Laptop does not recognise cd/dvd writer

[knight1]

Hello
I have an advent k4000 laptop 120gb hard drive running windows vista. When I click on and open my computer it does not show dvdrw drive (E)
I have done a system restore, there is nothing showing in device manager and i tried system recovery but that is not on the laptop even using F8 etc.
I want to do a system recovery because there is a lot of crap on my laptop and it has slowed up considerably and as there is no cd drive I cant use the recovery disk either. I tried microsoft fixit and looked in the upper and lower filters in the regedit but they didnt show either

The cd/dvd drive was showing a couple of weeks ago and i was using it ok but it suddenly disappeared.

Any advice please as to how I can remedy this

Kind Regards
Tony

[abseh1]

First backup ....backup....backup

1) Restart your Computer.
2) Press F10 repeatedly until the message "Starting System Recovery" is displayed.
3) The recovery will load and display a menu of options:

(a) Non-destructive recovery: this option will restore Windows, supplied applications, and drivers. This option will not destroy your documents or programs. These will be backed up along with the registry. These are restored at the end of the recovery process.

To access the recovery options below that erase all data from the computer, click the Advanced button.

(b) System Recovery - No format: this will reinstall Windows®, supplied applications and drivers. It will move your files to a folder called "My old disk structure". Any applications (except those supplied) will need to be reinstalled.
=============================================================================
Be careful with the info below: you will loose you data ...so backup

(c) System Recovery - Quick format: this option will erase your hard drive including your personal files. Windows, supplied applications and drivers will be reinstalled.

4) Select the Non-destructive recovery option and press Next.
5) You will be informed about System Restore in Windows, click Yes.
6) The recovery will begin. Once this is complete click Restart.


Here are some additional information:

a) Press the ALT and D keys at the Windows style recovery menu options to access a command prompt. This will allow access to C: drive.

b) The command prompt will default to c:\minint\system32 where you can run a variety of tools including CHKDSK.EXE.

c) For more information on these options, please read the Advent recovery trouble-shooter.

Advent recovery trouble-shooter:

[knight1]

hello abseh1

Sorry for the delay in replying to your last thread on my problem have been away on my annual holidays in Canada flew home last night, I tried all the instructions you sent and got nothing... could it be the cdrom driver has been completely deleted

The following link you sent to me just comes with unable to display webpage diagnose connections
http://support.thetechguys.com/layout.aspx?ID={ddabce20-f232-4b3b-a98c-2d1eac28779c}&CatID={1c2be34b-ee7c-4198-b66e-5b27e142a342}
and this was tried on a new laptop as well I think its saying the link does not work.
Any further help will be appreciated.
Kind Regards
Tony

[zep516]

Hi Knight 1,

Perhaps the drive has failed completely, I'd consider getting an external drive for now and see what that does, I cant get to any link that involve or says advent computers, Are still doing business?

Amazon.com: 24x USB External Slim CD-ROM Drive (Black): Computers & Accessories Amazon may not be an option for you, due to your location. Just showing a drive and something to think about.

Joe

[whitenoiz]

Could this be yet another case of the disappearing CD drive? It crops up every now and again one day its OK next day nada, zilch....
Had it myself on both an XP machine and a Vista machine...

Check out http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060

When I tried the fix it for me option it didnt work but when I follwed the D-I-Y instructions it worked just fine and in both cases the drive was restored.

good luck

wn

[fireman4it]

Hello,

Here is the Advent Computer Product support site.

[knight1]

Thank you to all who contributed to my problem with the missing cd rom drive. Nosw using external drive as suggested until a new laptop is purchased.
Thank you again
Kind Regards
Tony