<p>For a while now, my DVD Drive (D Drive) has not been detecting CDs or DVDs (my computer is almost 2 years old). However, my computer detects the D Drive, in that the "D Drive" icon appears when I double click on "My Computer". Until now, I've been using mostly my E Drive to run CDs, etc., but it would be awfully more convenient to be able to use my D Drive as well, since I did purchase it for usage and not for it to just sit there and do nothing! Any diagnosis of the problem? I've confirmed the master/slave configurations and I'm fairly certain that the D Drive is not completely broken (everything works great: disc tray opens, etc.), but it just won't relay the information from the CD or DVD back to the computer!! Help!</p>
<p>If I understand this correctly, you "see" your drive when you go to "My Computer". You place a cd or dvd into your D: drive and nothing happens. </p>
<p>Go to My Computer and right click on your D: drive. Select "Properties" and click on the the "Autoplay" tab. You will see a dialog box with a selection of different "content" types. Select a content type you want to play and click on the appropriate "action" to happen. For a dvd movie, you would select the software that you want the playback to use (i.e. Powerdvd or Windows Media Player). Click on "apply" and restart your pc. See if this fixes your problem.</p>
<p>If this doesn't work, swap your D: and E: drives by changing your IDE cable connections between the drives (and remember to reset the jumpers from slave to master). Your cdrom drive will now be your D: drive. See if it recognizes a cd. Drop a dvd into your E: drive and see if it works...</p>
<p>Let me know what happens...</p>
<p>Your understanding of the situation is correct. I tried both of your suggestions, but unfortunately they have not worked for me. It may help to know that when I click on "My Computer" and click on the DVD Drive, it reads "Please insert a disk into drive E:." (even when there is a disk in drive E.) I've tried using different CDs/DVDs, but there doesn't seem to be a problem with the disks.</p>
<p>Thanks again, michuncle!</p>
<p>it could be a firmware issue...</p>
<p>try going into the device manager and uninstall the drive...reboot and windows should automatically detect and reinstall it (this is assuming you have winxp)...</p>
<p>give that a shot, see what happens</p>
<p>Go to Start=>Run=> Type "cmd" (without "")</p>
<p>In cmd, type, ipconfig \release</p>
<p>This little bugger should fix it..</p>
<p>Interesting problem!</p>
<p>As Scom suggested, you can uninstall your cd/dvd device drivers and have Windows XP reinstall them when you reboot your computer.</p>
<p>Control Panel
System
Hardware
Device Manager
IDE...controller (click on the plus button)
You should see a primary and secondary IDE Channel. Verify that neither has a yellow warning message. By double clicking on each, a properties box will open. Select Advanced Settings and verify that each is set for DMA (not PIO). If the drives are set for PIO (programmed input/output), they need to be reset to DMA (Dynamic Memory Access). If both channels are set to DMA, just exit out. If one channel shows PIO, exit back to the Device Manager window and right click on the PIO channel and select "uninstall". Exit and restart your computer. Windows XP will automatically re-install your optical drives to DMA. You'll see a series of messages at the bottom right side of your screen. Just let everything install and your computer will automatically reboot. Once restarted, try out your D: drive and see if it works. </p>
<p>If both IDE channels shows DMA, check the following from the Device Manager window:</p>
<p>DVD/CDRom Drives (click on the plus button)
You should see your two optical drives and there shouldn't be a yellow warning next to either.
If you see a yellow warning, it means that there's a device driver problem. In any case, you can click on each drive and a properties window will open and a dialog box in that window will say if the device is operating properly: "This device is working properly.</p>
<p>If you are having problems with this device, click Troubleshoot to start the troubleshooter."</p>
<p>If you see a yellow warning or if the device shows that it is not operating properly, exit back to the Device Manager window and uninstall the drive. Reboot and let XP re-install the drivers. </p>
<p>One other possibility: according to your post, your D: drive seems to function, but it does not sense that a disc is in the tray. The drive does open and close. The indicator light functions on start up (it lights up during start up and then goes off, right?). It's possible that your optical drive's laser head is out of adjustment. You may have put a cd into the drive that may not have been seated right and the tray may have jammed which may have damaged the read head... There are ways of disassembling the drive and using a screwdriver to adjust the head, but it requires some time and skill to make the adjustment. Since a dvd rom drive is only $30, you're better off just buying a new drive.</p>
<p>If you have a friend near by or another computer in the house, take out your dvd drive and plug it into another machine to see if it works. If it fails in another computer, the drive is bad. Actually, try this first before doing any of the above!</p>
<p>Good luck...</p>
<p>it happens to me all the time. I have a hp pavilion. Usually I either bang it and keep trying until it works OR insert a regular cd(like an audio cd) first and then insert my cd-rw</p>
<p>I checked the Device Manager and IDE controllers/channels, and I noticed I only have one "IDE Channel"--that being the "Primary IDE Channel" and there is no "Secondary IDE Channel" it seems. But I do have the following under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers:</p>
<p>"Intel (R) 82801FB/FBM Ultra ATA Storage Controllers - 266F"
"Intel (R) 82801FR SATA AHCI Controller"
"Primary IDE Channel"</p>
<p>I checked the Primary IDE Channel and there weren't any yellow exclamation marks and it claimed to be working fine nonetheless. Under "DVD/CD-ROM Drives", all appears to be fine.</p>
<p>I don't know if it was foolish for me to do so, but I opened up the DVD Drive to see if the lense was askew, but from what I could tell, it looked straight. Also, I noticed several months (probably even over a year ago) that I got a message (when I would start my computer and BEFORE the "Windows XP" starting up screen (black background and the blue "loading" bar)) that there was some sort of technicality with the system and that I could either press F1 to continue or F5 to go to a certain menu. Foolishly, I ignored this until recently, and I feel this may have something to do with it as well, however I do not always get this screen when I first turn on my computer. I will, however, make sure to note exactly what it says the next time I encounter it.</p>
<p>Thank you all for the suggestions, and I especially appreciate the time you have taken in trying to help me with this, michuncle. Please feel free to suggest any more ideas--I did not get the chance to try the drive in a different computer yet, though. I think I'll be calling tech support tonight (if they're available) or tomorrow after noon. I have either a 2 or 3 year warranty and am hoping this DVD drive may be cover by it, if it doesn't work out. DVD drives are only $30, but do you think a warranty would pay for this? P.S.--My desktop is a Dell.</p>
<p>Again, thank you, and I'll be sure to try and test this drive in a different computer. Also, I think I'll try connecting the IDE cord to the DVD Drive in such a way that I'll disconnect the IDE part from the CD Drive that works and connect THAT IDE input/output to the DVD Drive, in case it is actually the IDE cord that is not working.</p>
<p>P.P.S.--The Primary Drive was set to DMA.</p>
<p>One last try: Since you opened up your dvd drive, try using some compressed air to blow out any dust that might have gotten into the drive. If you can see the laser read head (a small glass lens), you can very carefully use a cotton swab dipped in some glass cleaner and gently clean the lens. Re-assemble and see if it works. </p>
<p>I'm still guessing that the drive is dead...</p>
<p>I actually just talked to tech support at Dell, and after several attempts (some including your suggestions), they will be sending a technician soon with the replacement part (DVD Drive)--all under warranty. Again, thanks and feel free to post any questions for me to ask the technician.</p>
<p>Glad to hear you bought the "good" extended warranty!</p>
<p>A dead drive is a dead drive. Every computer manufacturer runs across a batch from their suppliers that may pass an initial QC and then fails later in the field. Dell buys in huge volumes and pressures their suppliers for the lowest possible price. Corners get cut. That's business... People complain about Dells [and every other pc manufacturer...even Apple to a lesser extent (their early G5's had serious power supply problems)]. Again, it's in the nature of the business.</p>
<p>Good luck!</p>
<p>This is actually news to me, but now that I recall, it was less than a week after I had received my desktop when my first computer "error" occurred. It annoyed me, especially because it was a brand new computer, but I just learned to ignore it--this was the "F1/F5" screen that I referred to so vaguely in post #8. I'm just glad that everything worked out and Dell wasn't uptight about sending me a new drive (I hardly ever take advantage of warranties and it eludes me as to why I always get the extend ones..) At first, I was directed to a technician from overseas, but his solution seemed tenuous--basically a purchase of a different warranty for software (as opposed to my current warranty for hardware). Without really questioning the state of my computer or DVD Drive, he had supposedly diagnosed that it was a software problem--I'm not sure how valid this was really. At this point, I asked for someone who was more familiar with the hardware and could actually help me restart, click a few things there, etc.--and after several failed attempts, we finally decided on the replacement drive of the same model.</p>
<p>P.S.- When I restart or shut down my computer, there will be problems with various programs (not necessarily at once), including cApps, and similar background programs that I'm not entirely familiar with. I'm considering reformating my hard drive soon, but would this help resolve some of these annoyances? I seem to get them at the most inconvenient times! Thanks.</p>
<p>It sounds like you may have bits and pieces of software programs that may not have been completely uninstalled. Or there may be some malware running in the background. I'm not familiar with cApps.</p>
<p>Before reformatting, run an anti-spyware/virus program and download a registry cleaner program from CNet's software download site.</p>
<p>Thank you for the advice,
I've downloaded the free program "Registry Mechanic" and have run the free scan and it seems as though I have more than 400 "problems". I'm deciding whether it would worth it to register and actually purchase this software to fix these problems. Would reformatting the hard drive reset these registries so they would not appear as problems?</p>
<p>I like a program called "Easy Cleaner" for fixing registry problems. Best of all, it's free: <a href="http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm%5B/url%5D">http://personal.inet.fi/business/toniarts/ecleane.htm</a></p>
<p>Another program that's useful for spyware removal is "True Sword":</p>
<p>Give these two programs a try before reformating your drive...</p>
<p>michuncle, thanks for the links. Is there a reason why I should try these before reformatting my hard drive?</p>
<p>It's always a good idea to run these programs to see what kind of problems you may have on your computer. If running these programs solves any boot up problems, you may not have to reformat your drive. </p>
<p>In any case, periodically running anti-spyware and registry cleaning software is a good practice for keeping your computer running well...</p>
<p>Hmm.. I continue to find alerts like "invalid [registry] entry" or "worm/trojan", even when the file is not a worm or trojan (or does not appear to be). How well does Norton Anti-Virus and Internet Security work compared to these other programs?</p>
<p>Registry entries are like file pointers for the installation and uninstalling of programs. Over time, when programs are removed or updated, the older file pointers remain and are no longer needed. These registry entries may conflict with one another. It's a good idea to periodically "clean house" to keep everything tidy. Think of it like de-fragging your hard drive. </p>
<p>True Sword and programs like it do find a lot of files that it lists as possible worms or trojans. I'm not a virus expert, but True Sword seems to find a lot of odd files on your pc that can be safely deleted. It also has an "Undo" feature which is nice.</p>
<p>Norton has been around for quite a while and while it does a good job, it does screw up occassionally. A few months ago, Norton issued an update which accidently targeted Excel files as virues and deleted them in auto mode. People were not happy. There have been reports that having Norton running in the background causes problems while buring dvds and getting web based software upgrades (apparently, it's a resource hog). </p>
<p>A lot of schools now use Grisoft anti-virus software under license because it does just as good a job and it's cheaper. For individual users, it's free and is updated frequently.</p>