the disappearing and re-appearing drive

[lee walters]

My DVD/CD-RW drive keeps disappearing. I found that if I insert a CD
and re-boot it comes back only to disappear again some days later.
What's going on here? Any help would be great. Thanks. (running XP on
and IBM Thinkpad)

 

[NotMe]

It's possible you have a flakey IDE controller, or a bad cable or a bad
drive...
With the machine powered off and unplugged, open the case.
Unplug/replug each cable, making sure the ribbon cables, and power cables,
are well seated.

 

[NotMe]

Well, once I put my glasses on, I see this is a LAPTOP.
Many times removing/reinserting the drive will remove some of the oxidation
from the contacts and allow it to maintain it's connection.

 

[Brian A.]

Aside from a drive going south or bad connection, this is also caused by cd
creator or other burning software being corrupt or missing.

You could try booting to Safe Mode and removing any/all devices listed under
CD/DVD-ROM drives. Reboot and Windows will redetect/reinstall.

--

Brian A. Sesko { MS MVP_Shell/User }
Conflicts start where information lacks.
http://basconotw.mvps.org/

Suggested posting do's/don'ts: http://www.dts-l.org/goodpost.htm
How to ask a question: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375

 

[lee walters]

Aside from a drive going south or bad connection, this is also
caused by cd
creator or other burning software being corrupt or missing.

You could try booting to Safe Mode and removing any/all devices
listed under CD/DVD-ROM drives. Reboot and Windows will
redetect/reinstall.

Well, now I have more to add. I was also having the problem that the
mouse cursor was sticking (pausing intermittently as I drag it across
the screen) and now I see the problems are connected. I got the CD-RW
back by rebooting with a disc in the laptop. But then the mouse
sticking comes back. Then I disable the drive and no sticks. What's
this all about? Thanks.

 

[NotMe]

See if the laptop maker has updated software.