Dell Inspiron 6400 problem..

lewis

I`m upgrading my Dell and its not detecting the optical drive. I installed an OS from CD no problem, but in the wins explorer its not there.
I look in the BIOS and its there, I also took it out and put it in and nothing.
There is activity when I have a CD in there and the lights are going, even the auto-run does`nt come up.
I`ve been in the device manager and uninstalled it,disable/enable and still nothing.
Please help, I`m running out of ideas!!

Freeman

I think your drive controller is damaged. The last time something similar happened to me was when I tried to turn my Toshiba Equium laptop dvd drive into an external dvd drive. I bought a kit on ebay from China and it didn't work and when I put it back in the laptop what you describe is what happened to me. You put a CD in and it would spin up but do nothing, it was also recognized in the BIOS.

I bought a replacement drive on ebay and it worked so I am guessing it was the controller on the drive that went on me. Do you have another laptop dvd drive there or a second laptop you could take one out of? You could also test the drive in another computer.

dilallio

If it worked previously and has stopped working, it sounds like a faulty controller / drive.
Before replacing the drive, go onto the Dell Support website, and download and install the latest driver for your drive. Just to be sure.

MarkR

Easiest way to test would be using a bootable cd or dvd. Pop it into the drive, set to boot from cd, and see does it boot from cd.

If that works, then you know it's a software problem.

ricman

click on the dvd drive in device manager ,click ,right click update driver.

ricman

Uninstall the driver,reboot see does it install a driver automatically, or go to diverguide.ITS FREE to join ,search OPTIARC dvd drive model no x driver.
yellow tag=problem with the driver.YOU CAN SEARCH Dell .ie support search your pc model, and all the drivers are there anyway.
see here http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&catid=32&dateid=-1&impid=-1&osl=EN&typeid=-1&formatid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=INSPIRONI6400/E1505&hidos=WW1&hidlang=en&TabIndex=&scanSupported=False&scanConsent=False
use,enter the service tag its like a 7 digit code on a label,at the rear or underneath the pc case.

lewis

dilallio wrote: »

If it worked previously and has stopped working, it sounds like a faulty controller / drive.
Before replacing the drive, go onto the Dell Support website, and download and install the latest driver for your drive. Just to be sure.

Was in Dell and it says it has the latest driver

MarkR wrote: »

Easiest way to test would be using a bootable cd or dvd. Pop it into the drive, set to boot from cd, and see does it boot from cd.

If that works, then you know it's a software problem.

When I replaced with a new HD I installed win vista from CD, so I cant explain that one...

ricman wrote: »

click on the dvd drive in device manager ,click ,right click update driver.

Did update, it asks where do I want to search for it online it says I have the best driver for it and if I search on laptop,( I have the CD that came with it with the drivers) since windows cant see the CD drive I cant load from it.

Once I browse to the CD drive this came up....

ricman

Go to a netcafe ,copy the cd drivers disk to a usb key, or use a friends pc to copy them.YOU COULD UNInSTALL, the dvd drive,remove it from the device manager,reboot pc,and go to control panel,system,click,add hardware,search for new hardware.IT should find the dvd drive,click install driver/update driver from the internet.
see here http://www.nodevice.com/help/1/Install_Windows_Driver.html
ITS POSSIBLE THERE s no vista driver for that dvd drive.
but i think all windows ,os, including vista have a standard,generic cd/dvdrom driver
see here windows driver ,vista compatibility mode
.http://www.ehow.com/how_4812537_windows-xp-drivers-windows-vista.html
see here http://www.softwaredriverdownload.com/try_fool_windows_vista_to_install_in_windows_xp_mode

lewis

Ok I`ll give it a go, here`s another picture, might be helpful....

.

lewis

After I uninstalled the driver and scanned for hardware changes...

ricman

click other options,use download,install driver from the internet.

lewis

You think if I install XP it might see it?
It had work in the past, just since I`ve put the new HD in its happened.

ricman

i,m sure it,ll see it,the dvd drive, if you install windows xp, try boot from, cdrom ,in the bios ,insert the winxp cd.
eg boot order,bios,cd=o=1st boot device.
i,d advise you to download,install, drivermax,run it,use export command, export drivers,all, to my drivers, copy folder to c:\ new folder.be4 you install windows xp.
see here,http://www.innovative-sol.com/drivermax/ its free,
takes about ten minutes to backup the drivers to a folder.
i installed xp on my p4 t42 thinkpad, windows could not find drivers for 4 devices, i used drivermax to install them after installing windows.i already had them in my drivers folder on the hardrive.
ie load drivermax, click, the drivers in the tickbox, for say modem,ethernet,wireless,click,restore, if windows xp does not install,or find them during the os install.
backup ,export all drivers, using drivermax be4 you install windows xp.
it cant search a disc,if the dvd drivers not installed.try update driver,from the internet,from device manager,it,ll probably be an unknown device there yellow tag,.

ricman

SEE HERE http://www.user-guides.co.uk/cddownload/Dell/DellInspiron/Dell-Inspiron-6400-Vista-Driver-Recovery-CD-Restore-Disk-155289.html
this might solve your problem,vista dell 6400 cd drivers disk.
but its ten pounds. i do not know if this is a safe site to use.

MarkR

I'm actually typing from a 6400 now, but it seems to have a different optical drive.

What I would do, is go to the dell site, enter your service tag to find / download the correct drivers and or firmware for the drive.

Uninstall the current hardware, restart the computer, and run the firmware, then driver install. Ignore / cancel the vista found new hardware crap.

lewis

MarkR wrote: »

I'm actually typing from a 6400 now, but it seems to have a different optical drive.

What I would do, is go to the dell site, enter your service tag to find / download the correct drivers and or firmware for the drive.

Uninstall the current hardware, restart the computer, and run the firmware, then driver install. Ignore / cancel the vista found new hardware crap.

Done it dude, I got it sorted, I ended up deleting the upper and lower keys in the registry, its reading the CD drive now and the contents,
Thanks to all of you for the help, I really appreciate it..:D