Xp Pro Not Recognizing Cd, Dvd Drives

udmercygrad2000 · Joined: Dec 09, 2004 Posts: 5

Hello all,

I have had a problem with a desktop computer running on XP Pro. Over the last couple of months, the Windows is unable to recognize the CD and DVD drives on the computer, yet recognizes the floppy and 2 hard drives. Control panel tells me that the drivers need to be reinstalled, but none came with the drives and were working fine with what XP was using for them. I have searched near and far for the drivers for the specific drives, but no luck. And I can't very well format the hard drive from these drives, as they are not recognized in the Award Bios either. Is it possible to make a boot disk from a floppy for XP Pro? Is there an easier option? I am quite frustrated with this problem and am ready to wipe the system clean and start over.

Thanks in advance,

udmercygrad2000

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

Have you tried removing the drivers, then rebooting, to see if XP finds them? :unsure:

udmercygrad2000 · Joined: Dec 09, 2004 Posts: 5

Yes, I have tried this, but no luck. I'm thinking it's something with XP??

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

How are the drives configured? IDE 1 master-slave, Ide 2 master-slave? Brand and models of the CD - DVD would also help.

Have you tried a new cable?

If the BIOS can't see the drives this could be a hardware or configuration issue. Have you looked for a newer BIOS update?

Let us know. Smile

Silencer · Joined: Jul 03, 2003 Posts: 1271

1. If the drives ever worked.... It's not the BIOS.
2. Cables seldom "go bad"....
3. There are no drivers for IDE based CD-ROM drives.
4. If you didn't change jumper settings on the drives from what once worked, it's not jumper settings.
5. You can eliminate hardware as a problem by booting to a CD. (Windows XP)
Most systems are configured to boot to CD first, others may require you to change a setting or two in the BIOS.

This leaves few possible problems..........other than the operating system itself.

reader · Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 1617

If both drives are on the same ide-port/cable, and not recognized by the BIOS it might be a hardware fault in either the ide-port or the cable (which do "go bad" sometimes, specially in cramped cabinets).

Is there any conflicts marked in Device Manager ?

The drives as such do not need any drivers, as Silencer said, but there should be default drivers installed for both IDE channels as well as for the IDE controller itself.

libboid · Joined: Dec 15, 2004 Posts: 2

I had exactly the same problem last week after 'installing' and external USB DVD writer. It worked first time but after a re-boot, could not see any CD/DVD drives.

The only way I could fix it was to do a system restore to a point before I installed the external unit.

Sorry its not an answer to the problem, but it got me out of it...

User: inactive Posts:

A lot of computer manufacturers use cable select jumper settings. It's rather undependable. Get a standard ide cable, change the jumper settings to master and slave. It's worked for me on more than a few machines.

User: inactive Posts:

Oops, I just reread the original post. Not recognized in the BIOS, you say? Well, one of the drives might be bad. Disconnect one, see if the other shows up, if it doesn't, remove that one and try the other.i

aurelius · Joined: Nov 24, 2003 Posts: 2

Doh, I just reread the first post as well. Bios problem is something different. Download an uptodate bios and flash if possible is what I recommend. I'm not going to delete what I wrote originally as it might still help someone. ))

I have had this happen many times. Usually it ends up being a problem with my installation of CD / DVD software program (Roxi). I end up perusing their non-support site (sorry that was not nice) until I stumble on someone who tells me what I need to remove from my registry (after trying to uninstall the program). I am sorry but I can't remember what the fix is.

Hopefully, this might aim you in a better direction. I believe a setting had to do with something about 'upper something' and it had to be removed. Then I had access to my drives and I installed a different CD / DVD program.

Sorry for not being specific but I am just an old fart trying to play in the young farts arenas hehe.

REspectfully,

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

I mentioned this to Patio last week, that we seem to be getting quite a few complaints about losing CD /DVD drives, in this forum.

It makes me wonder if there is not some common ground that users share? Hardware or software.

My personal experience is limited to a single Dell Dimension, using XP-Home, and Roxio software that lost it's CDRW drive on a clients system. And I agree with Silencer. It is 'rare' that cables go bad or jumpers change on their own. And if it worked before, what would then cause the problem, bad patch, virus, worm....just thinking out loud.

Well I found the answer from Dell tech. support. Format and reinstall the OS, which worked.

Sad

It's kind of like going to the doctor's with a wart on your finger and they perform open heart surgery.

Very Happy

So what is the commonality? Anyone? Suggestions? <_<

reader · Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 1617

I've also seen a growing number of this "complaints", also on forums here in Norway. Can't say I've noted anything common between them so far.

I do seem to remember though that this happened to quite a lot of people when they installed SP2 without updating their CD-burning software. Perhaps this still is one possible reason, at least if the problem doesn't show up before actually running the software involved.

Silencer · Joined: Jul 03, 2003 Posts: 1271

angeles75 · Joined: Oct 18, 2003 Posts: 17

I just finished building a computer. And it was giving me the same thing. The BIOS recognized the drive, but, after booting, it gave me fixed disk error. Changed the drives 3 different ones, still the same. The culprit was the cable, even, though it was new, cramped quarters. Changed the cable everything is fine now. Very Happy

zzron357 · Joined: Oct 14, 2004 Posts: 43

Hi all,
Microsoft has a fix -- remove upper and lower filters in registry -- I did
it last week w/o OS re-install. Sorry no KB number. I did google search
to find details, "winxp reinstall" and "winxp no cdrom". I was about to do
reinstall. Saved the day.
Best wishes, zzron357

iski111 · Joined: Feb 16, 2005 Posts: 1

Same thing happened to me! Tried to download data to the cd burned, but kept getting the same reply.

George

reader · Joined: May 07, 2004 Posts: 1617

Could this be the KB-article referenced by zzron357 giving the solution ?

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?...B;EN-US;Q270008

where the problem seems to be connected with features like Easy CD Creator and DirectCD.

Seem to remember having serious problems with DirectCD myself once upon a time. I didn't need it so I disabled it and had no more problems.

There is a good discussion with several possible causes (including Ipod software and external CD-roms etc..) and solutions in this thread:

http://www.siliconguide.com/qa/forum/messages/88.shtml

Perhaps the reference to Ipod and external units might be a reason for this kind
of problems appearing so often these days. After all, most people seems to be connecting that sort of external devices these days.

Silencer · Joined: Jul 03, 2003 Posts: 1271

Rons · Joined: Dec 07, 2002 Posts: 5667

Reader - thank you for the link to the MS article. The Dell I previously mentioned was using Adaptec Easy CD Creator.

Like Silencer, I will keep this fix in mind.

Smile

User: inactive Posts:

If the bios is NOT seeing the drives, then its quite obvious that the problem is NOT in Windows. Gheeeesh <_<

If the electronics on either drive short out (and this is quite common) then it will take down the whole IDE cable. The bios will not see the drives and neither will Windows.
Get under the hood.......unplug the power cord first,,,then unplug data cable from first the slave drive. restore power and reboot. Check the bios to see if it sees the remaining drive,,,if yes close the bios and boot into windows. See if windows now sees the drive. If not repeat the whole process with the second drive.

Oh Yes, if the drives are jumpered CS, then set the one on the end of the IDE cable to master and the one in the middle of the cable to Slave.

I've successfully used this technique many times to find a bad CD drive.

Good Luck,
The Shadow B)