[XP] CD Drive Not Recognized

[Biscuit]

I own a Dell Dimension 3000. My CD drive is no longer being recognized. It still gets power and will open, but when I open Windows Explorer, all I see is my three hard drives, and my CD drive is not present. I have checked my IDE cable to make sure it is secured, as I have done with the other 4 prong cable (I don't know the name of this). Any ideas as to why this is happening? I hope I gave enough details, any help would be appreciated! I want to use my CDs again.

[jmtjet]

Sounds like it's gone south on you. Might be time to get a replacement.

[Train]

Boot to Safe Mode, go into device manager anr remove all intances of the installs of the cd drive, reboot.
Windows should now pick it up and re install the drivers. Now test it.

Should now work.

Now if it does not, then spend $20 and get a new cd/dvd burner.
http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCateg...=CD-DVD-Drives

[SuperSparks]

Or try this fix:

You can no longer access the CD drive or DVD drive...

[Biscuit]

Thank you guys...first off, I did buy a new drive, mainly because I needed a DVD burner and reader drive, but I still tried that and it doesn't work, both with using just the new drive, both the drives in, and every configuration you can have.

Second, I know that I should know this, but remind me again how to boot into safe mode?

And third, I followed all of your directions to the registry editor, and located the Upper Limit and Lower Limit files...now what might I lose after deleting these and trying to reinstall them? As in what are the chances that something bad might happen, and what could happen? This computer has given me enough trouble already and I have fixed different things countless times, but I don't have the money to get a new one...

Thanks guys!

[SuperSparks]

Boot into Safe Mode by repeatedly pressing F8 just after the POST screen.

Nothing bad will happen by deleting those Registry keys, many folks have done it in the past and I've yet to hear of a problem.

[Broni]

If that registry fix doesn't work, try two other methods:
1. http://aumha.org/downloads/cdgone.zip
or...
2. Go to Device Manager, click a "+" sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.
You'll see two items:
- ATA Channel0 (or Primary Channel)
- ATA Channel1 (or Secondary Channel)
Right click on each of them, and click Uninstal. Confirm.
Restart Windows. They'll be automatically reinstalled.