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willin_601
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Joined: 25 Dec 2006
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Location: Iowa
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:30 am Post subject: My cd/dvd rom is gone |
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I was merging files from my desktop and laptop because my desktop is about to crash. It's been sitting for years now and is not used except to print something and i don't even do that anymore. 
I finally got them all in their proper folders and was making some tags for a craft show. i went to put in a cd that I just looked at a few days ago and it would not run. I went to computer to click on my E drive and it's not there. It's like the computer is not recognizing that I have this drive.
I had taken updates for Windows, Spybot and Adaware and it did strange things. The screens flashed error messages but i couldn't take a screenshot as they disappeared. A sSqaure updated fine. Spybot had trouble as it had updates for a newer version but it finally took them however it won't immunize everything. Adaware gave the most error messages and they disappeared. I ran the Malicious Software removal took and it had a few things that I removed but no infections of any kind.
I went back to a previous restore point when it did work and it's still not there unless I'm just too tired to think and I'm looking at the wrong thing.
I clicked on Computer and you can see the C: drive but not the E: drive which is my cd/dvd rom.
Am I looking in the wrong place? Sometimes I cant' process the most simple of things and i am tired but I have orders to make and I need my cd/dvd rom. Any advice please? Thank you.
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Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -- Helen Keller
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Repa
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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Linda, sounds like your CD drive may have failed, but also sounds like your computer has other issues, possibly malware, or an unstable Windows Operating System. Before taking it to a computer repair shop to check it out, or buying a new one and replacing it yourself to see if that fixes your problem (you should be able to take the CD drive back to the store if it doesn’t fix your problem – but verify before you buy) you can try the following in the order given:
1. Reseat the cables. A loose cable is often the cause of a problem with this kind of device. Even a cable that was once firmly seated can work loose as repeated startups and shutdowns of the computer create cycles of expansion and contraction. Open your computer and make sure your cables are securely attached to the CD drive. Test them, don’t just look at them. Make sure you are touching some part of the bare metal chassis of your case before putting your hand inside the computer. Then check to see if you can see your drive. If not….
2. Are you able to open the drive and put a CD in? Does the access light come on when you do this? If you can do this, reboot your computer with a Recovery Disc (or Windows CD) in the CD drive and see if it will boot from the Recovery CD (or Windows CD). If so, then the drive is working and it is a Windows software problem (usually drivers). If you can boot your computer from the Recovery Disc, then remove the CD, reboot, and then skip to Step 4. If you cannot boot the system with a recovery CD….
3. Check to see if your bios recognizes that the CD drive is there.
a. Reboot your computer, and as you start seeing something on your screen, look at the bottom right (or perhaps top right) of your screen for a key to press to enter the bios. It’s usually the F2 key or Delete key, but varies by make of computer. Press that key as soon as you see the instruction.
b. On the Main screen you should see some IDE devices, If the bios recognizes your CD drive, it will be one of the IDE devices listed. If it is there, exit the bios by using the arrow keys to advance to the Exit tab, and when Save and Exit option is highlighted, press the Enter key (or press F10 for Save and Exit) to reboot into Windows and go to Step 4.
c. If the CD device is not listed among the IDE devices, sometimes your bios can become corrupt. Resetting the bios may correct this. Navigate over to the Exit tab and under Exit Options select “Load Setup Default” using the vertical arrow keys and then Save and Exit your settings. Another way to do this is to Press F9 (Default Settings), Press F10 (Save and Exit). Then re-enter the Bios and see if your CD device is listed in the IDE list. If your CD device does show now, reboot and go to Step 4. If not, you probably have a bad CD drive or a bad cable and will need to take it somewhere for repair or buy a new CD-ROM and try to install it yourself. You do not need to go any further in the steps below if you are at this point.
4. See if you can find your E:\ drive in My Computer now. If not, Click Start > Run and type E:\ and click ok. See if this will start your CD drive. If not….
5. Uninstall and replace the drivers using Device Manager under an administrator account - right click on My Computer / Properties / Hardware / Device Manager - expand CD Rom/DVD line item (click on the + sign) to see if your CD device is listed there. If it is, right click on the item and select Uninstall on the pop-up menu. Re-boot the system and Plug and Play will automatically detect the CD Rom drive and re-install the drivers for you.
6. If the driver installation is successful, look to see if you can find your E:\ drive in My Computer now. If not, try once again to see if you can run it as described in Step 4 above. If not….
a. Try using the Troubleshooting button on the Device Properties window (see Step 5 above) to see if you can find a resolution using the troubleshooting wizard. If no solution is found….
Let me know what you find from following the steps above.
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Repa
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willin_601
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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Hi repa
I'm confused on step 1
It's my laptop, it's been working fine and I have used the cd rom just a couple of days ago. No problems.
I ran A Square and it's clean
I ran Adaware and it had some of those non critical items. I deleted them.
I tried to do a restore and that didn't work.
I put a cd in and you can feel it working and hear it but nothing comes up.
I need to clarify on this step before going further as it does not have cables.
Thank you repa
We are going out of town in the morning but will be back late afternoon. I will check back then and see what I need to do as far as step one goes before going to the next step.
It's my Toshiba laptop not my desktop. That's a whole other issue.
Thank you repa!
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Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -- Helen Keller
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Repa
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 7:53 pm Post subject: |
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I thought you were talking about your desktop, Linda. Yes, it has cables that are connected to the motherboard inside the case. But, don't try to get inside your laptop. Start with step 2. But, if you can't resolve it right away, your new laptop should have a warranty - either from the store you bought it from, or from the manufacturer. Make it easy on yourself - if you have a store warranty, take it there. If you have a manufacturer's warranty, call them.
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pepperpot
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| Posted: Sat Sep 27, 2008 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Linda,
You say its your Laptop CD drive that has the problems right?!
Have you tried using any other CD in it?
Even a music CD... use something that you have not formatted.
In Vista when something is not in used, it goes into "hiding"
Just a thought 
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willin_601
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:12 am Post subject: |
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pepperpot
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:31 am Post subject: |
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| willin_601 wrote: |
| Sam, I have only tried a program for fonts that I bought and a cd that is a backup cd of some graphics. I will try a music cd. When you said it goes into hiding. Does that mean it won't even show on "computer" like it should and did show my C: drive and my E: drive (which is my cd/dvd rom)? |
Yeah... it goes into hiding and will not show up in some listing... I read this somewhere about Vista - can't remember where - I remember it was refering to programs that are hardly in used... I know you said you just used the Cd/dvd rom last week ... but lets see.
The Cd/dvd rom should be "D:"
So tell me can if you see "D:" listed in Install - Uninstall programs?
also, tell me if you can see it listed in Start> Run>Open (click on the drop down box) - or Browse <> tell me if you see "D:" listed there
Linda... try not to work your arms too much... take plenty of breaks... we will figuer this thing out in its due time 
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Repa
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 7:45 am Post subject: |
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Linda, from what you said above, it sounds like you have power to the device and it at least spins up. If your CD/DVD device E:\ does not show in My Computer along with your C:\ drive, then you have a problem either with your CD/DVD device or its cable to the motherboard, Windows, or the drivers for the device. It's also possible that the bios is corrupted, but unlikely. The instructions I gave you above will help to determine which problem is most likely, and possibly can be fixed without taking it in for repair.
To test whether you can boot the system from a recovery disc, you use the first recovery disc in the set that Toshiba provided you. If you get an indication that things from the recovery disc are being loaded onto the system so as to boot you into the recovery mode, then you know that your device and cable are ok, and it is probably a Windows problem or corrupt driver. At this point, you reboot your system and go to the next step. If this doesn't happen, then the device or cable to the motherboard could be defective, or the Bios could have become corrupt. If you follow my instructions in this case, you can probably determine which is the cause.
There is no reason for you to have reservations about taking the computer in to Staples if you bought a store service warranty. That will save you a lot of time and stress, which you obviously don't need. They are obligated by your service contract to either fix or replace the computer. I would insist that they do a repair, because if they replace the computer, I don't think that they will transfer the service warranty, and if not, you would have to purchase another one if you want that protection. You would need to be very careful about that.
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willin_601
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 11:43 am Post subject: |
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Hi repa and Sam 
I went back and tried to remember everything i did the day it disappeared. I took several Window updates, Defender updates, I updated A Sqaure and scanned with it and it was clean. I updated and scanned with Adaware. I scanned again this morning with Adaware because I deleted some things in it. they came up again. I was glad so i could show you what I had and what i deleted. I took screenshots to show you. then i called Toshiba and talked to a tech and he said something in the registry was corrupted or missing and it could have been caused from the windows update. He walked me through getting to the fix page and i asked him to stay onlline as i did it in case I had questions. You could tell he wanted to hang up but he stayed online and the steps did fix it.  PRAISE GOD!!!
I do want to show you what I had in Adaware that i deleted as i need to learn what to delete. I'm sure I made a mistake when deleteing the MRU objects as there was a zero there and nothing to delete. I guess when i expanded the folder and saw the 2 objects showing, I thought i was to delete them. Could you please tell me what is safe to delete and what I never should delete in Adaware please?
he said updating windows could have corrupted the files but I did restore it to a previous point and it still didnt' work.
So here is the screenshot, can you tell me what is safe to delete and what I should never delete please
repa and Sam
I thank you both for your help and suggestions. Sam, I did try to play a music cd and it didnt' work either, that is before contacting Toshiba.
repa thank you for all the instructions. I'm sorry I didn't think about calling them first before posting.
Repa, you are right. I should not hesitate taking it in. I do hate when it's under warranty though as you have to ship it to Toshiba to be repaired. it was on sale so I was able to buy the 3 year service warranty with the accident policy as well. At this point I would take it in to Staples for repair. Of coure if I can fix things and learn, I rather do that than take it in and not know what they are doing with my pc.
God bless you both and thank you so much.
repa, should I continue with the last instructions under our other thread now? I have not scanned with Spybot but i did update it. I need to read Avast again before scanning with it. I have not scanned with it at all yet.
I have overdone things and am hurting and I have no choice but to stop and rest now so I can work some more on my pc. I do have a birth and Labor class with Ash tuesday night but taking it easy this week.
I need to finish up this laptop so i can start on my desktop.
Have a blessed day!!!! I will check back later. I have been on the phone with Toshiba and I ran the scan again and missed lunch so need to eat and take my meds.
_________________
Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -- Helen Keller
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Repa
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| Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2008 2:03 pm Post subject: |
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| willin_601 wrote: |
I'm sure I made a mistake when deleteing the MRU objects as there was a zero there and nothing to delete. I guess when i expanded the folder and saw the 2 objects showing, I thought i was to delete them. Could you please tell me what is safe to delete and what I never should delete in Adaware please?
You can delete tracking cookies and any adware or spyware found by Ad-aware. It is not necessary to delete MRU objects, but you can do so if you choose. If the same tracking cookies keep appearing each time you scan, try this:
1. Open Internet Options > Privacy, click on the Advanced button.
2. Place a check in "Override automatic cookie handling".
3. Set "First Party Cookies" to Accept, set "Third Party Cookies" to Block.
4. Do not check "Always allow Session Cookies."
5. Click ok twice to get out of the windows.
The above will prevent many tracking cookies from being loaded, as many come from third parties. All third-party cookies will be blocked, but they are not necessary to access the website you want to go to. SpywareBlaster and Spybot also prevent tracking cookies from being loaded by entries in the Restricted Sites table. Spybot also loads entries into the Hosts file, but the recommendation I have made in the past about the Hosts table is even better and can be found here:
http://www.freepowerboards.com/geeksmore/geeksmore-about1398.html?highlight=hosts+file
MRU stands for Most Recently Used. It is a list, in Word, for instance, of the last files that were opened. In Start -> Run, it's the last commands that you entered. MRU is considered a privacy threat by some malware scanners because someone could physically look inside your system to see what files you have opened or accessed recently. If you aren't concerned about anyone in your family seeing these, then don't worry about them.
he said updating windows could have corrupted the files but I did restore it to a previous point and it still didnt' work.
I don't know about that. But, it is clear that you either had a corrupt driver or corrupt registry entry. Which, I don't know since you didn't say what he had you fix. I hope you see now that with a new computer, the company servicing your warranty is usually quite willing to help you solve problems with it and often can do it over the phone, so don't hesitate to call them.
Glad you got your problem resolved.
repa, should I continue with the last instructions under our other thread now?
Yes, that would be fine, Linda.
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willin_601
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| Posted: Wed Oct 01, 2008 10:31 am Post subject: |
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Thank you repa for explaining it so I can understand it. It's good to know I didn't delete anything I wasn't suppose to delete. I did take downloads for Windows that same day but who knows what happened.
I was happy to know that they would walk me through over the phone. They don't have a livechat like HP does. I used HP chat all the time to get things fixed on my desktop but Toshiba has "Ask Iris" I think that's what it's called and it's not a live tech person. You have to call. I don't mind calling at all. I do have trouble sometimes understanding them and I guess with my southern accent , they have trouble understanding me sometimes..lol I will do this first from now on so I don't consume your time. It's good to take use of the warranty and tech help while I have it. I guess I just lean on you because I totally trust you 100% and know you care about all of us and our computers and that is such great security.
I will proceed with the last instructions. Hope you are enjoying fall weather and have a blessed day. thank you again!!!!
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Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved. -- Helen Keller
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