Resolved CD Writer and DVD drives not responding

A member tried to install Windows 8, I explained how to have CD as first boot device by adjusting boot sequence in BIOS,she reports that she gets a message to put installation disc in drive D: and press enter, she does this, but keeps getting the same message each time,
She has a DVD drive and a CD writer drive,could there be something that has been missed when adjusting the boot sequence in the BIOS.?
She assures me the CD drives were ok before.
Spanner

 

She may have an unbootable or defective disc.

 

The disk she was trying to load is a genuine Windows 8 installation disk.
Spanner

 

CD drive may be the problem. She will need a DVD/CD drive if it is a DVD and not a CD. CD drive can't read a DVD.

 

Thanks gentlemen, I have established that she was putting the Windows 8 installation disk ( which is a DVD ) in the CD Writer drive, she thinks the DVD drive is faulty because the tray comes out and then back in again before she can put a disk in it.
Could that mean a new DVD drive or is it a wiring problem ?
The message she gets is, 'Disk boot failure, insert system disk and press enter' I have no idea where the D:\ came from , neither does she.
Thanks
Spanner.

 

Hi Spanner, This not for the faint hearted, but you can open the tray of a CD/DVD drive using a straightened heavy weight paper clip. There is a small hole in the front tray for this purpose.
You need to shut down the comp first, then very carefully insert the paper clip in the hole keeping it parallel and push in until you feel it contact a plate on the inside.
You can't see anything - it's all feel and then a bit firmer pressure will open the tray door. You need to be very careful not to slip off the parallel as damage may be done internally.
I have done this myself many times without problems and then the Disc can be put in the tray and either close the tray manually or just Start the comp again.
I,m giving this advice but take no responsibility for any damage the user may cause. Neil.

 

Response to NEIL, (Retired Learner ! yeh, I bet ) I Like your courage, but I have seen the pinhole on one of my PC DVD players and tried it out, it works, but as you say, caution and a steady hand is needed, not sure the lady owner would attempt it, thanks handy info to know.
To SteveRJones, I will try to get to her PC, and see if her boot sequence has a choice of CD or DVD, What IF ! I change the cable conns over so DVD is Master and CD Writer, Slave. ( or visa versa depending on current connections ).
The owner is thinking of getting a new DVD all singing and dancing 'super multi ' but I think the connections are not the same 40 pin, if not is there an adaptor for the data and power connections ? and would the motherboard have the right conns. ?
Thanks,
Spanner.

 

That assumes they are EIDE drives and while she has a CD drive (indicating to me, this is an old system - which may be a problem in itself when upgrading to the modern W8), if SATA there is no master or slave setting because SATA supports just one drive per cable.

Also, the drive's tray immediately retreating could indicate a loose or missing data cable.

 

Looks like Amazon.com still has some IDE CD/DVD drives for right around $13 (USD).

 

www.amazon.co.uk "º ... "º Internal Optical Drives "º Internal DVD Burners‎

Google: uk ide cd/dvd

?

 

Thanks all, lot of info, very useful,
Talking to the owner on the phone she seems to have a password problem for BIOS, she gets a Password request to the BIOS, she has no idea of one and neither have I,
I know there is a way of bypassing a password, that was a long time ago, but not sure how to do it for BIOS. This makes me wonder if she actually got to change the boot up sequence,find out when I get there.
Spanner.

 

A happy hello to all contributors to our DVD/CD problem.
WE HAVE A RESULT.
Managed to get to see computer found out the DVD drive connection was defective, bent pins, managed to "very carefully" straighten them out, this allowed us to install Windows 8 ok, ( don't think she will keep this OS for long ).
Have left her , and her elderly son, sort out the tiles.
She wants me to thank all from WindowsBBS who helped. So thanks to you all from us.
Found it interesting about the 'multi DVD' got in touch with LG they can supply one but do not supply the cables, or adaptors,if we need to I think Maplin has something that may do the trick as suggested earlier. But the SATA system I believe has five power connections in one plug and NOT 40 data conns, how does this work with the standard PC motherboard.
Thanks again to you all, good job done.
Marking this resolved.
Spanner.