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