cd drive quit working

[laura]

I have a compaq presario v5000-xp home edition. My cd/dvd seems to have stopped working. Any ideas on where to look for my problem?
Thanks, Laura

[laura]

Also I noticed that when I go to my computer, there is no icon for cd drive
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[OEM_guy]

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/g...dlc=en&lang=en

[starshooter10]

yeah check device manager

*right click my computer > properties > hardware > device manager*

if it's not there then buy a new one..

DVD burners can be had for 35$ mailed to your door.....

[jholland1964]

Buying a new one is not the first step. Follow all of the instructions on the link provided by OEM_guy in post #3.
If this doesn't help then come back here and we can find other steps to try.

ALSO, if the computer is still under warranty then contact the warranty dept of HP/Compac. Another good option is to use HP's online chat tech service.

http://welcome.hp.com/country/us/en/contact/chat_1.html

This works quite well, at least with their printers and they can walk you through steps needed to fix most things. AND even if the warranty is expired you can use this service, so I would start there if OEM_guys steps don't work.

[OEM_guy]

granted, the optical drives are typically the first thing to go on a PC
indeed the replacement cost can be low

let us first troubleshoot and see if it can be put in working order
it could be as simple as a loose cable or molex connector

or as awkward as a registry setting that got boogered

but if all else does indicate that replacement is in order, then so be it
if it should be an upper/lower filter set improperly it is quite possible that a replacement drive will also not function

[TurcoLoco]

I just wanted to throw in my $0.02's worth:

When troubleshooting hardware issues, always start Low-Tech (Simple, low cost possibilities) then try the Hi-Tech (complex, costly) possibilities.

In a situation like this, this is what I would do:
1. Does the Drive look functional?
Check the Drive itself to see if it is functioning to physical actions (open/close drive door, the green light in front of the drive comes on), this would confirm the drive has power and is mechanically functional (but would not guarantee that the laser is working fine, there is data communication present between the mobo and the drive or BIOS/Windows can see the drive)
YES--> GOTO Step #3 NO--> GOTO Step#2

2. Shutdown the PC, remove the power cord from the back of the PSU, open the side panel and check to see if the power cable to the drive in question is firmly in place or not. If you can't tell, unplug the power cord then plug it back in. If possible, try another power connector that is known to be working to eliminate the possibility that the power connector is bad. After this, did the drive become functional or not? NO--> Drive is BAD, replace it.
YES--> Does the Drive show up in My computer now? Yes--> case closed!
NO--> GOTO Step#3

3. Make sure to check the Drive's jumper settings, there might be a cinflict with another drive. However, If there had been no relevant drive jumper changes of any kind and no drive was added to the PC, this is not likely to be the case so GOTO Step#4.

4. During Bootup, go in to BIOS Settings and check to see if the Drive in question is listed (detected) by the BIOS. This section is generally at the first screen or under Basic BIOS settings screen where the system drives are listed (Hard, Optical, etc.). Is the drive listed? Yes-->Check to see if My Computer shows the drive, if not it is likely to be the case of the Upper/Lower Filter registry value added by a CD/DVD Burning software which OEM's link gives you the detailed info on how to check and resolve, a very good link indeed!
NO--> GOTO #5

5. Since the Drive has power and opens/closes, yet BIOS doesn't see it, neither will Windows! Check to see if the data (flat ribbon) cable is loose or disconnected. If not sure disconnect and re-connect, if possible replace the cable with a working one. Afterwards, did the drive shows up?
YES--> Case closed.
NO--> Drive is likely to be bad despite being mechanically functional, replace it.

Do you see the logical Low-Tech to Hi-Tech approach? Starting with the easiest to check possibility (checking cable connections), you narrow down the list to the most complex, costly one (replacing the drive). In between, if applicable could be the software related possibilities which you might have to check for (bad/invalid registry key or values, corrupt device drivers, disabled device in Device Manager, system resource conflict between devices, disabled and/or corrupted services, etc.)

I hope I didn't confuse or bore you?

~TL

[F1]

.....DVD burners can be had for 35$ mailed to your door.....

Starshooter10, keep your business dealings confined to the Trade Forum ONLY. Giving out advice under the guise of trying to sell product is prohibited on this Forum and will get you permanently banned from this site.

-F1
-IANAG Admin