cd drive won't open

Question

I have Dimension 4700 with Philips DVD/CD DVD8631. It makes clicking noises but won't open. I had to manually get my last CD out. I thought I might reinstall the Philips drive on my DVD rom drive, but couldn't find the software on my Dell CD's. Advice?

Skybird · Answer

You can reinstall the drive by removing it in the Device Manager then rebooting
and Windows will install the driver. Do you have Sonic on your system? If so,
disable DLA and see if that helps the situation.

- Click the Start button
- Double-click on the My Computer icon
- In the My Computer window, right click on the CD device then choose Properties
- On the CD Drive Properties screen, click on the DLA tab, then remove the checkmark
from Enable DLA on your drives
- Click the OK button, then restart computer

ilikedeals · Answer

If I uninstall CD Philips driver in Device Manager, will it automatically reinstall upon reboot?

ilikedeals · Answer

I went through that list and rebooted, but nothing showed that my computer was reinstalling anything. Anyway, it's still not working. Last week it was opening for no reason, now it's stuck shut. Can anyone help me?

Skybird · Answer

Yes, it will auto install.

You said last week the drive was opening by itself and now it is shut. That may be key information. Update you Anti-Virus definitions and Anti-Spyware software and do a complete scan of your system and see if it finds something that may be causing the problem.

derek101700 · Answer

plug and Play will detect the drive and install it

ilikedeals · Answer

I did a full scan and found nothing. I did just order the packaged upgrades for Antispam and Antivirus, but they don't expire for a couple more weeks yet.

I'll try uninstalling it.

Sorry, what's Plug & Play?

Skybird · Answer

Plug & Play is what Microsoft calls the routine in the Operating System that automatically detects and installs hardware.

ilikedeals · Answer

Still nothing. I forgot to mention, I found it open this afternoon, so would that mean it's not stuck on anything? Could it be a virus that isn't being detected? I'm hoping my Symantec upgrades will do the tick, I don't know what else it could be. This computer is just 13 months old. Thank you for all of your help so far.

Skybird · Answer

Yes, it could be a virus or spyware as I mentioned earilier.  It could also be a connection.  Open the system and redo the connections at the back of the drive an at the motherboard.

ilikedeals · Answer

Open the motherboard?! How frightening.

I just installed my new Norton software, did a virus scan, and it still won't open.

What suggestion can you give me now to get it fixed? My husband and I aren't as good as you all with computers and I worry that those computer repair places are like car dealers - they'll baloon the repair charge and I'm at their mercy.

Skybird · Answer

Do not be afraid to open the system. You Service Manual is here ......

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4700/sm/index.htm

You want to redo the connections to the drive and also trace it to the
motherboard end to ensure a good contact by the connectors. What you do
is .........

- Power off and unplug the unit.
- Open the cover.
- diconnect the flat ribbon cable at the back of the drice and inspect the pins
then reconnect it.
- Follow the cable to the motherboard end and do the same.
- Close the system and plug it back in.
- Power on and allow it to boot.

The Service Manual is very good with good pictures.

ilikedeals · Answer

I checked the wires and everything seems OK. I also did a search on Google and hit a motherload of complaints about this drive. It turns out Dell installed a bad drive and replaced all of the ones under warranty. Unfortunately for me, mine broke  a month too late. I'm so dissapointed that I have to get it replaced myself. Do the drives by any remote chance have longer warranties?

Skybird · Answer

Too bad about the expired warranty. It will cost you about $40 to
replace it with a better drive. For example, these NEC ND-3550A
drives are very good .................

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000100005+50001326&Subcategory=5&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice =

as well as these Lite-on drives ..............

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=2000100005+50001336+1036506653&Subcategory=5&description=&srchInDesc=&minPrice=&maxPrice =

And Newegg.com is an excellent seller. Additionally, now that you have been into

your system and know about the Service Manual, I'll bet you can do it yourself.

Message Edited by Skybird on 04-02-200604:30 PM

Message Edited by Skybird on 04-02-2006 04:30 PM

lbtran · Answer

my cd drive will not open. . . I did what was suggested at dell support but when I got to the zip file R902del.bin it would not open.  it is suppose to install updated software??  i can open  the drive with the paper clip only.  I also uninstalled the second IDE channel as suggested by another, but that did not help.  Is buying a new cd drive the best solution??  I will next try to clean the cables, but am hoping for advice in the meantime.

Storage, Drives & Media

cd drive won't open

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