Hi!

I don't think that this has been answered before, since I couldn't find it anywhere in the forum. I'd really appreciate any help.

My computer's been having many problems over the past two years, but lately it's just been horrible. I just recently had to get a new drive because the old one literally fried. We got a new 80 Gigabyte drive, considerably larger than the 30 Gig drive we originally had, but when I was setting everything up, I noticed that it could only hold 12.7 Gigabytes in total on Drive C. So I added a partition, which I made into Drive F, and it placed 63.6 gigs there.

Now, everything seems to be fine, and runs almost as smoothly as it did when we first purchased it. But I've got one big problem. The CD Burner. The computer just doesn't seem to realize that it's there. As if it didn't exist. I know that the CD Burner is working, because the light's on, and I can open and close it with no problem, but the computer doesn't read the drive. I'm wondering if maybe has to do with the new drive and the partition. I put in the CD that came with the drive, but it just installs the burning program.

This has never happened to me before. It isn't XP, since it worked with XP before now, and when I tried to add a new device or hardware, it couldn't find anything.

I've just been so stressed out lately, trying very hard to figure out what's wrong. I've tried everything.

I've been needing to burn back-ups of very important files, but I just can't get it to work. One thing I don't understand, as well, is that when I load the burning program, it reads an 'image burner.'

I would be forever grateful if anybody could help me at all. Thank you!

[edit:] I have Yamaha CD Burner.

Welcome to D-A-L

Do you know if the BIOS recognise this drive on bootup?

Also check the Device Manager: RT click My Computer then click Manage then Device Manager or go to Start | Run and type in: devmgmt.msc for any "!"


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I've got Windows XP.

I have no idea if BIOS recognizes it, but I did check Device Manager, and I haven't ever seen it listed there. There is a 'PCI Simple Communications Controller' there, though. Would that have anything to do with it?

By the way, thank you for the nice welcome!

So it is not listed under "My Computer" either?

Did this drive ever work since you changed the hard drive?

With the new hard drive did you install XP via this CD drive?

When you first start the machine do you see the BIOS POST?
A listing of RAM, CPU, Drives, etc.?
If not are you familiar with entering the BIOS setup?

If not what is the make & model of this computer?

If this CD drive has not worked since the new hard drive then you may need to unplug it/ boot/ replug it/ boot/ to see if XP will see it. If you didnt install XP thru this CD & on this motherboard that might be the problem.

As a test you could see if you can boot your XP CD in this drive.

No, it's not listed under My Computer, only the other drives are.

It hasn't worked since we got the new drive, I think, but I've had to re-install XP so many times because of errors that I'm having trouble remembering. I'm pretty sure it hasn't since I got the new one.

I installed XP using the CD Drive, after we got the new one.

I believe so, and I don't think I've ever noticed it listed there. Just to be sure, I restarted the computer, but I didn't notice the missing drive. And, actually, at risk of sounding more of a newbie than the title under my username, I'm not at all familiar with BIOS in general. I think I've used it before, but I don't think I actually did anything with it.

My computer is a Cicero Pentium III, and it's pretty old, to me, anyway. It used to have Windows ME on it.

I have no idea how to unplug and replug it.

I put the XP disc into the CD Burning driver, but absolutely nothing happened, even when I restarted with it there. I hope that's what you meant. I really don't know what else to do or try. I really do appreciate your help, though.

It sounds like the BIOS is not recognising that CD drive.

Sorry I can't find details on Cicero (Future Shop) settings. On the screen anywhere is there like F2 Setup? or F10? You can try after the BIOS screen & before Windows to press F2 or F10 or the Delete key or perhaps Esc. These are the usual keys to enter the BIOS setup.

Outside of this I can only think to open the case & check the connections.

Do you have a manual for this machine?

Yeah, I think it's 'ESC' to enter the setup.

Eek, I don't know if I can open it up and check without breaking something.

All I can find is a System Manual, but it's a PDF in Drive C, would that help?

The manual would help you. PDF just means you need a program such as Adobe to read it. It is free if you don't already have it.

http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Just out of curiosity: you mentioned replacing the hard drive etc. Is this something someone else did? I was thinking you did it, & as such, would be familiar with opening the computer.

Regardless opening the case is basically easy. For the most part these things are built pretty well. There should be instructions in the manual.

Yeah, I just had a brief look at the manual, and there seemed to be some useful information there on opening up the back of the computer.

Yes, actually, I had taken it to somebody at Future Shop to get it done, since I'm not that great with things like that. I may be able to ask one of my family members to help me with it, since I think they've opened theirs up before, but I'm not completely sure.

Should I attempt to open it up and check the CD-Burner? I'm not sure what I'd be looking at/for, but I think I might be able to do it first thing in the morning, and take a peek at it. What do you think?

My thought is that if the CD drive is not being recognised by the BIOS:

1. The CD drive died.

2. Perhaps a connection came loose.

If you can enter the BIOS via Esc see if you see the drive there.

Otherwise:

If you open the computer up you will see a "ribbon" cable & a "power" cable into the CD drive. The "ribbon" is the wide flat strip @ 2"-3" wide. The "power" is a 4 wire wire. Since you mentioned you had power at the CD I doubt there is a power problem. Make sure the "ribbon" is fitted firmly at both ends.

The thing to be carefull with when working inside the box is to make sure that you are grounded. Do not work on a carpet. Maintain contact with a metalic portion of the machine as you are working inside. This is to avoid static electricity.

Also if this does not resolve the issue: What I meant by the Plugging/ unplugging is:

1) Take the "ribbon" off the CD drive & reboot & shut down

2) Plug the "ribbon" back in & reboot

XP should recognise the drive then; providing the BIOS does.