Major problem: CD-ROM's not detected!

[LotusAstra]

hi all, me again this time with a major prob....

My CD-ROM & CD-RW arn't detected on Win98/2000 or DOS or in the BIOS....and when PC is turned on My HDD light stays on permanently.....also i cant EJECT my CD-RW and there is a CD stuck in there....

This happened when i tried to burn a CD with WinOnCD3.8 in Win2k, it got to 1% complete and then the PC froze and had to be hard shutdown......upon reboot to win2k i had no CD-ROMS detected so i formatted and put back backup of Win98 from ghost image back to Drive C:.....still getting same problem with Win98....

Windows 2000 is completly off my system now, thas y i am posting in this Win98 forum, i thought it would be easier to sort out with Win98 installed.....

NOTE the PC specs r: Celeron300a, 256mbRAM, Voodoo3 2000, Mitsumi CD-RW, if u need info on MOBO i could have a look....

I am afraid i've screwed my MOBO or Writer, is that possible? but then what do i know.......any ideas from some1 with more knowlege???

i'm not sure how 2 redetect them in my BIOS...this could be where the prob starts to......just a guess!

In need of help TIA! Regards

[Train]

LotusAstra
Have you looked, using safe mode, into device manager? May have multiple listings in there for your device, if so remove all and reboot. Hopefully this will correct that, if it is there.

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[LotusAstra]

Hi, thx Train, i should have mentioned that i don't even get the group CD-ROM under the device manager in Windoze...

...i checked safe mode as u said and both my CDROMs r there under CDROM group as they should be....no extras....still dont appear in Windows Explorer in either safe mode or normal, and still no eject in safe mode!

This dont look good! Thz m8, most appreciated

[Rog]

Have you tried using the paper clip method to eject the stuck cd by inserting it in the pinhole beneath the drive door?



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What the Dormouse said

[Boffo1]

i noticed you said not even the bios is recognizing either drive. Start by disconection your cdrw physically and see if the bios then finds your cdrom. Also u have to get that botched disc out of your burner.as rog said insert a paper clip into the small hole in the front of the drive and it will manually open your drawer.

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I've done so much with so little for so long i can do almost anything with nothing

[Train]

Use Rog's trick, the cd maybe the problem.
If removing it is no joy, go ahead and remove what you find in safe mode and see if it will find and install them correctly.

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[LotusAstra]

hi, i have tried using the paper clip method, but i cant get the drawer to open....when i push it i can feel a lot of tension amd dont wanna break it...i think it could b CD as well now i think about it!.....do i just keep pushing until i hear a click or sumut?

....i tried removing them from device manager in safe mode with no luck on reboot....it didn't even reinstall drivers.....now there is no CDROM group listed in safe mode or normal mode...so this is either prob with coaster CD in Drive or a BIOS detection prob maybe...

i shall have another go with paper clip....if no success than i'll remove Writer temporary as suggested to rule that out....

also 1 other thing cdroms r not displayed on the post screen.....bassically now they do not exist anywhere

THX, any more ideas

[Boffo1]

HOw are your optical drives arranged .are they both on the same ide cable. If so then i would think that the cdrw witht he coaster inside is causeing the whole problem. i would start with one drive at a time see if u can get the bios to recognize cause this is where windows gets its info.

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I've done so much with so little for so long i can do almost anything with nothing

[LotusAstra]

)...yes both CDROMs r on same IDE....

ahh ha, i've now removed the CD and am restarting to c if its cured...(i wasn't pushing hard enuf with clip).....

guess what that didn't cure it...wasn't the CD......the drive has no power at all (no motor or eject button working)

now i got CD out i'm gunna Restore my backup again if that dont work then i'll try options below.

i'll try the BIOS detection stuff....then remove Writer if all else fails....unless advised otherwise.

Thx all

[LotusAstra]

restore with Ghost didn't work this time neither.....so i'm now back to square 1....i'll now investagate the BIOS some more!

Thx

[LotusAstra]

at last....thx guys....problem solved.....i went into BIOS and changed both CDROMS from NONE to AUTO(i didnt c that earlier), and some other power setting for the drives.

i learn sumut new all the time, this was another new problem 2 me.....i dont think i'll try 2 burn with Win2k again, lol, 2b honest i might as well delete Win2k its caused nufin but problems......

thx for all your help, Regards all

[Boffo1]

Maybe time to replace the battery for the cmos depending how old the system is. Glad to see your back up and running.

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I've done so much with so little for so long i can do almost anything with nothing

[LotusAstra]

the CMOS battery is still the original and PC was built around 1997/98ish, i'm not sure if thas old for a CMOS battery tho?....i'll have 2 investigate that 1.

i have returned the coasterCD back in the PC to c what would happen and it just tryed 2 read it and search 4ever....rebooting with the CD in the drive caused no problems and still didn't read it after reboot (as expected with a coaster)......so i dont think it was the coaster in the drive that caused it.

other than the battery tho, i think it was sumut to do with Win2k/WinonCD & Mitsumi CDWriter combo.....

....is it possible for SoftWare/OS lockup to cause the BIOS to forget the ROM's......? cuz thas what it seems like to me, just wondering if its possible?

Regards