[Beccy]

Hi there! I'm running Windows XP Pro, Service Pack 2. I have a normal cd-rw disk drive and i also have a cd-rw/dvd-rw drive, both of which have been running fine together for years now. All of a sudden my computer has now chosen to not recongise the cd-rw/dvd-rw disk drive. I've tried system restore but this hasn't worked. I've checked inside the computer and no cables are loose. If anyone has any ideas, I would be very very grateful, it's really getting me down as to why I can't get it working.

Many thanks, Beccy

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Hi and welcome to Geeks to Go. Here is a possible fix from M$.
http://support.micro...om/?kbid=320553 upper and lower filters, drive not found

[austin_o]

Hi and welcome to Geeks to Go. Here is a possible fix from M$.
http://support.micro...om/?kbid=320553 upper and lower filters, drive not found

[Beccy]

Thanks for that austin_o very much appreciated, I shall have a look now.

It's very weird cos the computer recognises that the drive is there, it even says it's working properly but the drive doesn't recognise any disks when put into it. Any ideas please?

[austin_o]

The way you described your problem "my computer has now chosen to not recongise the cd-rw/dvd-rw disk drive" led me to think the computer did not see the drive in my computer or disk managment. This is what the registry fix from M$ fixes. So, you can see the drive in my computer, device manager and disk management, it just does not read any media you put in the drive, is this correct?

[Beccy]

Yes that's correct. Sorry I didn't mean to mis-lead, I'm just so frustrated with the problem now, I just want to sort it.

[austin_o]

Ok, a few more questions. What happens when you put in a cd, like an audio (music) cd, does it play? Can you hear the drive spinning? Do you get any error messages?

[Beccy]

When I put in a audio cd or a dvd nothing happens at all. The drive doesn't even spin and I don't get any error messages. In My Computer it just says 'insert disk'. The green light on the drive flashes when i open up the drive to say it's doing something but doesn't do anything when a disk is inserted.

[austin_o]

When you look at the drive in device manager (go to start, my computer, right click properties hardware tab, then click on device manager) do you see the drive there? Is there a yellow ! next to it? If you right click on the drive in device manager, view properties, does it say the device is working properly?

[Beccy]

The drive is there in device manager and there is no yellow ! next to it. It says the device is working properly. I've tried doing the troubleshoot, but it's no help what so ever I'm afraid.

[austin_o]

Ok, lets look at another angle. If you put a cd or dvd in the drive, and then open my computer, do you see the drive there? If you try to access the drive and read from the cd/dvd, what happens? Do you get any error message?

[Beccy]

If I put a cd or dvd in the drive and go to my computer, the drive is there but it hasn't recognised the disk. If I click on the drive it just says 'insert disk'. There are no error messages, that's why it's so confusing.

[austin_o]

You could removing the device from device manager, then re-boot and let windows detect and reinstall the drive.

[Beccy]

I removed the device from the manager and windows automatically detected it when re-booted and installed it again but it's made no difference I'm afraid. The drive still won't recognise any disks put into it. Could it be something to do with the laser reading the disks?

I'm just hoping that if I get a new cd/dvd drive that it'll work perfectly.

[austin_o]

Yea, it could be the laser failed. That has happened to me and the solution is to replace the drive.

[mcpscomp]

Try to:
-shut your machine, unplug from the wall, open the case, pull all the wires of the drive.
-Reboot without the drive
-Shut down.......................................again, wire every thing back.
-Reboot
By doing this, I did bring back my dvd drive one. I think the your drive is quitting. All this only try to give it a last shock. If you still can't wake it up go buy another one. they are farely cheap now.
Give it a shot.