therefore, if the PSU is having problems sustaining enough wattage, then items like your optical drives will be starved first. You're computer is 6 years old. It makes sense that this is a possibility. While some PSU's never seem to die, others can fail anytime based on their quality and how they were used.

Another cause might be the driver being used by Windows. Go into the Windows Control Panel and double-click System. On the Performance tab, see if there is any error about using "MS-DOS compatibility" mode. If there is, see this link:

http://www.helpwithwindows.com/techfiles/msdos-compatibility.html

~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Albert Einstein
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[edfair]

If you don't see them in the CMOS settings and they won't autodetect you generally have a M/B problem.
This is assuming that one of the choices in the first CMOS setting screeen is for autodetect.

Power can affect the issue, but if you were to hit the reset in an attempt to get it to autodetect again the power may have stabilized and allow it to happen. During the autodetect during a cold reboot (power switch turned on) there is more of a load on the power supply while the drive spins up.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[wyojesc]

You might try flashing your BIOS anyway. I don't think it will harm anything. Go to your computer manufacturer's site (i.e. Dell, Gateway, HP, etc.), look for downloads. They should ask for the model of your computer. This should be written on the front of the computer, or you can right-click on My Computer (on your desktop or in the Start menu). The BIOS will be an executable file (ending in .exe). There should be instructions on the website on how to install the BIOS. Usually, you just run the BIOS file by double-clicking on it, the program will take your system down and reboot, installing the newer BIOS version. May make your system run better, if nothing else.

 

[jlockley]

Check your cables. It's silly, but it can cause issues. Then unload your cmos battery. (Check the description in your manual..it's fairly straight forward, but sometimes it works)
Other than that, sounds like a tanking a) power supply or b) mobo or c) just two devices going at the same time.