CD/DVD drive not recognized

jworld2 · 18-09-2007, 03:59 AM

Recently my laptop computer got dropped from a short height, but enough that it could have done some damage. I think that is the reason that my computer's cd/dvd drive is not being recognized by the computer. The drive letter doesn't even show up in My Computer. I tried to boot using a linux live cd and that doesn't work either.
The first time I noticed that it didn't work, I turned the computer off and then later started it up again and the drive was there! But now it is gone again and it hasn't shown up when I restarted my computer or shut down and started up again. I don't know how long I will have to wait or if it will ever come back again. Does anybody know if there is a way to fix this problem or do you need more information?
Please help me, I need access to this drive!

donkey42 · 18-09-2007, 10:46 AM

can you see the CD / DVD is recognized by the laptops BIOS ?

it may help disconnecting & reconnecting the CD, can you test the CD in another laptop (the same model of laptop if possible) and also test a different CD in the laptop ?

BTW: in the meantime could you possibly use a standard CD drive connected to the laptop via a USB - IDE adapter / convertor

jworld2 · 18-09-2007, 06:46 PM

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you were talking about, but in the BIOS under the boot order, the ATAPI cd/dvd rom drive is listed as the second boot drive right before the main hard disk.

I also just found out that it does not list the drive in the device manager.

donkey42 · 19-09-2007, 12:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jworld

I'm not sure if this is exactly what you were talking about, but in the BIOS under the boot order, the ATAPI cd/dvd rom drive is listed as the second boot drive right before the main hard disk.

no exactly, the a CD will be visible in the boot order, regardless of the existence of a CD or not, try setting all boot devices to auto (automatically detect) and retry

it isn't looking good for your CD drive, can you try the CD drive in another similar laptop ?, and also try a known working CD drive in your lappy

Quote:

Originally Posted by jworld

I also just found out that it does not list the drive in the device manager.

you really need to try swapping CD drives

Off Topic:

i don't like advising people about laptops because i haven't fixed one for years and although laptops are similar to desktop systems but just more compact

jworld2 · 19-09-2007, 08:26 PM

Ok, first of all, how would I take apart my computer to #1, check to see if the drive is even connected and #2, connect it to another laptop? Sorry, I'm really good with software, but hardware is not my strong point.

Big B · 26-09-2007, 07:42 AM

Your documentation should show how to remove the optical drive if it's removable.

18-09-2007, 03:59 AM	# 1 (permalink) Top
jworld2 Geek Trainee Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 10 Status: Offline	CD/DVD drive not recognized Recently my laptop computer got dropped from a short height, but enough that it could have done some damage. I think that is the reason that my computer's cd/dvd drive is not being recognized by the computer. The drive letter doesn't even show up in My Computer. I tried to boot using a linux live cd and that doesn't work either. The first time I noticed that it didn't work, I turned the computer off and then later started it up again and the drive was there! But now it is gone again and it hasn't shown up when I restarted my computer or shut down and started up again. I don't know how long I will have to wait or if it will ever come back again. Does anybody know if there is a way to fix this problem or do you need more information? Please help me, I need access to this drive!

18-09-2007, 10:46 AM	# 2 (permalink) Top
donkey42 in doubt, give it a clout Join Date: Mar 2006 Age: 36 Male Posts: 6,353 Times Helpful: 338 My Mood: Paranoid Status: Offline My Computer	can you see the CD / DVD is recognized by the laptops BIOS ? it may help disconnecting & reconnecting the CD, can you test the CD in another laptop (the same model of laptop if possible) and also test a different CD in the laptop ? BTW: in the meantime could you possibly use a standard CD drive connected to the laptop via a USB - IDE adapter / convertor __________________ GRUB manual \| distromania \| Distrowatch \| ~~Kubuntu~~ \| hwf.myminicity \| My Distro (Lenny)

18-09-2007, 06:46 PM	# 3 (permalink) Top
jworld2 Geek Trainee Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 10 Status: Offline	I'm not sure if this is exactly what you were talking about, but in the BIOS under the boot order, the ATAPI cd/dvd rom drive is listed as the second boot drive right before the main hard disk. I also just found out that it does not list the drive in the device manager. Last edited by jworld2; 18-09-2007 at 06:49 PM..

26-09-2007, 07:42 AM	# 6 (permalink) Top
Big B HWF Godfather Join Date: Dec 2001 Age: 29 Male Posts: 9,721 Times Helpful: 594 My Mood: Devilish Status: Offline My Computer	Your documentation should show how to remove the optical drive if it's removable. __________________ Hardware Forums\|HWF Rules\|My DVD's\|PSU FAQ\|HWF Folding Team

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19-09-2007, 08:26 PM	# 5 (permalink) Top
jworld2 Geek Trainee Join Date: Apr 2007 Gender: Male Posts: 10 Status: Offline	Ok, first of all, how would I take apart my computer to #1, check to see if the drive is even connected and #2, connect it to another laptop? Sorry, I'm really good with software, but hardware is not my strong point.

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