Computer Hope
Hardware => Hardware => Topic started by: mcdidd on December 30, 2009, 02:36:04 PM
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Hello,
A few days ago, I put a CD into my CD/DVD Drive. It read the CD, but it caused the computer to freeze up. I tried to log off, but the Windows Explorer window would not close, so I turned my computer off the "illegal" way (just cut the power) with the CD still inside. When I restarted my computer, the drive would not read the CD or any other CD I tried. When I click on the CD/DVD drive in Computer, it says "E:\ Application Not Found." Please help! I have a Dell Inspiron 530 running Vista Home Premium. Thanks in advance!
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Is the disc damaged ?
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No. It is an absolutely new disk that I just took out of its paper sleeve. I also tried 2 or 3 other disks with no luck.
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Are you only trying blanks or have you tried inserting a program disk?
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They are all program disks.
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Insert a bootable disk and make sure the cd drive is at the top of the boot order in bios. Reboot. Does the system see the drive?
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Allan, what do you mean?
Does the system see the drive?
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When you reboot with a bootable cd in the drive and the cd as the first boot option, what happens?
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A black screen comes up and says Boot from CD... then it just boots Windows. Should I try system restore?
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No. Are you supposed to press a key to boot from the cd or should it just go right to the cd? If the latter, either the cd or the drive is bad. Try a different bootable cd.
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I tried booting my Vista CD, and it didn't detect it. The drive stopped working just randomly one day, so is there anything else I can do before i conclude that the drive is bad?
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Yes...
Swap it into another working machine and conduct the same tests...same results = bad drive.
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I don't have access to another computer.
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Is there anything else I can do without another computer?
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No one you know has a computer ? ?
What does your next door neighbor do for a living ? ?
How about the blonde 3 doors down you haven't introduced yourself to ? ?
This could be the perfect opportunity...
C'mon...get creative.
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Seriously, no one would let me rip the CD drive out of their computer. I don't even know how to do it, so i'd prefer not taking it out unless if I have to replace it.
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OK then...
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No... pretty much every person i know has a computer. I doubt any of them will let me rip the CD drive out of their computer. If I don't even know them to start with, they for sure won't let me. I don't want to be responsible for replacing a computer if something goes wrong. Also, i don't know how to do this, so I only want to take the CD drive out if i have to replace it.
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How about the blonde 3 doors down you haven't introduced yourself to ? ?
This could be the perfect opportunity...
Isn't this kind of how Tiger got in trouble?
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No one you know has a computer ? ?
What does your next door neighbor do for a living ? ?
How about the blonde 3 doors down you haven't introduced yourself to ? ?
This could be the perfect opportunity...
C'mon...get creative.
If my next door neighbour came around and said "can I open your computer, take out your optical drive and install this one that might be faulty?" I'd tell him to f*** off.
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Now what do I do? Is there any alternative to removing the hard drive?
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The CD drive you mean ? ?
The other machine's CD drive does not have to be "ripped out"...you can simply hook yours up to the same cable...it doesn't even need to be mounted in the machine...we're just testing here.
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Ok patio, can you tell me how to do this? I have a really old computer running windows 2000 so would that work? If that works, can you tell me what i need to do to each computer?
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do you know how much a new cd drive costs now?
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The cost as low as $30.
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The cost as low as $30.
Sometimes lower
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Is the drive listed in device manager? If it is you could just uninstall it and then reboot your computer. Window should find new hardware and install the drivers necessary.
If it was me, I would just buy a new drive and put it in. It is a fairly simple and inexpensive task. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827151197 $25 including shipping.
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It does show up under device manager. I tried uninstalling it and it reinstalled the drivers. Unfortunately that did not solve the problem, so something may have disconnected on the inside. Thanks hejlik for the suggestion!
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Ok everyone, there's been a development. When I put a CD into the drive, it shows the CD symbol next to the cursor. Any ideas?
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Meaning that it is detecting a CD in the drive
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Now what else can I do?
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Replace it with a brand new drive...
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patio, i'm just exploring options here. With today's economy, i would like to save those $30 i would spend on a new drive. I checked the connections and no luck, so i guess i will be buying a new drive.