pc no longer recognises cd writer as such

[darthpaul]

greetings to all, this is my first time so please forgive any mistakes. recently my pc which runs on windows xp decided that my goldstar ced 80808 cd writer was no longer a cd writer but a reader only, at the same time my norton anti-virus decided that it could no longer perform scans. this all happened at the time i got hit by a virus, which has been dealt with. are they connected, is there  any hope, can i fix my pc?

[Flame]

There is always a way out    Have you made sure that the virus was deleted sucessfully? Not a simgle part of it is left? Have you scanned for any other forms of viruses/trojans/spyware?

[glb]Flame[/glb]

[batman1071]

dude... i think the best way for you to do is to reformat your harddisk for you to be sure that you are free for all viruses....

[Raptor]

to be sure that you are free for all viruses....

I hear ya partnah!

Virus scanners
AVG Free
-- Anti virus scanner


Anti spy/malware
Microsoft Antispyware
-- Anti spyware scanner. Windows XP Home and Professional only.
Spybot Search & Destroy
-- Anti spyware scanner
Adaware SE Personal
-- Anti spyware scanner

Firewalls
Using only one firewall is advised. Dual firewalls may cause problems.
Using a hardware firewall and a software firewall is even more adviced.
ZoneAlarm Free
-- Free firewall - more user friendly
Sygate Personal
-- Free firewall - more configuration options

Removal tools
The following files are not substitutes for the ones described above.
They are either diagnostic tools or removal tools for malware of a certain kind

HijackThis
-- Manual malware remover. Post the HijackThis log generated only if requested!
McAfee Stinger
-- Virus removal tool. No substitute for a fully functional virus scanner!
CWshredder
-- CoolWebSearch removal tool. Widely known and persistant Hijacker.

[merlin_2]

How old is you cd/rw drive?norton has  your subsciption expired?

[darthpaul]

blimey those replies were quick! yes the virus is completely gone but i fear that a reformat is looming, unfortunately the pc was given to me by my sister and i have no disks to reformat with. norton subscription is stil valid and the cd-r is circa2000

[merlin_2]

Type msinfo32 in the run box..........>splash screen>now click  the + on the components......does it display your c/rw drive..in the windows.......or do you mean you can play disk but not burn any......

[Raptor]

Try reinstalling or repairing Norton.

[darthpaul]

tried the msinfo32 in run box, displays cd-rom as status ok. cd will play biut not burn. pc does not recognise a cd-burner. for imstance using windows media it announces that i do not have a burner. norton has been uninstalled and re-installed several times to make sure.
  something popped up a little while ago just after the virus about registry values for long pathways, could that have anything to do with it?

[Raptor]

something popped up a little while ago just after the virus about registry values for long pathways, could that have anything to do with it?

You need to recall the exact error message so that we can determine if it was legitimate.

You may be able to do the following:

1. Right click on My Computer
2. Properties
3. Hardware  tab
4. Device Manager
5. Expand DVD-/cd-rom-stations
6. Right click on your CD-ROM reader, select remove

Restart your system and allow for redetection.

[darthpaul]

sorry, should have been a little clearer, the message about registry values popped up after the virus had been removed( it was removed with TRENDmicro software), whilst i was trying to repair NORTON. Tried the removal of the cd-rw and restarting...no change. The pc reports everything a.o.k. with the cd-rw , just can't find the burner

[darthpaul]

just an update uon the removal of the cd drive , the drive(E/) is now no longer accessible, cant do anything with it

[Raptor]

just an update uon the removal of the cd drive , the drive(E/) is now no longer accessible, cant do anything with it

Try reassigning it a new drive letter.

The pc reports everything a.o.k. with the cd-rw , just can't find the burner
      

If it reports CD-RW, it means CD-Reader/Writer. Which means it does detect the burner.

[o-blazon]

try testing with another writer on the same drive. if it works, then ur writer is faulty.

[darthpaul]

, and how do i test with another ok sorry to act dumb, how do i assign a new drive letter. and how do i test with a new writer. computer describes cd as cd-rom, but says its name is cd-rw?