Laptop trouble please help :o(

[cambs flyer]

I don't often get completely stumped but my E drive (cd/dvd) drive has disappeared from the "computer" box where the drives are listed.

I put a CD in the drive and it spins for England but doesn't read a thing.

I have checked in computer panel - device manager and the driver has the (!) next to it, I can't reinstall the driver as the drive doesn't work, and I know I changed something yesterday but can't remember what.

Anyone help pleeaassee.

[Made2Fade]

download the driver and install it off the harddisk or get a mate to send you it over the internet from your disk. Failing that do a system restore to the point just before it happened. Have you also tried uninstalling the drive and then restarting to see if the operating system picks up the driver for it that way?
Lee

[edison]

Can you go into the system properties and device manager then roll back to last working driver option for the affected device?

[svein]

If you open "computer management" (rightclick "my computer", select manage), then device manager, then double-click the CD-drive with the yellow or red symbol infront of it, what is the problem listed in the window that now pops up?

//Svein

[Aidi]

The role back method is a good start, the other option is to go into your device manager, right click on the CD rom and uninstall it. Reboot the pc and windows should automatically try and find it for you. Failing both of these, download and install the drivers again.

If you are using Windows Vista, have you recently upgraded to SP1? If so, it could be that thats causing the problem. The system restore will clarify if it is. One last thing, might be worth taking the side of the PC, and double checking the ribbon cable and power are fully connected. A small movement on the ribbon cable can sometimes cause anomolies.

Rgds
Aidi

[cambs flyer]

Thanks guys but I cant roll back the driver as that option is Grey and unusable.

the message I get is this:

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

I've been to Dells driver download page via my service tag number and I can't find the CD driver to make it work anywhere

I know I can call Dell in the morning but I hate having to, it's embarrassing enough asking you guys a simple driver problem, but right now I'm a bit stuck.

I'm about to delete the driver and reboot and see what happens, but thanks for the advice chaps, and please don't stop, I'll write here after I've performed the next stage.

[svein]

uhm. corrupted driver. In the driver page, what driver does it list? The driver for (most) optical devices should be the native windows one...

If it doesn't list the driver provider as Microsoft, I think you have recently A) installed a game or similar copyprotected crap, B) used a Sony BMG music cd that has installed copyprotection crapware on your machine, or C) gotten any other kind of malware on your computer. Try hitting the "uninstall" button in the driver dialog, then restarting your computer. Seriously.

//Svein

[cambs flyer]

OK I've done all of this, the Dev' Man' tells me the latest driver is installed yet Thar yellow ! is next the the driver details, and the E:/ is missing in the "My Computer" box, (as it was called in XP and previous versions)

The file with the ! is called

TSSTcorp DVD+-RW TS L632H ATA Device

I've found a few places where this can be downloaded and I've tried to upload it to the correct area but it wont have any of it.

Poxy thing

[pompeyjohn]

Have you recently installed some software for burning cds or dvds? I have seen a similar result when some dodgy filters were installed.

I'd uninstall any burning software you have, and then when the drive is back up and running..... install only one.

if you right click on my computer and select manage, can you see the drive in the mmc?

[Rat]

Drivers for dvd drives are already included in windows. Try http://www.pchell.com/hardware/cd_dr..._code_39.shtml and see if that sorts you.

[svein]

why, oh why, should an ATA dvd multiwriter need any extra drivers in windows newer than Windows 2000? Who on earth decided it was a good idea to replace the stock atapi driver with anything proprietary (which would then be sure to fail whenever there was an update to anything along the path between the cpu and the drive).

Now, some of the dialogs I give you may have different wording (I'm sitting at a 64bit vista computer at the moment), but I'll try anyways.

Open the computer manager (see above), and then the device manager. Select your cd drive from the group "DVD/CD-ROM drives", and double click. In the driver pane select "Update Driver", then "Browse my computer for Driver Software", in the next dialog, "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer". The uppermost device driver in the list you get now, is "CD-ROM Drive" with no more fancyness. Select it. Next and Close. You may need to restart your computer.

//Svein

[raptorheli2]

see this a lot at work, try deleting the upper and lower filters.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US/

use the number 2 guide there, reboot when finished.

cheers

[cambs flyer]

Have you recently installed some software for burning cds or dvds? I have seen a similar result when some dodgy filters were installed.

I'd uninstall any burning software you have, and then when the drive is back up and running..... install only one.

if you right click on my computer and select manage, can you see the drive in the mmc?

I did install yesterday some sonic writing software, then deleted it as the DLA had faults, but the general data writing side of things worked OK, it's been since then I've been having trouble.

I can't even do a system restore as theres a fault not letting that work correctly.

I've tried the reg edit but I couldn't find the files which was mentioned as there were thousands of sub directory's.

Worst case I'll transfer files using usb flash drives and do a dell image reinstall, I don't really want to do that but right now it seems the only way out.

[cambs flyer]

why, oh why, should an ATA dvd multiwriter need any extra drivers in windows newer than Windows 2000? Who on earth decided it was a good idea to replace the stock atapi driver with anything proprietary (which would then be sure to fail whenever there was an update to anything along the path between the cpu and the drive).

Now, some of the dialogs I give you may have different wording (I'm sitting at a 64bit vista computer at the moment), but I'll try anyways.

Open the computer manager (see above), and then the device manager. Select your cd drive from the group "DVD/CD-ROM drives", and double click. In the driver pane select "Update Driver", then "Browse my computer for Driver Software", in the next dialog, "Let me pick from a list of device drivers on my computer". The uppermost device driver in the list you get now, is "CD-ROM Drive" with no more fancyness. Select it. Next and Close. You may need to restart your computer.

//Svein

I agree and thank you for the suggestion, but I've done this and the bleeding thing wont play game

Windows is telling me all's well, then you go into the device properties and its saysing the old 39 code is the reason its fouling up, a contradiction in terms.

[raptorheli2]

the files are 100% there, i have done this countless times. but you need to be sure what your deleting.

cheers