Uninstalled my DVD/CD drive by mistake - how do I get it back???

AARRRGH

Hello all,

I hope someone can help me with this

I was playing around with some virtual cd-rom software and accidently unmounted my DVD/CD drive by mistake. Now I am unable to use this device (i.e. my Windows XP doesn't know it exists.)

Anyone know how I can get it back?????

Thanks!

Karoma

Is it listed in Device Manager?

AARRRGH

Yes, but it has an exclamation beside it.

The properties say this -

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

??

Karoma

Missing it's driver.that's all. Best alround way of fixing it...
Right-click on the device - Left click on Uninstall. Reboot.
(Rebooting isn't necessary -you can Scan for hardware changes but for this case a reboot is best)

AARRRGH

Thanks.

Did the above, reinstalled the device, but I'm getting this error again -

Windows cannot load the device driver for this hardware. The driver may be corrupted or missing. (Code 39)

I'll try to update the driver...

AARRRGH

Hmmm. No driver updates.

Anyone????

Karoma

Manual install the driver (i.e. Update driver -> Click on the Advanced install option.. Have Disk..) and point to the driver (Be it on a folder on your HDD, or your computer's installation discs)

What model is the computer?
Do you know what model the optical drive should be?

AARRRGH

Thanks for the advice.

I have tried to manually install the drivers (windows/system32/drivers/) but it doesn't seem to find anything.

The DVD/CD-Rom is qsi cdrw/dvd sbw-242 I believe. The firmware update from Dell made no difference.

My Laptop is a Dell Inspiron 8600.

The funny thing is when I'm booting up my computer the drive looks for any CDs in it (i.e. it makes a noise.)

Karoma

If you cannae find the driver - download the driver from Dell's website (They're there). And follow the instructions (Usually involves extracting to a folder on the HDD, then pointing to the driver,etc..)

AARRRGH

Hmmm unfortunately the DELL site only has the firmware update, not the drivers. Agh annoying.

When I open the driver information for the DVD/CD-rom, I can see the drivers (there's about 10 of them.) If I manually delete these, then uninstall my drive, and then reboot, surely windows will be forced to update the drivers??

Or is this a bad idea? You can see the drivers I have here: http://www.muscle.ie/dublindude.GIF

Karoma

When you were trying to manually install the driver - did Windows mention anywhere what it was looking for.. in the FileName field perhaps (something.inf?)
Where are you seeing the 10 drivers..?
(Yes..changing the path in Windows may tell Windows to look in the right place..)

Drivers are there:
www.Dell.ie -> Online Technical Support -> Home-> Downloads -> Choose your model/service tag-> XP, English..Find Downloads -> Removable Media Storage Devices

QSI SBW 242 Slim 24X Combo
QSI SWB 242 U Slim 24/24/24X Combo

AARRRGH

No drivers though, only the firmware update! Seriously. I've checked a few times...

I told windows to look in the right place /windows/system32/drivers when manually installing the drivers.

If you look at the screenshot I attached: http://www.muscle.ie/dublindude.GIF you can see where I am seeing the drivers...

Dangerous to delete them??

Karoma

Apologies, they are only firmware.
They're mostly the generic Windows XP drivers-bad idea to delete them.
(You could .zip the Roxio drivers and move 'em..)

Right...do a System Restore to before the uninstall. Note the driver details.
Uninstall.
Then update the driver to the correct drivers/locations.

AARRRGH

Will system restore damage/remove any other software/documents I have on my PC, or just put all the drivers back????

Thanks for the help btw.

Karoma

System Restore is meant to return Windows to a previous checkpoint/configuration - so it will undo software changes (Installs,etc) but it won't touch your personal files.
You can Undo a System Restore if, in the unlikely event, the Restore is undesirable..

AARRRGH

OK. I've tried to do a system restore using three seperate dates (a few weeks from each other.) Windows tells me the system restore failed each time.

Is this normal????

Aarrrgh.

LOL (while crying...)

Karoma

Right so. Scratch that.

Back to the Advanced driver installation -> try to note if it provides the driver .inf it's looking for..
Is there another drivers folder on the HDD? Have you checked all of the Computer disks..?

smeggle

dublindude wrote:

OK. I've tried to do a system restore using three seperate dates (a few weeks from each other.) Windows tells me the system restore failed each time.

Is this normal????

Aarrrgh.

LOL (while crying...)

Yes it can happen - sometimes the restore point gets damaged or currupted in which case windows xp won't allow it to load.

The drivers you can see in system32/drivers if you want to try a forced un-install. First back-up the drivers. Manually set a restore point (From system restore) - then delete the drivers and totally unistall the drive. Reboot and windows should find the drive as a new device and request the drivers for it if not available.
If that doesn't work - myself I would do the above and before rebooting run 'Registry Mechanic'. This will remove all the now invalid registry settings for the drive. On reboot you should be able to reload the drive as if it were a new install or new device.

You allways have the option to return to where you started from by using the manually configured restore point you have created. You should do this from safe mode btw.

It may also be best to check the drive doesn't need defragmenting - a badly fragmented drive can play havoc with sys restore as well. So defrag/Switch of system restore - this will clear those bad restore points that don't work.

*Make sure you really want to do that because you lose all previous restore points*

Reboot into safe mode - switch system restore back on and then set your manual restore point. You should do that before you do anything with the drivers.


*Side Note*
Actually it's good practice to do that with system restore when doing any install or work on your system. And it needs looking after as well. Periodically you should check your disk fragmentation and refresh your 'System Restore Cache'. Personally I do it once a fortnight but for the standard end user every month to six weeks would do.

Don't forget - Make sure that once you get it working again that you clear that manual restore point you set - you don't want to accidentally end up back there if something else was to happen in the future

AARRRGH

Thanks to everyone for their help.

My drive is now working - this is exactly what fixed it -

Booted up in safe mode.
Uninstalled DVD drive.
Uninstalled primary and secondary IDE channels.
Rebooted.
Deleted the registry key values upperlimit and lowerlimit (i think that were the names - defo very similar to upperlimit and lowerlimit)located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Rebooted.
Problem solved.

Karoma

\o/

The Troll

dublindude wrote:

Thanks to everyone for their help.

My drive is now working - this is exactly what fixed it -

Booted up in safe mode.
Uninstalled DVD drive.
Uninstalled primary and secondary IDE channels.
Rebooted.
Deleted the registry key values upperlimit and lowerlimit (i think that were the names - defo very similar to upperlimit and lowerlimit)located at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}
Rebooted.
Problem solved.

I see you read my reply to the "disc drives disappeared" post then.

AARRRGH

The Troll wrote:

I see you read my reply to the "disc drives disappeared" post then.

???