Possible problems when it's just not working.

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 3:38 pm

Well....Sometime in the last 2-3 months my DVD-rom just decided to stop working. The windows device manager says that it's disabled, but wont let me enable. There's no internal problems, I've un hooked everything, read the manual, then hooked it back up, but still doesn't work. And it’s not the drivers, for I have downloaded and installed them all again but nothing works.. If it helps you at all, the DVD-rom is a Pioneer 116.

Any possible problems/solutions to what's going on? (and/or what I am doing wrong) Thanks.

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:05 pm

What version of Windows are you using? Does the drive have a letter in My Computer? Also, have you tried the drive in DOS? Try downloading <a href="http://www.mirrors.org/archived_softwar ... e">this</a>, and make a Windows 98 boot disk with it, then boot up off it and try your drive in DOS.

If it doesn't work in DOS (you can't get a directory listing off a data CD, etcetera), then your drive may be shot.

Also, are there any other drives on the same cable as the DVD-ROM, and if so, do they work? And have you tried using a different cable?

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:22 pm

I am using Windows XP. There is no drive letter in my computer, but there used to be. And it is using the same cable as my CD burner, but it still works. For that boot disc program, can you link my to a help/readme file, I haven't used boot discs before.

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:37 pm

Just download that file, run it, and follow the instructions. Actually, download <a href="http://www.mirrors.org/archived_softwar ... e">this</a> one. It's a simpler disk, same instructions. Also, what are the drive letters in your computer, and do you know what drive letter the DVD-ROM was?

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 4:46 pm

I've got C: (hard Drive) A:(floppy) and D:(CD writer) and I think it was E:, but I'm not sure.

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 5:35 pm

Ok, download that file I linked to in my last post and make the bootdisk. You'll need one blank floppy. After you make the disk, boot up off of it. You'll be in DOS and see an "A:\>" prompt. Put a data CD (preferably one that works in your CD-RW, and is non-CD-R) into your DVD-ROM drive. Type in E: and press Enter. The prompt should change to "E:\>", or you'll get an invalid drive specification error. If you get "E:\>", type in dir and press Enter. If your drive is working, you'll see a list of all the files and folders on the disc, in which case there is something up in Windows.

If it has errors reading a disc that your CD-RW can read...then I think your DVD-ROM drive is probably toast, and you need to look into a replacement drive.

Before you do all this, does it have problems reading any disc, or just certain types?

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 5:54 pm

It's can't really read much of anything. I don't know, as strange as it sounds. My computer tells me that there is something wrong with the drive, and I cannot excess it, not matter what the disc/type.

Brolli411 · Post by **Brolli411** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 6:04 pm

It took a whlie, but it did end up reading off the DVD drive. It changed all of my drive letters, I had to go through the whole alphabet. Well, after all that I've come to the conclution that....It can read discs. Wow, don't I feel accomplished... Thanks for all the help kthulhu.

kthulhu · Post by **kthulhu** » Sun Dec 08, 2002 6:42 pm

You're welcome.