CD/DVD won't recognize

Question

Hi,   I have a dimension 8300. When I put a disk into the drive it won't recognize anything is there. I haven't used my disk drive for a while. I'm wondering if I deleted something I shouldn't have when I installed my new video card a few months ago.  I don't know if one has anything to do with the other but this new video card seems to have gone bad too, like the old one.   Appreciate any help with my cd/dvd. Thanks!

Predator · Answer

Hi Reb,I am assuming you have Windows XP, so the steps would be the one listed for XP.Double Click on IDE ATA/ ATAPI controllerConsidering this is the NEC 1100 drive, you might be better off simply replacing it my friend. You can now pick up a drive 4 to 5 times greater for less than $40.00.Dell did however release firmware updates for the drive that might help. Use the Drivers & Downloads link on the lef of this page; enter information for your system; then look under CD/DVD drivs.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link Message Edited by Predator on 08-07-2007 10:47 AM

Predator · Answer

Hi Rebs,Lets run some of the standard trouble shooting steps which will cover the drivers, controller and filters.Please click on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to Section 15, article 1; Section 20, article 3; Section 100, article 31.If none of the above helps, run the Dell diagnostic on the drive, same CD/RW link, Section 12, article 3, step#2 from Dell-Chris.May I ask, what is the name/model of the drive in question?Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Rebs991 · Answer

Thank for replying.   I followed the steps for section 15, article 3. Unistalled the driver and rebooted. The same driver is showing. _NEC DVD+RW ND-1100A   Section 20, article 3 ... I did not have any red X's or yellow !'s Step 5 says to click 'Hard Disk Controllers' .. I do not have that as an option. The only thing pertaining to Disk Controllers is 'Floppy Disk Controllers.'  Or is it listed as something other then Hard Disk Controllers??

Rebs991 · Answer

I tried the section 12, article 3, step 2. When I hit F12. I clicked the IDE CD-ROM Device, then enter. I didn't get the option to Press 2 boot from CD-Rom. My pc started in normal mode after clicking the IDE CD-Rom option. Could this be because according to the instruction I was to install a non-burned data cd into the lower cd drive? I only have one drive.   I did the F12 and chose IDE Drive Diagnostics. This is what I received:   Primary SATA Drive 0: No device   Secondary SATA Drive0: No device   Primary IDE Drive:0 IC35L090AVV207-0 Pass Drive1: No device   Secondary IDE Drive 0: _NEC DVD+RW ND-1100A Diagnostic not supported Drive 1: No device   I haven't tried the firmware updates yet. Just wondered if all the above meant anything. Thanks.

Predator · Answer

Hi Reb,The diagnostic did find the NEC drive on the Secondary IDE controller but failed to run the test. At this point I would try to update the firmware but the drive may be on her last leg my friend.PS: I am assuming those trouble shooting articles did not help, correct?Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link Message Edited by Predator on 08-08-2007 02:58 PM

Rebs991 · Answer

I tried all the troubleshooting articles, except for the Section 100, article 31. To be honest, I'm confused .. lol. I don't know alot about computers. Gosh, seems as tho I could screw things up worse.   It states I need to uninstall CD Recording and Writing programs before I delete the registeries? Not sure, what programs need deleting??   I assume, I should download the 'Guide Help' and not remove the registeries manually?   Sorry to for all questions.  :smileyhappy:

Predator · Answer

Hi Reb,Uninstalling your burning software is a slight over-kill; some Members have had to reinstall their burning program after running the article but not many. I would ignore that part and run the Guide. This will cover just about all there is, if the article does not help, then I would be leaning toward replacing the drive.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Rebs991 · Answer

I've been trying to download the Guided Help since yesterday.   I get as far as clicking 'This Computer' then I receive this message: 'Guided Help cannot be downloaded right now.' 'Please try again later, or visit the Help and Support Web Site for more information.'

Predator · Answer

Hi Reb,Dell has a article on the steps for the filters, see if you use it.Same CD/RW link in my post, Section 12, article 10.Best Regards! God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell thedifference. CD/RW Link

Rebs991 · Answer

I never did get to try the Guided Help. Some where along the line, something you suggested worked. I put a blank disk in and it worked when I tried copying files. So far so good! It's reading the disk!   Can't thank you enough for all the help !! Thanks!

Predator · Answer

Well my friend, sometimes we get lucky but the bottom line, you are up and running again and that is what counts !!

Best of luck with your system !!

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

Storage, Drives & Media

CD/DVD won't recognize

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