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2834
March 14th, 2019 01:00
Latitude e6400 DVD drive
I have an old workhorse Latitude e6400. It's been upgraded to a P9700 CPU, Intel 5300 wifi, Intel 540 series SSD, RAM to 8GB (Dell certified) and the motherboard (to allow for the RAM expansion). The MB replacement was a "new" spare from eBay to fix an issue with the original board had failed to detect the #2 DIMM slot. I noticed that the original was a v1.0 and the replacement was v2.0, but the boards are otherwise visually identical.
Note: All upgrades except for the RAM/MB were performed 12+ months ago and all of those devices are functioning properly. I did not reinstall Windows 7x64 at the time of the MB.
Anyways, I have *not* used the TSST-U633 DVD-RW drive since replacing the MB. I found out I have a problem when I attempted to install Turbotax. I have checked for error codes in the Windows Device Manager and the drive does not have an entry. There are no upper or lower limits in the Registry. I checked the BIOS and the drive does not appear there either. I am very concerned that the BIOS can't see the drive either. BIOS is latest firmware (A34). SATA settings are AHCI...just like my original board.
I bought a replacement drive (Panasonic variant UJ862A) and tried that. Both drives spool up with power and the Activity LED blinks, but then--nothing. Googling the issue provided an amazing array of unhelpful suggestions so here we are...
Has anyone else run into this problem with losing the DVD-RW? Any good suggestions for bringing it back, testing internal SATA ports, etc.?
JOcean
9 Legend
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12.6K Posts
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March 14th, 2019 11:00
Not sure if you looked at the following site. Also Turbotax does not have to be installed from the DVD drive. You do have the option to download the program from the Turbotax site.
https://www.easeus.com/backup-utility/cd-dvd-missing-or-not-showing-up-in-windows-10.html
JStar97
4 Posts
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May 12th, 2019 12:00
Update: I was able to take Turbotax and create an ISO image on another computer and then install it from a USB flash disk on my laptop using WinCDEmu software. I was originally going to use Daemon Tools but it looks like that program is just a front for spam, adware, and computer hijacking--so I passed on that one. Obviously, you have to install from disk if you already bought the disk and then found out that the CD/DVD drive cannot be found (the crux of the original problem).
Recap of original problem: Original e6400 Intel P45 motherboard from Dell was defective from factory (Front side bus failed to initialize both DIMM slots--would regularly overheat locally on the FSB). The problem was not detected until after warranty and product support periods have ended. New replacement motherboard from computer repair shop in Round Rock, TX installed without a problem--both DIMM's work, but CD/DVD drive bay does not. Due to the replacement MB being identical to the original (except sub-version number) I did not reinstall Windows 7 with integrated drivers during this process and unfortunately, that may be my next step. Dell's Driver Support page does not allow a direct download of the CD/DVD driver/firmware so without the BIOS recognizing the CD/DVD drive, the drivers/firmware CANNOT be downloaded.
For others reading this thread in the future: Though I want to thank the previous poster for replying, the link was not useful. I have already completed all steps (and many more as listed in the OP) and several of those linked were repetitive (4 & 6) or irrelevant (1 & 7). The hunt for the solution goes on...
JStar97
4 Posts
0
July 28th, 2019 08:00
Update: 7/28/2019
Contacted Dell Business Chat, tried to discuss problem with technical support. After looking up my service tag, agent "Sumit" informed me that my warranty had expired and immediately hung up on me. Bad news is that the problem is still unresolved. Good news is that when it comes time to upgrade my office computers, I will have ONE LESS supplier to have to look at. Thanks Dell for showing me who you really are and what you really stand for.
nyc10036
4 Operator
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5.6K Posts
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July 28th, 2019 13:00
ROTFLMAO
Find me a manufacturer that offers repair after warranty is over!
Certainly not Honda!
LOL.
Childish dribble.
.