Pending: Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissapeared

fishkeeper · 05-19-2009

hi, first of all i'm not very experienced with computers, i know a bit but any advice will have to be clear please.

Ok, i dropped my laptop the other day and afterwards the cd/dvd tray wouldn't close properly, it was only hanging out by a cm, anyway i got a little annoyed with it so i applied some pressure and finally the tray went all the way back in but on doing so the whole laptop instantly shut down - within a split second there was no lights around the keyboard or anything on the screen, to my relief when i pressed the power button it started up ok. But the cd/dvd drive doesn't show up in 'my computer' or as a file in Applications/Drivers folders, its as if it has been completely removed from my computer. Can this be fixed and if so how?

My computer is a E-System 4213

I'm thinking about taking the back off as i think the fall might have disconnected it from the motherboard, any help woud be fantastic.

Regards,
jonny.

bigbadjohn · 05-19-2009

hi johnny, welcome to the pchf forum ,we have a great number of technitians and a great user community who will be able to answer your question ,

but firstly , is the drive showing up in device manager ?

and secondly , when you forced the drive in did you hear anything snapping , or pinging ?

it is possible , that dropping the laptop has disconnected it from the motherboard , but forcing it closed could have caused more damage to the mechanism that operates the drive,

so i would start by checking to see if it is listed in the device manager ,

if not , you could have a look inside and see if it has become disconnected ( if your happy and confindent with doing so)

but from what you have described , dropping it and forcing in the drive , it is possible a new drive may need to be installed on the machine

BBJ

fishkeeper · 05-19-2009

hi, thanks for your swift reply.

I don't know the specific name for the driver but in driver manager it has these two listings:

Generic-Multi-Card USB Device
Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 ATA Device

The problem is that if one of these is not the DVD+/-RW Drive then there is no way to unistall/re-install the device.

Is there any other option but to take the cover off and have a look?

Regards,
Jonny.

bigbadjohn · 05-19-2009

HI, those 2 you have listed are not your dvd/cd-rom mate.

go back to device manager and click the + sign beside DVD/CD-ROM drives to get to the drive you are looking for , if it is not listed then i think the only option would be , is to take a look inside the machine ,

unless it is is still under waranty , you could try to get it repaired that way

BBJ

fishkeeper · 05-19-2009

There is no CD/DVD ROM option in the device manager, surely this must mean that it has become disconnected from the motherboard? Unfotunately the warranty has just run out.

bigbadjohn · 05-19-2009

it looks like your only option now , is to have a look inside the machine

but if you dont feel comfortable doing this , you could take it friend who is , or have it shop repaired

fishkeeper · 05-19-2009

ok thanks john, I actually studied IT at college for 3 years but i didn't follow it up with a career and things have changed so much in the last 8 years!!! But i'm sure i can still reconnect it to the motherboard, thanks for all you help.

Regards,
Jonny.

05-19-2009	#1
fishkeeper Bronze Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissapeared hi, first of all i'm not very experienced with computers, i know a bit but any advice will have to be clear please. Ok, i dropped my laptop the other day and afterwards the cd/dvd tray wouldn't close properly, it was only hanging out by a cm, anyway i got a little annoyed with it so i applied some pressure and finally the tray went all the way back in but on doing so the whole laptop instantly shut down - within a split second there was no lights around the keyboard or anything on the screen, to my relief when i pressed the power button it started up ok. But the cd/dvd drive doesn't show up in 'my computer' or as a file in Applications/Drivers folders, its as if it has been completely removed from my computer. Can this be fixed and if so how? My computer is a E-System 4213 I'm thinking about taking the back off as i think the fall might have disconnected it from the motherboard, any help woud be fantastic. Regards, jonny.

05-19-2009	#2
bigbadjohn Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: barrhead / scotland Posts: 524 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissape hi johnny, welcome to the pchf forum ,we have a great number of technitians and a great user community who will be able to answer your question , but firstly , is the drive showing up in device manager ? and secondly , when you forced the drive in did you hear anything snapping , or pinging ? it is possible , that dropping the laptop has disconnected it from the motherboard , but forcing it closed could have caused more damage to the mechanism that operates the drive, so i would start by checking to see if it is listed in the device manager , if not , you could have a look inside and see if it has become disconnected ( if your happy and confindent with doing so) but from what you have described , dropping it and forcing in the drive , it is possible a new drive may need to be installed on the machine BBJ __________________ Prework/ PCHF RULES /System specs/ Bsod's / xp repair install / belarc / ccleaner / malwarebytes

05-19-2009	#3
fishkeeper Bronze Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissape hi, thanks for your swift reply. I don't know the specific name for the driver but in driver manager it has these two listings: Generic-Multi-Card USB Device Hitachi HTS541680J9SA00 ATA Device The problem is that if one of these is not the DVD+/-RW Drive then there is no way to unistall/re-install the device. Is there any other option but to take the cover off and have a look? Regards, Jonny.

05-19-2009	#4
bigbadjohn Elite Member Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: barrhead / scotland Posts: 524 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissape HI, those 2 you have listed are not your dvd/cd-rom mate. go back to device manager and click the + sign beside DVD/CD-ROM drives to get to the drive you are looking for , if it is not listed then i think the only option would be , is to take a look inside the machine , unless it is is still under waranty , you could try to get it repaired that way BBJ __________________ Prework/ PCHF RULES /System specs/ Bsod's / xp repair install / belarc / ccleaner / malwarebytes

05-19-2009	#5
fishkeeper Bronze Member Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 4 PC Experience: Some Experience	Re: Optical DVD+/-RW Drive completely dissape There is no CD/DVD ROM option in the device manager, surely this must mean that it has become disconnected from the motherboard? Unfotunately the warranty has just run out.

Similar discussions...
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Hard Drive / Optical Drive Question!	Terdogtanner	Hard Drives	7	05-01-2009 10:10 PM
secondary internal hard drive dissapeared	bfogarty27	Hard Drives	8	04-28-2009 05:26 PM
Pending: Why two drivers for one optical drive?	di4charles	CD/DVD Rom	2	04-25-2009 04:42 AM
Pending: Optical Drive Malfunction	lwredman	CD/DVD Rom	1	08-22-2008 05:50 PM
Pending: Problems with my optical drive	Lennart	CD/DVD Rom	11	03-22-2007 03:06 PM

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode