OT: Need Computer Help

stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
I need a little help here with my computer. I went to install new software and my CD drive no longer shows up. It is strange. I currently am running Windows ME (sucks) and was going to upgrade to a better version. When I put the CD in the light on the player lights up, but nothing shows up on my computer. When I look under My Computer there is no CD Drive. I didn't delete anything, but I have no idea what to do. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
aarone

aarone

Active Member
did you disconnect the cable? the power is on obviously, but you might have disconnected the ide cable to the mainboard. Check in your bios setup options if your cd player is recognized.
Run antivirus.
Go into control panel/system/hardware/device manager.
if it is not in there, try to get the drivers for your drive and reinstall.
HTH
I would be able to help more if i knew specifics.
BTW ditch the ME as soon as you can. go with a nice stable linux or bsd OS
 
dbennett78

dbennett78

Member
linux is a pretty big jump from windows me..... I would go with windows 2000 or xp as they seem to be the most stable.
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
Yeah I checked that stuff, but it isn't there. I don't know how I should go about finding the drive since it is on a CD, but the CD drive doesn't work.
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
banshee

banshee

Member
Is your CD-ROM listed in Device Manager? Also try to access it through a DOS window and let us know.....
 
oregonbud

oregonbud

Member
Jeremy,
Did you recently change anything on the computer? Experience any type of crash, etc?
Banshee has a very good idea about trying to locate the cd rom drive in the device manager and with a DOS prompt.
What type of cd drive is it? You may need to reinstall the drivers as they may be corrupted.
Linux is great and stable but it is a big jump from Windows ME, and unless you want to reteach yourself how to use a computer (try mounting drives under Linux or getting your new Toshiba laptop to work with it - it can be a huge pain in the butt)
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
banshee-
I tried it in the dos window and it isn't there. I don't know what would have happened to it. It is just a generic CD Rom that came with my Compaq computer. Any idea what to do? I wish I would have gotten a Dell.
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
col

col

Active Member
Is it there if you start in Safe mode?
Have you tried letting Windows look for it in Control Panel - Add new hardware.
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
Col-
When I try to let the computer search it locks up. I have done an anti-virus and can't find any problems. This is strange. How do I restart it in safe mode? I will look for the driver online.
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
banshee

banshee

Member
Does the BIOS see it? I don't know how much computer knowledge you have, but if you don't know, when your computer boots up it will list your hard drive(s) and cd-rom drive(s)....see if it is listed there. If not, then go into the BIOS and try to autodetect it. If it will not autodetect it, then it is probably hardware related....i.e cable problem, jumper settings, bad cd-rom.
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
Banshee-
When you say look in your bios do you mean in the control panel? If not can you give me an idea of how to do what you are mentioning?
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
banshee

banshee

Member
No....when your computer first starts up (before the Windows screen) you should see a message saying "Hit F1 for setup" or something like that. It is usually either F1, F2 or delete (but it could be anything)...it should tell you. That is the BIOS. If not, tell me what kind of computer it is and I will tell you what button to press.
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
Ok I got into the bios, but couldn't find it. Now when I start the computer in safe mode it shows up under the Device Manager button, but it isn't there when I am in regular mode. Any ideas? It is a Presario 5012US running ME.
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
banshee

banshee

Member
try this....
Click Start, point to Settings, click Control Panel, and then double-click System.
Click the Device Manager tab.
Click the Hard Disk Controllers branch to expand it, click your IDE controller, and then click Properties.
Click the Settings tab.
In the Dual IDE Channel Settings box, click Both IDE Channels Enabled, and then click OK. (If you can't do this, then let me know.)
Click OK, and then restart your computer.
It might be this, if not we will try something else.
 
stumpdog

stumpdog

Member
Banshee-
Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it. I went into the setting and changed the thing like you suggested and nothing happened. You want me to go into Safe mode and delete the CD Rom? Where do I do that at?
Thanks-
Jeremy
 
salty cheese

salty cheese

Active Member
Reboot your computer and as it is posting up press F8(you may want to do this repeatedly) and it will give you the option of starting windows in safe mode, go into the contoll panel and highlight the cd rom and press remove.
Reboot and cross your fingers.;)
 
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