Advice requested on CDROM/DVD drives - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

djtestudo · 07-25-2004, 07:27 PM

HP Pavilion PC
Pentium III processor
128MB RAM
Approx. 4.5 years old

My question: Recently, my CD and DVD drives have stopped showing up in Windows. After I opened the case and checked the cables, they have still not shown up at times, but usually after a restart they show up fine.

Now, they aren't showing up at all, even after repeated restarts and being shut off for some time.

On the HP website, the instructions that are given direct me to do what I already did: open the case and check the wires.

Does anyone else have any advice? Preferably involving saving the computer, since it is the family system, and my parents aren't exactly made of cash. Any suggestions are helpful, though.

Thanks, and if you need more system info, I can try and find it.

MooseMan3000 · 07-25-2004, 07:47 PM

... HP? Good luck. I'll say that right out, because I've NEVER had good experience with HP systems, particularly those that are 4.5 years old.

However, the first thing I would check is the device manager. Do they show up there? If not, then then the hardware is most likely screwed up. If they DO show up there, but as "unknown devices" then you probably need new drivers. Those are relatively easy to get, and you should be able to get them from the HP website.

Assuming that it is in fact a hardware problem, which is what it sounds like, you might want to try messing around inside the case a little bit. You said you "checked the wires." Did you try switching the IDE channels? I assume that the HDD is on IDE 0, the primary channel, and both the optical drives are on IDE 1, the secondary channel. Have you just tried switching the two places the cables plug in? If you do that, and it still boots up, then either 1) one of your optical drives is fried or 2) the IDE cable is fried.

To test for 1), simply try unplugging one of the two drives and rebooting. Rinse, repeat with second drive.

To test for 2), try plugging one of your optical drives into the IDE cable that the HDD is on, as a slave drive. If it shows up, then the cable is fried, and you can replace it for like $2.

Now, if you switched the cables between IDE 0 and IDE 1 and it DIDN'T boot up, then it sounds like your motherboard is beginning to shit the bed... not unlikely with the age/make of the computer. If that's the case, then you can buy a PCI IDE controller card, for about $15, and plug the two optical drives into that. Or you could buy a new motherboard, but that is a little more hassle to install.

Alright, I think I've covered my bases. If you understood me, great, I hope you find the problem. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I can try to explain things a little more clearly. Good luck.

djtestudo · 07-25-2004, 08:19 PM

I have a decent idea of what you're saying

Honestly, I'm hoping I can tell my parents the system is about to die, because there are a hundred other problems with it that I don't feel like dealing with

The problem is, I would need the CD drives availible to backup files from the computer that are fairly critical.

Thanks for the help Moose

07-25-2004, 07:27 PM	#1 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	Advice requested on CDROM/DVD drives HP Pavilion PC Pentium III processor 128MB RAM Approx. 4.5 years old My question: Recently, my CD and DVD drives have stopped showing up in Windows. After I opened the case and checked the cables, they have still not shown up at times, but usually after a restart they show up fine. Now, they aren't showing up at all, even after repeated restarts and being shut off for some time. On the HP website, the instructions that are given direct me to do what I already did: open the case and check the wires. Does anyone else have any advice? Preferably involving saving the computer, since it is the family system, and my parents aren't exactly made of cash. Any suggestions are helpful, though. Thanks, and if you need more system info, I can try and find it. __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

07-25-2004, 08:19 PM	#3 (permalink)
djtestudo Baltimoron Location: Beeeeeautiful Bel Air, MD	I have a decent idea of what you're saying Honestly, I'm hoping I can tell my parents the system is about to die, because there are a hundred other problems with it that I don't feel like dealing with The problem is, I would need the CD drives availible to backup files from the computer that are fairly critical. Thanks for the help Moose __________________ "Final thought: I just rented Michael Moore's Bowling for Columbine. Frankly, it was the worst sports movie I've ever seen." --Peter Schmuck, The (Baltimore) Sun

07-25-2004, 07:47 PM	#2 (permalink)
MooseMan3000 wouldn't mind being a ninja. Location: Maine, the Other White State.	... HP? Good luck. I'll say that right out, because I've NEVER had good experience with HP systems, particularly those that are 4.5 years old. However, the first thing I would check is the device manager. Do they show up there? If not, then then the hardware is most likely screwed up. If they DO show up there, but as "unknown devices" then you probably need new drivers. Those are relatively easy to get, and you should be able to get them from the HP website. Assuming that it is in fact a hardware problem, which is what it sounds like, you might want to try messing around inside the case a little bit. You said you "checked the wires." Did you try switching the IDE channels? I assume that the HDD is on IDE 0, the primary channel, and both the optical drives are on IDE 1, the secondary channel. Have you just tried switching the two places the cables plug in? If you do that, and it still boots up, then either 1) one of your optical drives is fried or 2) the IDE cable is fried. To test for 1), simply try unplugging one of the two drives and rebooting. Rinse, repeat with second drive. To test for 2), try plugging one of your optical drives into the IDE cable that the HDD is on, as a slave drive. If it shows up, then the cable is fried, and you can replace it for like $2. Now, if you switched the cables between IDE 0 and IDE 1 and it DIDN'T boot up, then it sounds like your motherboard is beginning to shit the bed... not unlikely with the age/make of the computer. If that's the case, then you can buy a PCI IDE controller card, for about $15, and plug the two optical drives into that. Or you could buy a new motherboard, but that is a little more hassle to install. Alright, I think I've covered my bases. If you understood me, great, I hope you find the problem. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, I can try to explain things a little more clearly. Good luck.