Help! Computer doesn't find CD-ROM

[Canyarion]

:(

The CD burner of my girlfriend's PC doesn't work anymore. It used to work, but now it's like it's not there.

I took open the computer, but all the cables are connected.

I wonder if it's a software issue.
If a device breaks down, can it just disappear from your computer settings?? Sound very improbable to me. :unsure:

I tried to add hardware, but doesn't find anything.

What can I do? :(
Thanks! :)

[Jonbo298]

Does Windows not even see that its there? Sounds like windows just kind of forgot it existed. Have you tried unplugging/replugging the cables to the CD Burner just in case something got loose, somehow

[Canyarion]

Yeah I replugged both cables. No difference.

Perhaps I need drivers or something? :confused:
I really don't get it, I tried to add new hardware, but it didn't find anything! :(

[Jonbo298]

Go into the Device Manager, look under DVD/CD-Rom Drives (click the plus sign) and does it see more then one CD/DVD Drive or not?

[Canyarion]

Device Maganer only shows her DVD-ROM player. That one doesn't have/show any problems.

[Jonbo298]

Very strange. Another quick test is to go into the Bios and see if it shows 2 cd/dvd drives attached or just one.

Other then that, if it doesnt see it, IF possible, remove it and put it into your computer and then boot up and see if your computer notices the drive. If it does see it and it works perfect, maybe something is loose on her motherboard (I say cable to the CD/DVD Drive even though its been checked). If it doesnt see it, dead drive most likely

[Canyarion]

I'll try that in 2 weeks (when I get there)...

Anyone else got an idea perhaps? :) Before this topic sinks to the bottom of the forum?

[Jonbo298]

Yeah, if anyone else has ideas besides me, shoot them out

[MuGen]

usually with internal drives... you need drivers for them... the drive didnt come with a cd?

[Canyarion]

Hm yeah probably... but it has been working for years! Perhaps my g/f throw away some files or something, but I can't imagine she just uninstalled the CD burner. :unsure:
But I'll try to add some drivers...

[Yoda9864]

The drive could've died. You did say that it's been used for years. But it's kind of odd that it would just stop one day. Usually when a drive dies, it flickers and sputters and then dies.

[Blackmane]

I doubt that it is a driver issue if it has worked before. She would probably have known if she had deleted drivers.

My guess is either the drive decided to take a quick demise, or some sort of virus/spyware/whatever corrupted some system settings that is making your drive appear dead.

[GameMaster]

Does reformatting the computer back to its original state have any chance of fixing the problem.

There's nothing on his girlfriend's computer that needs to be saved so it's okay if we restore to its factory state.

[MuGen]

Well I know spyware cannot corrupt systems; only bog their performance down. And Virus eat away system resources or even completely shut a system down. But a virus made to show that a CD burner is not working.... what would be the point of that?

Maybe the FBI sent it to you in retalliation to the piracy thing. I dunno...

All I know is... without a "Drive Missing Virus" the only way the internal drive could be missing is Drivers or firmware updates.

And being a computer science study, You don't actually have to delete the drivers yourself. There could've been a third party application that came in conflict with the drivers themselves and either overwrote them or just completely got rid of them.

Your best bet is to just re-install it with the CD it came with and with the drivers.

[Canyarion]

There's nothing on his girlfriend's computer that needs to be saved so it's okay if we restore to its factory state.:eek3:

[MuGen]

dont worry about it... you can always buy a new computer with purdy imagery. :-p :beerchug:

[GameMaster]

:eek3:


Nothing says "I Love You" better than a 17-inch Powerbook G4. (http://www.apple.com/powerbook/index17.html)

If you want to win her heart, it's the only way to go.

[Canyarion]

Ouch.... suddenly it works (haven't changed a thing to it!).... but while it was broken, I opened it manually....... and now it won't open and close properly! :(
Did I break the mechanism?? :baby: Can I repair it??