CD/DVD not reading (Code 39 error)...

Hi, Magicbelle:

These instructions will fix your problem. Please use the Guided Help.

Good luck!

Hi Osprey4,

Thank you for the link, I did the guided help, through to the advanced manal for the upper and lower registry prior to posting on the forum and it did not work. I also have unplugged the cdrw and dvdrw and then plugged them in again, after shutting down and restarting. Still no view in "my computer". Also have contacted Dell for a copy resource disc - and tried Sony site for download. The DVD+RW is a Hitachi installed from Dell. The CDRW is Sony installed from Dell. Windows XP Any other suggestions?

I really appreciate your assistance.

magicbelle

Hello,

I am having a similar problem.  My DVD+RW drive which previously worked has stopped working.  It is a Philips 8801 that I bought from Dell.  I am running Windows XP.  I ran the troubleshooting and it says that it is working yet nothing happens if I put in a disc.  If I go to "my computer" and click on the drive, it prompts me to put in a disc, but again nothing happens.   I hope that someone reading this will be able to provide the answer to both of us!

Thank you,

Latromba

Does it show up in the bios? I have a XPS 400 myself and I am always changing hardware around and it seems like everytime I change anything something comes up missing.  First time this happened I worked and tried all kinds of thing to no avail.  Finally I tried clearing the NVRAM on the motherboard and it has worked everytime.  Don't know if this is your issue.  Might give it a try.  The NVRAM holds info on your hardware configuration and if it gets confused for any reason it causes all kinds of issues.

Ken

Hi, Magicbelle:

If both drives are missing, it may be that one of the drives has failed, or a problem with the cable or IDE controller. The first thing to do is run the Dell diagnostics. The procedure is listed in the CD/DVD FAQ.

Hi Osprey4,

I ran the diagnostics - both express and custom, both CD-RW (IDE CDRW) and DVD+RW (IDE DVD+RW/DVD-RW) are recognized and pass all tests.

However, they are not usable.  And received the CD's from Dell today, overnight!  But cannot use them without either of these working.  I do NOT want to restore as this is my home office computer.  Is there anyway that I can access the specific drives, without a complete restore?  I am going to try the NVRAM as suggested in a previous post - the Bios is the current one from Dell.

This is illogical - as well as frustrating.  As last resort will go purchase two new DVDRW as I copy drive to drive without going through the hd.

Thanks for your assistance - anyone else know more???

magicbelle

Does it show up in the bios? I have a XPS 400 myself and I am always changing hardware around and it seems like everytime I change anything something comes up missing.  First time this happened I worked and tried all kinds of thing to no avail.  Finally I tried clearing the NVRAM on the motherboard and it has worked everytime.  Don't know if this is your issue.  Might give it a try.  The NVRAM holds info on your hardware configuration and if it gets confused for any reason it causes all kinds of issues. Ken

Ken, I went to a Dell link to clear the NVRAM (load Bios defaults) and either I read it wrong or am brain-dead, as I cannot figure out what +9 keys are or where they are located in the Bios Blue screen.  As I said to Osprey4, I have done the diagnostic for both the CDRW and DVD+RW/DVD-RW and they passed all the tests.

Any suggestions.

Thanks in advance,

magicbelle

If clearing the upper and lower filter does not bring the drive back in MY COMPUTER then Clearing the NVRAM is a good option.

I'd suggest that u can check if it is listed in the safe mode and if the same problem persists then the only option left is OS Re-installation

Hi H2darizzo,

Thanks for the response - you are a little above my head when you say "OS Re-installation" sorry, I am not a tech, just trying to get my computer working properly again.

Frustrated to have discs sitting in front of me and no way to "install" to correct problems.

Will re-try NVRAM, as it is a little confusing too.

magicbelle

To clear the NVRAM there is a 3 pin jumper just below the number 1 (Not 2) Sata port on the motherboard. You pull the jumper off while the unit is OFF and not plugged into power and place it on pins 1 & 2 for the count of five seconds and then return the jumper back to pins 2 & 3. Put the cover back on the side of the unit and plug it in and power it up and hopefully all will be well. Sata Port 0 is the one that your main Hard Drive is plugged into on the motherboard the one under it is Sata Port 1 Sorry could not get it to reedit. Ken

Graindust,

Thank you for the explanation - to follow up on what I have been doing - according to Dell's troubleshoot I reloaded the defaults in set-up - nothing happend.

However, before I do what you are suggesting I need to add more information.  Both the CD and DVD show up as 4 & 5 on the drivers in set-up.  I do have a 13/1 for camera chips which are now taking up the driver slots that the CD & DVD used to use.  Should I disconnect that before I do anything else?  (Please forgive my ignorance in correct technical wording.)

I did disconnect all the drives at one time, and reconnect them in sequence.  Did not work.  Also, even tho the CD and DVD show up in set-up, diagnostic and hardware, they have an exclamation point and say the driver is corrupt.  Can't correct if you don't have a working CD, tho!

Hopefully your suggestions will work.  THANKS.

magicbelle

To clear the NVRAM there is a 3 pin jumper just below the number 1 Sata port on the motherboard.  You pull the jumper off while the unit is OFF and not plugged into power and place it on pins 1 & 2 for the count of five seconds and then return the jumper back to pins 2 & 3.  Put the cover back on the side of the unit and plug it in and power it up and hopefully all will be well.

Ken

Then in this case clearing the NVRAM will not help.  Can you do a System Restore to a point in time before this issue started.  If XP click Start button/All Programs/Accessories/System Tools/System Restore.  If Vista click the windows button/control panel-click on classic view then click on backup & Restore and then click on Use System Restore to fix problems and undo changes.

If not, uninstall the camera and take it out of device manager and then take  the cd and dvd units out of device manager and restart and it should put them back in correctly.  what os (Operating System) are we talking about Xp.

Ken

Hi Graindust,

I am using XP Media Center - system restore is not a good option, as in between all of this I am still working, daily.  Also, I did do the NVRAM this morning - amazing what one can learn, and  I thank you.  I have disconnected the 13 in 1 from the motherboard, as well as the cdrw and dvdrw which work as slave/ master.  Therefore they do not show up on the devise manager hardware profile right now.  Will reconnect the cable for cd and dvd and restart and see what happens.

Another question - is it possible to copy the application disc to a flash drive from another computer without "confusing" the other computer?  This might be the only way to install a driver/application for the drives.  Other suggestions would be gladly accepted too.  I downloaded the Sony CD-RW CRx217E driver from Dell and when clicked on it, it said it could not find the drive - which is THE cdrw that is in my computer.

Why doesn't Dell have a way to "re-install" the applications separtely from the original configuration rather than a complete system restore.  Might be too practical.

Thanks again,

magicbelle

:emotion-59:Graindust and Osprey4,

I want to thank both of you for your assistance.  I have done ALL of the above suggestions, at least once and sometimes 3 to 4 times, and still no success.  Everything shows up in the hardware manager, but alas with the dreaded exclamation point!  No resolution. Therefore, I am giving up and going to buy two new drives.  What my analytical/logical brain says should work and doesn't is too frustrating.  And, my tenatiousness would have me re-doing it, over and over. 

SO, I do hope that the new drives are recognized and they will work as plug & play.  I would love a new computer, but NOT with Vista as the programs I use are older and Vista thinks they are useless.  So waiting for Windows 7 to arrive so I can spend more money.

Again, thank you for your time and effort.

magicbelle