My computer will not recognise my cd drive. why?

The most likely explanation is that one of the cables connecting your cd drive became loose.

Touch the case to ground yourself and release any static electricity. Unplug the computer and open the case. Check that the 2 cables, power and data that connect to your cd drive are not loose. If they are, push them in further to secure them.

You can double check that there is no software problem by checking the device manager and event log.

In order to check your event log, . click start->right click on my computer->select manage->click on the plus sign next to event viewer->select system->find a red error message and copy the error message->click on any link to get the details of the error. Do the same for application.

To check you device manager, click start->run, type in devmgmt.msc. click on the plus sign next to dvd/cd-rom drives. If there is a yellow warning sign, right click on it and select properties and follow the instructions.

Restart the pc. See if it shows up in the computer self test in the "detecting IDE drives" part.

If it does, then the problem is with Windows and could be a conflict or other problem.

If it doesn't then it could be that the IDE cable has come loose or the drive mechanism is dead. You'll have to shut down, unplug the pc from the wall, open up the case and have a look for this.

If all the cable are in firmly then the drive has probably had it and you'll need a new one.

Open up the computer and unplug the cables out of the cd drive. Then plug them back in firmly. Next go into your control panel/system/hardware/device manager. Find you cd drive. If it is not there do a scan for hardware changes. If it is there right click it and delete it. Then reboot. When you reload windows will automatically install the default drivers to read the drive. That should solve your problem. If it doesnt then your drive died on you. Buy a new one they are cheap.

Follow the instructions offered on the following page, but do make sure you follow the instructions precisely as they are written down as you'll be editing your system registry and mistakes here ... or, rather, deleting things inappropriately, can make the system non-responsive.

Please do try it. It really isn't that difficult to follow.

What's happened is that there's been a change to the Upper Filters and/or Lower Filters entry in the system registry. This can come about due to uninstallation of various software programmes, or by becoming corrupted due to other reasons.

Although it says that it's for Windows Vista, it also works with Windows XP. I know that for a fact as I've used the same thing on my own computer.

Hmm well as you can open it to put the disk in its getting power,

try opening up the compurer and make sure the data cable is pluged in correctly, might have slipped out.

its a long grey cable like this

http://www.anewshop.com/dvdrw/22.jpg

and make sure the other end is in the motherboard correctly

other than that you might just have to get a new one, there fairly cheap nowadays $15-$20 £10-£15

Kenny

Reboot the system, install the cd drive driver. If it still ain't working, you got to get a new cd drive.It's a cd/dvd writer i assume? Well burners have a limited use life, they don't last long if you use it frequently.

Its a mix of three issues,, first ,, your jumper must be set, set to understand, by way of fact it has a cdrw as properly as a dvd rom,, verify the ribbon you have for the cd rom is put in the right ide slot on the board, it is going to say the two secondary ide or ide 2 finding on the motherboard manufacture,, all annoying drives are element of the well-known ide or ide a million and their ribbon would be linked there,, you have gotten a foul ide ribbon,, or sata,, you didnt divulge which type that's,, if its outdated i doubt its sata,, so youll would desire to swap the ribbon,, be careful on some ide ribbons,, they have the pink line which exhibits the pin a million on the left and a few are on the luxurious,, continually verify while hooking it into an ide rom force that the pink line for pin one is often on the luxurious,,,closest to the means connector,, in case you have a ribbon with it on the left turn it around,, you may ought to reset your jumpers in case you have distinctive drives,, if not its hardship-free for one, in case you are attempting this and it doesnt examine try yet another ribbon and/ or yet another force as properly additionally bypass into the bios,,, and enter the more suitable setup,, examine the ide configurations,, each and each force would be indexed,, (that is extremely not placing THE BOOT ORDER it extremely is distinctive) , it is going to examine each and each,, you may would desire to do an motor vehicle seek if obtainable,, set the force to motor vehicle,, then bypass on your important bios reveal screen and notice if it exhibits up,, additionally, you're able to try this in the optimum reveal screen as properly and set secondary grasp to motor vehicle,, some bios have an motor vehicle stumble on hd force characteristic,, which will discover the two hddrives and optical(rom) drives,,, if in comparison to i stated,, if its not being regarded in the ide configuration determination on your bios when you have executed all that,, you have gotten a foul force,, if all succeeds , then bypass as properly order set your dvd/cdrw combination force as first boot device, hddrive as 2nd, press f10 to save configuration substitute and choose specific,, permit it restart and if is asks to press any button as properly from cd,, gain this,, in specific circumstances it motor vehicle boots,,in specific circumstances you ought to hit a key,, then follow instructions,, good success,,, additionally

Try

Device manager > right click dvd/cd drive > uninstall > reboot your computer and let windows install it.