Is there a link between these problems?

[sheek]

Hello, and thank you all for your time. We have an HP desktop computer, maybe 2 years old, that has been working fine until just recently. We normally just keep it on, and yesterday we came to find it on a black screen that said, "Reboot and select proper boot device, press any key." I restarted and the blue HP screen stayed on, mostly unresponsive.

Another restart, I jammed on the diagnostic tool key.

It stopped and said my CD/DVD drive wasn't connected and would go no further. I checked and re-tightened all connections, to no avail.

Could these two problems be linked? Would changing the SATA arrangement help?

Specs:
"HP Media Center PC"
Vista
AMD Penom X4 - 64
4G ram

Toshiba DVD Writer Model TS-H653 w/lightscribe

If you need any other info, I'll be glad to provide. Thanks again.

[Allan]

I'd start by running a diagnostic on the hd.

[sheek]

When I run a diagnostic, it won't allow me to test the HD. Even if I skip tests, the order is as follows: Processor..good, ram...good, CD drive...BAD, not connected, press "r" to retest or press any key to restart.

Those are my only two options.

Does boot priority have anything to do with it? First is CD, then HD, Network, then floppy.

I'm a bit confused, does my computer normally boot from CD? I don't understand. 

Thanks again for your time and help.

[Allan]

put the hd at the top of the boot order and reboot. If it boots, you probably need to replace the cd drive

[sheek]

Changed the boot sequence, still same issue. Does this explain why the cd drive isn't being found? I'm guessing my HD is failing or has already. Would there be any way to retrieve information contained on the HD if this were the case?

[Broni]

You can slave the drive in another computer, or use hard drive enclosure.
Without working CD drive, you're pretty much stuck.

[sheek]

I was planning on getting a new CD drive to rule out that problem. What are my options if I have a working CD drive?

[jason2074]

I was planning on getting a new CD drive to rule out that problem.

You can slave the drive in another computer, or use hard drive enclosure

You could test both on another working computer.