Resolved dvd drives missing in device manager and my computer after installing xp

My hard drive died so I bought a new one and installed XP. I have 2 DVD drives and neither of them show in my computer or device manager. When I put in a disk nothing happens. My sound is also gone.

 

Were either of the 2 working when you reinstalled Windows ? Check if BIOS is detecting them.

You need driver for your sound card. Search for the media that came with your computer/motherboard. The required drivers must be on it.

 

Everything worked except the C drive when it crashed. I've been able to update drivers and get the sound going but when I go to Liteon they cannot detect the DVD drive so I cannot update it's firmware. My DVD drives are still not working. I don't know how to view them in the bios. Would checking with Everest help? I may have to open the case again. Thanks for any information you can give me.

 

Maybe this might help u out .
http://support.microsoft.com/gp/cd_dvd_drive_problems
Regards

 

Or u can try manually if you want:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116#letmefixit

Regards
Pete

 

what kind of computer do you have, sallnjackn? list name and model.

usually to enter bios, turn on your computer and press a certain key to access the BIOS setup program (could be F1, F2 or Del)

If the BIOS recognizes the DVD drives but Windows XP can not, read MS KB article no. 314060 for solutions:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/

If the BIOS, however, doesn't detect your DVD drives, then the DVD drives are either not connected to the IDE cables inside your computer or the DVD drives are dead and need to be replaced.

hope this helps.

 

If you have lost your Discs :
Download Speccy :
http://www.piriform.com/speccy
Identify your MB , then Download all the latest driver for your board.

Regards
Peter

 

Open the case & unplug BOTH the DVD drives. Restart the computer & then shut it down. Now plug only one DVD drive & restart. Check if the computer detects the drive or not.

 

I took the advice of Rsinfo and unplugged the dvd drives and then plugged in only one. Still not recognized. I went to Abit (this is a home built computer in 2003) to get Windows XP drivers for my motherboard but they just give me a driver detective download and I have to pay 30 bucks to get drivers. This is the string I got from Speecy "http://www.abit.com.tw/ KD7A(VIA KT400A-8235) (Socket 7) ". Names my motherboard. I didn't try the registry fix. I notice there are thin gray wires that run from the dvd drives to the motherboard. Leaving the case open for now. Sure would like to figure this out but if readers think paying for updating the drivers for the motherboard will fix this I'll go for it. Sallie

 

sallnjackn, you never ever pay for the drivers. Period.

Drivers are the responsibility of the company that make the hardware. If you bought the hardware, you are entitled to drivers.

I don't think your current problem has anything to do with drivers as you don't normally need 3rd party drivers for DVD if you have installed the motherboard drivers. Even without motherboard drivers, your DVD should work [otherwise how are you going to install any OS on the computer ?].

What's the size of the grey wire that connect your DVD drive ? Is it thin with lots of wire [PATA] or just a single cable with no wire [SATA] ?

 

The narrow gray wire is only about 1/8 inch wide. The drives work electrically. I wish I could post a picture here to show you the gray covered wire. Still can't see the drives. They are both Liteon. One is a writer. I am stumped. Sallie

 

Your drives seems to be SATA. How is your hdd connected ? Its the same type of cable ?

Does Device Manager shows anything with yellow exclamation mark ?

 

I think you are talking about Sata cables. They have yellow, black and red wires attached. Then there is a ribbon which I understand carries the data and finally on the far left of the drive there is the skinny gray cable. The hard drives don't have the third connection. Luckily my DVD drive worked when we installed XP but not after we finished. I have been downloading all my software since I can't use the cd drive. I really appreciate your help. I notice the fan on the motherboard is not working either but 3 other fans are going.

 

No yellow question marks in device manager. I was able to fix all that were there by getting new drivers. If the DVD drives were visible in device manager we could probably fix them.

 

Hard drives have the same cable.

 

Thats the power cables.

That would be data cable but its PATA or IDE & not SATA.

That is the audio cable which is not required any more as all the CD/DVD roms are capable of digital transfer of audio signals.

They won't. .

Is the cable connecting your DVD & hard drive the same ?

Could you give description of placement of working & non working fans ? 4 fans seem to be a little excessive to me unless you have a high end gaming machine.

 

Yes, the cables are the same. There is a fan in the power supply, 1 directly under that, 1 on the front and one on top of a chunky piece of metal on the motherboard. The one that is not working is small and directly on top of the motherboard.

 

Same type or same [only one cable is connected to board,hard drive & DVD] ?

ok. Thats the power supply fan.

That would be CPU fan.

That would be the motherboard chip cooler. See if you can get it going, else your board may get damaged.

 

It looks like there is only one cable from the power supply. However I just noticed (since you asked me about the cable) that the cables that are connected to the dvd drives has a pigtail that is smaller than the SATA connectors with 12 holes. I don't know where it plugs in.