HELP! My CD/DVD Drive on my laptop just stopped working!!!
 

Alright, hardware experts...

The Icon is there, but it appears to have no power. Pressing the eject button does nothing (no lights, nothing), clicking on the icon produces a "Please Insert disc". Hitting Eject in the right-click menu produces "An Error Occurred While Ejecting CD Drive E:"

I do remember getting a white/grey screen during bootup saying that a hardware component is not functioning and it gave me the option of "ignoring" which was the only way to continue the boot up...but I think it worked after that...it was like four months ago.

It's Dell Inspiron 1525 with Vista...It's not the kind of drive that comes out either. Only way to remove it is to take the laptop apart.

I have no idea where to start (and really dread a four hour tech support call).

Anyone? ideas?

Re install the DVD/CD driver... go to Dell's website to find it

Dell's support is pretty damn good these days. You did get a warranty, right?

Yes, It's only 6 months old...it's covered, but I hate tech support. If I can't fix it tinkering, i'll have to make the plunge.

It sounds like the power cable has become unattached. You should be able to open up the case and reattach it, but it's fiddly work and might violate your warranty. I would do this kind of thing myself, but if you haven't pulled a laptop apart before it might not be a good idea if this one has critical data on it.

There might even be a guide online you can reference while you tinker.

Check the device manager to see if it is posted (Single right click on my computer and go to properties). Go to hardware and open DVD/CD-rom drivers. Go to the drivers tab and update drivers/roll back driver. If you DVD player is not showing up in the device manager the computer will need to be serviced (bad contacts with the CPU).

Opening the computer will VOID the warranty.

OK, it's in device manager and says it's working correctly. I uninstalled the driver, and it disappeared from my computer and device manager...So, I rebooted. It immediately found the hardware and installed the correct drivers. Same problem.

You hit eject, no lights, nothing. But as far as the computer is concerned it's working fine.

If its 6months old - call dell, tell em you are scared of the silly box. 1st year - i think by default they come to you. Not sure tho on the home Inspirion class.

Its prob. a driver - easy fix from http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx

or even easier - http://tinyurl.com/37yj4d <-- thats the link to the drivers from Dell for your model - select CD/DVD

If that dont fix it, its just a faulty CD/DVD drive (or a poorly seated drive) - dell will fix/replace it for you.

It is not a software issue it is a physical problem with the computer.You can open it but if you need a replacement part it will be out of your pocket as the warranty would be void. "Who" might have nailed it with the power cord.

This would be the fastest solution for now.

http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/...52921665233452

power cord? what is this external. I agree its prob. hardware - and my guess is opening the laptop and resetting the cable to the drive would be the fix. But he stated he isnt computer savvy - so at very least he should try the driver, takes 2 mins, and its painless - if it doesnt work - then he needs to call Dell.

Also its not a void of warranty to open a Dell PC these days.

I actually have a very slim external dvd burner/cd rom from my wifes lenova I can use. But still, this damn thing is only six months old.

Its faulty hardware. Call Dell - ask them to fix it. Dont stress it.

Ya...their may be a power cord inside the computer thay connects the drive to the CPU or the conacts are cooked. The drivers are updated at this point with no change to the power issue. I think with this system the DVD drive requires you to remove the complete bottom of the laptop to check the connections. If it will not void the warranty it is worth checking out.

Well, I wouldn't say i'm not computer savvy. I have had a computer since the commodore Vic-20. I just am not really familiar with laptop hardware in particular. I took one apart one time to clean out the keayboard and the results were not pretty. but I did get it working again. have built a ton of boxes in my day, but never encountered this problem.

I have to agree that it must be the power cord from the board to the drive, and the only way to fix it is cracking the case. However, I'm not sure how the OS "sees" the drive if it has no power. but now I have to decide if it is worth the aggravation of dealing with it myself and probably voiding the warranty, or the time to take it to somone. Shipping to dell is not an option for me now...so there it is.

Laptops are so tricky to work with. I would just take it to a local computer store to get it fixed. You could do it yourself but is it really worth it?

Its not a void of warranty to open it. I'm gonna just let the power cord "wording" ride - if it didnt have power - the computer wouldnt see it (thats for certain). It most likely not a cord, but a thin wire strip (all in 1) - that needs to be reseated (disconnect, reconnect firmly), or its faulty hardware. Dell will come to you. Call them ... tell them send someone - no stress.

Good advice. I remember they came to my office a few years ago. Fuck it, I'll go that route.

[QUOTE=skrinkladoo;15270116] I'm gonna just let the power cord "wording" ride - if it didnt have power - the computer wouldnt see it (thats for certain). [QUOTE]

LOL....Thanks :)

Dell support is probably the best over the phone support ive ever had ....

Get a mac ray and make your life easy.
On another note my attention is 100% to fixing the probs with the BB script once I get back from vacation at the weekend
All the best for 2009

Excellent! happy 2009 to you too bro:thumbsup

just buy an external usb

Search on google. Windows Vista loves to randomly lose your cd/dvd drivers.

Why don't you say that with your real nick? Pussy.