[WhiskyLima]

Hey guys, this is my fist post here, so i appologise if im in the wrong place, just need some help with something. Basically I have compaq / hp laptop with windows vista, and the DVD drive is no longer working. After a substantial ammount of research I have found fixes including the upper and lowr filters in the regestry, which didn't work, and have even removed the drive to try to get it to re-install the drivers. After testing the drive itself in another laptop I can confirm it is in good working order.

After a while I decided to set the laptop back to the factory settings using the built in recovery tool. This didn't solve the issue either. I have tried to use bootable CD's in the drive on start up and changed the order in which the laptop boots up, but nothing seems to work.

When a CD or DVD is in the machine, it powers up (lights and noise), but the computer dosn't seem to respond to it in any way. Also, the drive dosn't show up in Device manager or my computer and there is no entry in the device manager for DVD/CD drives.

Basically what im trying to figure out, is if this is a motherboard issue of some sort, and also, if I was to buy an external DVD drive, would I be likely to have the same issue?

Any help you guys can give would be greatly appreciated, Thanks in advance.

WhiskyLima

[etaf]

Basically what im trying to figure out, is if this is a motherboard issue of some sort, and also, if I was to buy an external DVD drive, would I be likely to have the same issue?

sounds like a controller isssue on the mother board
As 1) you know the drive works BUT 2) cant be seen in device manager and you dont get a newhardware detected etc
An external DVD should be OK - since it uses the USB

BUT
try using a different Operating system like UBUNTU (the great part is that it RUNS from the DVD - see if it can be booted at all) at least that would remove the its a windows issue - this is the text I use for people who cant boot and need data - but its all there for you to try

UBUNTU
It may be possible to boot from another Operating System
This will at least test the Hardware and also see if you can see the Harddrive and possibly get data off.

If you have another PC with a cdwriter and spare CD
goto http://www.ubuntu.com/ and download the ISO

full details are here http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/windo...dows-computer/

click on the image "download ubuntu"
Select a location
then begin download
Save the file onto your PC – remember where you saved it – so you can find it again to create the image bootable CD.

You do NOT copy the ISO file onto a CD - you have to use the ISO to create a bootable CD
The CD creator software you have on the PC may have an option to create an image from an ISO
If not - use this free program http://www.imgburn.com/

When the UBUNTU CD boots - you will see the following options
1) Try ubunto without any change to your computer
2) Install ubuntu
3) Check CD for defects
4) Test memory
5) Boot from first hard disk.

Use OPTION 1 "Try ubunto without any change to your computer" ONLY this option this will run from the CD and not install onto your harddrive - be careful, if you do install onto the PC - you will wipe the data and software OFF your hard drive.., so repeat only use option 1

Now you should see a UBUNTU desktop
This at least proves the main parts of the PC are working

You may see your Harddrive on the desktop - if not have in look in the places on the tool bar at the top of the screen.

If you can see your harddrive – see if you can find the your datafiles –
XP look in “documents and settings” under the user name you had on the PC
Vista look in “user” under the user name you had on the PC

Now if you have a USB flash drive or external harddrive – you should be able to copy your data from the harddrive onto the USB device

If you still have issues mounting the harddrive:
On the main menu of Ubuntu, there's an option to Check CD for defects. I ran this and was able to mount the C Drive.

[WhiskyLima]

etaf, Thanks for the reply. I did try a couple of bootable discs with the DVD drive to no avail. To be honest, I wasn't sure if one controller on the mbo could go without taking everything else down with it, but I think you've just confirmed it for me. On another note, I was thinking of trying another opperating system just for fun on my desktop. Is this is a linux based system or just an alternative to windows? Never tried it before but I have a couple of days spare now so i might have a play around. Thanks again.

[Megabite]

Try this

Download CDgone to your desktop.

Right click and choose Extract All,
open folder and double click on cdgone.reg

Do Not Click on EditReg.reg

Restart your PC

[WhiskyLima]

Hi Megabite, thanks for the reply, I have already tried that one unfortunately, and due to the fact the drive dosn't show in the bios, im pretty sure its not a registry problem. Thanks for the input though