CD/DVD drives not being reconized

[jr_senator]

Due to illness I haven't used my desktop computer but a couple of brief times in the past few months, I have been using a laptop instead. I bought a new printer and started to install it. When it came time to insert and use the CD that came with the printer, I noticed neither of the two CD/DVD drives in the computer were being recognized. I was wondering if something simple is doing this and/or where to start in correcting this. The OS is XP Media. Help is appreciated.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Open the computer case and check if the power and data cable is properly connected to the drives and motherboard and maybe reattach them and see if they make a change. If not then it is time to change the drives.

Ps. in the meanwhile you can go to your printer manufacturer's website and download the drivers from there.

[cory1848]

Open the computer case and check if the power and data cable is properly connected to the drives and motherboard and maybe reattach them and see if they make a change. If not then it is time to change the drives.

Ps. in the meanwhile you can go to your printer manufacturer's website and download the drivers from there.

Would be easier to insert a disk that the OP has known to work before to see if it still works before cracking the case.

I have problems with this a lot with blank media, between Mac and PC, I have 4 different burners ad they all read and burn different makes of disc. Very annoying.

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I think the OP means that the drives aren't appearing in my computer i.e. not be recognized. If it is merely one CD/DVD then testing another one would definitely help.
I noticed neither of the two CD/DVD drives in the computer were being recognized.

[jr_senator]

I think the OP means that the drives aren't appearing in my computer i.e. not be recognized. If it is merely one CD/DVD then testing another one would definitely help.

This is correct. CDs and DVDs that I have used in the past make no difference. The drives don't show up in "my computer" or the BIOS. Tomorrow I will open the case (this is very easy to do) and check the connections even though the little light on each drive lights when I install a disc. I did get my Canon PRO9000 installed by downloading the driver from Cannon's site, thanks.

[cory1848]

This is correct. CDs and DVDs that I have used in the past make no difference. The drives don't show up in "my computer" or the BIOS. Tomorrow I will open the case (this is very easy to do) and check the connections even though the little light on each drive lights when I install a disc. I did get my Canon PRO9000 installed by downloading the driver from Cannon's site, thanks.

Ok makes sense... So not showing in Device manager either? Does device manager show that anything is hooked up to it? If not, then check the cable route.

[In2Photos]

This is correct. CDs and DVDs that I have used in the past make no difference. The drives don't show up in "my computer" or the BIOS. Tomorrow I will open the case (this is very easy to do) and check the connections even though the little light on each drive lights when I install a disc. I did get my Canon PRO9000 installed by downloading the driver from Cannon's site, thanks.
The lights will come on as long as the power cable is plugged in from the power supply. But if the drives are not recognized by either "my computer" or the BIOS then you either have a cable unplugged (are you using IDE?), a bad controller, a bad cable, or two defunct drives.

[jr_senator]

So not showing in Device manager either? Does device manager show that anything is hooked up to it? If not, then check the cable route.


I had overlooked that. I just checked it out, and the two CD/DVD show up with the proper names (Phillips and A-Open) but also a third something is listed between them. Is there a way to see what ID (A,B.C.etc) a drive has and can these assignments be changed around?

[In2Photos]

I had overlooked that. I just checked it out, and the two CD/DVD show up with the proper names (Phillips and A-Open) but also a third something is listed between them. Is there a way to see what ID (A,B.C.etc) a drive has and can these assignments be changed around?
Yes, open Control Panel, select Administrative Tools, then Computer Management, then Disk management. You should see the drives there as well if they show up in Device manager.

You could also right click the drive in Device Manager and update the driver or uninstall/reinstall to see if that helps.

[jr_senator]

I did an uninstall/reinstall for both discs. This was also the resulting suggestion from the troubleshooting. It said either the drivers were corrupt or missing. Turns out they are (as I thought) plug and play. I felt a sense of relief, only to find the drives still do not work and everything seems as before. The drives do not show in the BIOS or "My Computer" but do in Device Manager. I'll repeat some of the things I have been doing tomorrow, perhaps I did something wrong and a retry will take care of it.

[joayne]

I have this problem occasionally. I usually get them to work, but disableing and then rebooting, tho it doesn't always work. Google the names and numbers from the device manager and download the updated drivers and install them. This has worked for me in the past. I keep the drivers on a jump drive. I hate Dell, by the way. All my drivers seem to come and go at will.