Help! I think my CD/DVD hard ware is broken

[Emma Crabtree]

I think I'm going to need to take my machine to a shop, but if not, can someone tell me if I can fix the problem myself.

It's like this. I was backing up files as usual and wanted to cancel the backing up as there were music files that I didn't want to copy, being copied (over zealous with the tick button). So I cancelled the copy, which took ages, and now I can't read any kind of disc.

The Troublshoot help is not much use, and neither is the Device Manager which says my CD ROM Status is ok. I have a TSSTcorp CD/DVDW TS-H552B installed. It's been running fine till now.

If anyone can help I'd be much obliged.

Thanks
Emma

[confused]

I take it you tried rebooting?
A good test is to pop a bootable cd in the drive and reboot, see if it boots from the cd (ensure bios is set to boot from cd)
This test will basically see if your drive is able to read cd's rather than if WINDOWS can TELL your drive to read a cd

CALV

[OakApplianceTesting]

Hiya Emma,

did you get the problem fixed?

If not then leave a message back here and we should be able to get you up and running after a bit of troubleshooting....

Jon. http://www.oakappliancetesting.co.uk/images/tu.gif

[Emma Crabtree]

Jon & Confused

Nothing doing I'm afriad. Confused, I too am confused after your post. I don't know what a bootable CD is!

Jon, would love to take you up on your offer. Maybe we can make a date.

Cheers
Emma

[JoyDivision]

Is the CD icon there in my computer? I assume when you try and read CDs it is just refusing? If there is no icon there its either a BIOS or driver issue but I need to know more details until I can help you.

[Urban Space]

Join the club, the Drive on my computer's gone too. It won't recognise any discs - DVD, CD, Bootable or anything. The CD icon's not even there. I can still right-click>eject and it'll open, but it just won't read anything.

I hate computers :lol:!

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

Is the CD icon there in my computer? .

Yes, it's still there, but I'm still not able to read/copy/save on to CD. It looks as though it will need replacing but I would love to be advised otherwise.

When I put a CD in to the drive, I get lots of whirring noises, but no action.

Can you help??

[Urban Space]

Oh that's just the automatic popup thing then. Can you still double click on the cd and copy-paste? I think it's perhaps software rather than hardware.

More than mine's doing :lol:!

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

I can copy/paste but can't write files to disc. The reader is not recognising that there is a disc in the machine.

[Urban Space]

Then it's not the reader's fault. It's the software methinks.

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

So what do I do!!?? To I have to reload everything? Gawd only knows where I put the discs!

[Urban Space]

Phhh don't ask me, I'm 14 :lol:! I'd try updating the driver from that Device manager you were on earlier. Let it connect to the windows update thingy and see what it says.

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

Now you tell me. At least they are still breeding them intelligent in Leicester. It's where I am from!

[Urban Space]

Lol I'm miles from Leicester :lol:! I bet it's not -6 in Portugal lol! Hablas Espanol? Isn't portuguese the same as Spanish?

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

Well, I'm originally from Burbage, a little village close to the armpit of the world known as Hinckley.

Not -6 but not balmy and warm either! Falo Portuguese. You're treading on dangerous ground there my boy. The Portuguese HATE the Spanish. When Portugal beat Spain in Euro2004, there was partying in the streets for days. A joyous occasion for us all. And then they went and duffed up the English. Need I say more. Going completely off topic here. Can anyone give me any ideas about what to do with my crummy non-CD writer?

[Urban Space]

Lol I know Burbage, lovely place :lol:!

Have you tried doing the driver thing? I'm about to do that on my drive in a minute. Might work. Can't get any worse than it is now :lol:!

Liam

[JustOneUK]

you could try unplugging the device and rebooting, then plugging it in ahgain so that windows 'finds' it

[Urban Space]

Ye but then you'd need to take the case off. Then you'd need to earth yourself, then you'd probably knock something else out of place.

Liam

[Emma Crabtree]

Well, small world!

Mines internal, so all I can do is unload it and then reload and I'm not sure that I am competant.

[JustOneUK]

control panel> add hardware... should fire up the wizard...then locate your device from the list and try to reinstall it.
(worth a go I guess) :(

[JustOneUK]

Ye but then you'd need to take the case off. Then you'd need to earth yourself, then you'd probably knock something else out of place.

Liam

LOL..that's called learning...if you die...you didn't learn anything :)

[Emma Crabtree]

If I take the software out and then try and put it back in, do I run the risk that i wont be able to do anything and will need to seek professional help?

[JustOneUK]

if you know the model of your cd.... you should be able to download the software...just do a google search for your cd model ...or check the manufacturers website....if you dont know what model it is... download and run this...which will tell you, :)

http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

[Emma Crabtree]

Don't know how, cause I didn't reload anything, but we are now all up and running again. Thanks for all the top tips.

And Liam, it's 17 degrees here today!!

Cheers
Emma

[DarrenC]

17 degrees! Do you need an assistant? :D

[CG Effect]

Try posting the problem on a computer mag forum. I had the same problem a year ago and fixed it but I can't remember what I did.

[Emma Crabtree]

Oh, yeah, it's lovely. But it could be p**sing it down for all I care. I seem to have gone from the frying pan to the fire as far as my pc is concerned.

I thought things were bad, but now it's got worse. I can get my self back on line, but for some reason when I log out, and log back in again, all the modem/adsl settings have been lost and I need to reinstall everything!

One could go ever so slightly mad.

He he he he.

Will definitely look at some PC forums to see if there are any techy wizards around on a Sunday afternoon. Maybe they are online instead of watching Sunday Grandstand.

[DarrenC]

try www.webuser.co.uk - they have forums which might be able to help you.

As a non techy wizard, I'm going to watch grandstand.

Darren

[confused]

been busy a while so missed all the goings on, you DO NOT need to download manufacturers drivers for a standard atapi device. removing from device manager and have windows redetect can sometimes sort it out, did you try booting from a cd yet? I'd say that would be one of the first things to do, if the drive itself is faulty then you can play with drivers till the cows come home and it still wont work !
I think the fix that has been reffered to may be deleting scsi.inf (yes I know its not a scsi drive).

[Emma Crabtree]

thanks for all the hints and tips, which were taken on board and then promptly rejected when the electrical storms we had here blew up the computer! I've had a nightmare of a month technology wise, so am hoping for a nice, calmer March.

Will unplug my machine next time it looks like rain.

Cheers
Emma

[confused]

oh dear, not good news.
You dont need to unplug it if it rains - just buy a surge protector! (if you are on dialup, ensure it has a socket for the modem line)

CALV

[Urban Space]

Don't forget your telly though - that'll soon go bang with a bit of lightning :lol:!

Liam