CD-RW No longer functioning

[k_erin]

My CD-RW stopped working. I have no idea why. I reseated the cables to make
for sure they hadn't come loose. On boot up, the CD-RW access light comes
on, but it won't open and in the Device Manager, it isn't listed. I checked
the BIOS and it's being recognized there.

I'm wondering if the driver might have gotten deleted or corrupted? I
talked to my computer manufacturer's tech guy and he said that this CD drive
uses the generic CD-RW driver that came on Windows ME.

Any idea how I can get it??? He told me to run the Application Recovery CD,
but I can't do that if the CD drive isn't working.

[Mike M]

CDRWs just like CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs, etc., die and the chances are that
that is what has happened.

Your problem is, IMO, unlikely to be due to the lack of a driver. One
test you can do is to boot to DOS using a Win Me boot floppy and choose
the option (3 I think) that includes CD-ROM support. When at the A:\> DOS
prompt insert a data CD (rather than an audio CD) and type
DIR D:\
If you have more than one hard disk or disk partition adjust the drive
letter (D:\) accordingly. Do you see the list of files on the CD? If yes
then the drive is OK but if not then the likelihood is that the drive has
died.
--
Mike Maltby
MS-MVP Windows
mike....@gmail.com

[k_erin]

Thanks for your reply. I'll just wait on a friend to get me a new drive. I
don't have a Win ME boot floppy, and if I did, the CD drive won't open in
order for me to insert any kind of CD.

Thanks anyways.

[Mike M]

Try opening the drive using a straightened paper clip and inserting it in
the small round hole on the front of the drive. You may have to look
quite closely as the hole is often no more than 1mm (0.04") in diameter.

[r4x1ah]