Please help -- Insp 8600 DVD+RW module driver problem

Question

I hope someone can help with this...it has me stumped. The slim DVD+RW drive module in my Inspiron 8600 won't work any longer. It doesn't show up in my Computer folder. If I load a CD or DVD into it, it takes it in and I can hear it whirring, but nothing else happens. I tried the following: Typing d:/ in RUN ... but it says there is no such drive Taking out the module and then putting it back in, in case it was a seating problem. No change. Ran virus and spyware scans -- nothing. I checked Device Manager and there are two drivers for the DVD drive -- one is called HL-DT-ST DVD+RW GCA-4040N and the other is Generic DVD-ROM SCSI CDROM Device (where the heck did that come from??). Both of them have yellow exclamation marks on them. I uninstalled both, hoping the replacement driver(s) would solve the problem after XP replaced them. No such luck -- the 'new' drivers still have yellow exclamation marks on them. I also tried uninstalling these drivers and then installing a GWA-4040N driver; the message that came up was something about the installer not being able to find something to install to or not being able to find the drive.   As a probably-related side note, I tried connecting an external HD to the 8600 using a USB cord, but this drive also won't show up/isn't recognized.   Can anyone offer any advice or solutions? I feel like I've hit the wall. Not being able to connect to a DVD drive is a killer since it's used for so many things, including loading software.   Thanks everyone.

Skybird · Answer

Look in the Device Manager .............

Start | Control Panel | System in classic view | Hardware tab | Device Manager

Click on the (+) next to DVD/CD-ROM drives. Right-click the drive and select
Properties. Is there an Error Code (number)?

macpaul54 · Answer

Thanks Skybird. I'll give it a try and report back.

macpaul54 · Answer

The error code is 39 for both drivers. I had already tried using the troubleshooter -- it said to uninstall then reinstall the drivers, but as I said above, it only gave me the same drivers to install, again with the yellow exclamation marks.

Is there something else I can try?

Skybird · Answer

Try this Microsoft article ............

If you are using Windows XP ..............

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US/

If you are using Windows Vista ............

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/929461

Skybird · Answer

Glad to hear good news.  Best regards.

macpaul54 · Answer

Deleting those registry entries worked!  Thank you very much, Skybird.  I spent days trying to get that DVD drive working. Obviously I should have tried this forum earlier!

Storage, Drives & Media

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