Missing CD-ROM and CD Burners 1

[HCJordan]

Ok, here's the thing. They're in the tower. factory installed and all. Only thing is, they're not showing up in "My Computer" and they work fine. Just one minute they were there and the next they're gone.

What could have caused this problem and is there anyway that I can reverse it?

Thanks,

Jordan

 

[BadBigBen]

http://www.dougknox.com/xp/scripts_desc/xp_cd_dvd_fix.htm

How to Troubleshoot CD-ROM Drive Problems in Windows XP (Q314096)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q314/0/96.asp

missing Drives in My Computer and Windows Explorer (Q191579)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q191/5/79.asp

320553 - CD-ROM Drive or DVD-ROM Drive Missing After You Install Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;320553&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

Device Settings Are Hard to Find in Windows XP (Q310751)

http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/q310/7/51.asp

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[HCJordan]

I just checked my device manager, and it shows no sign of CD ROM drives anywhere. I've read over everything that was stated in the post above, but still can't seem to fix the problem.

 

[edfair]

What about the IDE stuff? If it goes bad you lose the attached devices.
Does it show up in CMOS scan for devices? If it shows there it is an indication that the IDE is the problem.

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

 

[HCJordan]

I've tried it all. Maybe i'm just not explaining the problem clearly.

Here's the problem:

I have no D: or E: drives. They used to appear when I would open "My Computer". Now they're not there. When I open device manager nothing is shown for CD-ROM drives. I can place a cd/dvd in the tray, and nothing happens. Up until about a few days ago I could use the CD-ROM drives. I was searching the net and the next thing I know is they're gone. Unable to be accessed or used.

Does this explain the problem a little bit better? I've tried everything that I know of. I'm not to technical with computers, but I know enough, but for some reason, I can't seem to fix this problem.

HCJordan

 

[edfair]

Yeah, you've explained it plainly enough. This is a pretty common problem.
Your optical stuff is accessed through chips on the motherboard. Those chips sit on the motherboard doing nothing until certain software programs called drivers are loaded. If the drivers get corrupted the chips once again sit on the motherboard doing nothing. The optical stuff can also sit there doing nothing if the cable comes loose from the motherboard.
So the second question, regarding whether they can be seen in the CMOS scan, is an attempt to see whether they are seen by the BIOS, which does not use the aforementioned drivers.
You could also download a 98SE boot disk from

http://www.bootdisk.com

and boot with it to see if they are visible using the DOS based drivers and prove that the hardware is good.
Assuming that the hardware is good, a probable 95% bet, based on experience, you would then look into the device mangler for IDE problems.

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

 

[BadBigBen]

To fix try the following: open the Registry Editor...

START, RUN, type in Regedit... search for the following KEY and delete it:

"HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}"

then exit the RegEdit and go to the devicemanager and uninstall all CD-ROM's, DVD's, and CD-RW's... REBOOT... let windoze reinstall the drives...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."