Resetting my computer

[Star of Penumbra]

I'm using windows XP Professional. A few days ago, my computer decided to refuse to locate the CD drive, so now I can't use it. I've got everything I want backed up already, so could someone give me a simple walthrough of resetting everything to the factory default? Or if not that, a way to sort of "force" it to recognize the CD drive again?

 

[fgarvb1]

Do you have an e-mail address you can use and not worry about people you don't know?

I have a CD Rom's not working properly within winxp fix that I ( insert innocent look on face ) have acquired.

THE SCRIPT IS CALLED.

CRYPTO.IE.ACTIVE EX.WU FIX
WINDOWS COMMAND SCRIPT

I have never tried it and I'm not about to say where it came from.

 

[bisexualsmoker]

Did you turn the compurter off and then back on again?
You could then look at just re-installing the drivers from the xp disc.
If that fails You can re-install your operating system.It always works for me in such instances where a keyboard or moniter or something is no longer recognized.
It's happened to me lots of times.

 

[silverwhisper]

have you tried physically disconnecting, then re-connecting your CD drive? usually, that act will force XP to go through the "do i know this device" process.

ed

 

[happyparadox]

Do you have an e-mail address you can use and not worry about people you don't know?

I have a CD Rom's not working properly within winxp fix that I ( insert innocent look on face ) have acquired.

THE SCRIPT IS CALLED.

CRYPTO.IE.ACTIVE EX.WU FIX
WINDOWS COMMAND SCRIPT

I have never tried it and I'm not about to say where it came from.

I have the same problem but not on a critical machine. Tell me more and if an e-mail address is needed to get the job done let me know. I would really appreciate a solution that didn't involve reinstalls.

 

[Calvin]

I'm using windows XP Professional. A few days ago, my computer decided to refuse to locate the CD drive, so now I can't use it. I've got everything I want backed up already, so could someone give me a simple walthrough of resetting everything to the factory default? Or if not that, a way to sort of "force" it to recognize the CD drive again?

There is the very real possibility that your drive has simply died. If you do not see it within Windows Explorer, but all the other components are working ok, I would highly recommend making sure the drive is still good... they do die all the time. If you know the manufacturer of the drive , in many cases you can go to their website and get both drivers as well as firmware upgrades. Additionally they may have a diagnostic program to download and run to troubleshoot the drive.
And you can also go into the System (from control panel) and delete the drive and then reboot. This will force the system to redetect the drive on boot... if the drive is good. If not, the drive is most likely dead. One other thought... if you do see the drive in Windows Explorer but it will not function, then it is going to be a dead drive about 90% of the time.
Hope this helps.

 

[Eritz]

I'm using windows XP Professional. A few days ago, my computer decided to refuse to locate the CD drive, so now I can't use it. I've got everything I want backed up already, so could someone give me a simple walthrough of resetting everything to the factory default? Or if not that, a way to sort of "force" it to recognize the CD drive again?

There is absolutely no need to reset your PC back to factory defaults.

First point of call, visit the website of your CD drive manufacturer, download the latest drivers. install reset and try again. Check if your CD drive now works.

If it doesn't then reset your PC and hit the button to go into the BIOS (usually delete button or F8). You will know you are in the BIOS menu when you see some horrible DOS era interface. All modern BIOS will have a screen which will show you which devices have been detected to be physically connected. Check if the BIOS can detect your drive. If your BIOS knows about it and Windows doesn't then it's most likely a driver problem.

If the drive isn't detected then you can try reseating the power connector and the data cable and checking again in the BIOS.

If it still fails to register then well done, you have a dead CD drive. You can buy a DVD burner very cheaply these days and these is no reason to reset your PC to factory defaults.

 

[Colton_White]

I'm using windows XP Professional. A few days ago, my computer decided to refuse to locate the CD drive, so now I can't use it. I've got everything I want backed up already, so could someone give me a simple walthrough of resetting everything to the factory default? Or if not that, a way to sort of "force" it to recognize the CD drive again?

try what other people suggested here first
and if it doesn't work then..

1. I think its some incompatible program that you installed? e.g. Alcohol120/ Daemontools/VirtualCD etc virtual disk programs?

2. if its the PC, then open the box, use a vacuum cleaner to clean all the dust inside, and take out the wires of CD then re-plug it.

====

anyways, let us know what happened and if any of our advices worked out?

I'm waiting to hear the good news,
Good luck

 

[structure]

I strongly advise against using a vacuum cleaner near any PC. First they have magnets in the motor. While the chance is remote, you don't want magnets anywhere near your hard drives. Second, they can be statically charged. Static electricity is very dangerous to your circuitry inside the PC. You could short out the mother board and not even know it until you reboot.

If the inside apears dusty, use a can of compressed air. Blow out the front panel where the air intake is, and then the back panel where the exhaust exits. Make sure to get around the power supply too.

 

[Colton_White]

I strongly advise against using a vacuum cleaner near any PC. First they have magnets in the motor. While the chance is remote, you don't want magnets anywhere near your hard drives. Second, they can be statically charged. Static electricity is very dangerous to your circuitry inside the PC. You could short out the mother board and not even know it until you reboot.

If the inside appears dusty, use a can of compressed air. Blow out the front panel where the air intake is, and then the back panel where the exhaust exits. Make sure to get around the power supply too.

Yes but Vacuum cleaner with a long blow pipe and using the 'air blowing' function It may help,
I mean I've done It multiple times when my PC won't start [thanks to the dust sticking around the RAM slots] and it worked most the times.

@OP
Well I leave it upto you, lol I don't take responsibility if it damages your hardware,

 

[structure]

That's why I suggest a can of compressed air. It has a long thin tube that allows you to get to tight spots. Around the ram slots, CPU fan, inside the power supply, etc.

 

[Calvin]

There is absolutely no need to reset your PC back to factory defaults.

If it doesn't then reset your PC and hit the button to go into the BIOS (usually delete button or F8). You will know you are in the BIOS menu when you see some horrible DOS era interface. All modern BIOS will have a screen which will show you which devices have been detected to be physically connected. Check if the BIOS can detect your drive. If your BIOS knows about it and Windows doesn't then it's most likely a driver problem.

pretty scary advice to give a person that does not know a comp well. As you prob know, getting into the BIO's and inadvertently changing a setting can create very large problems. If the drive is viewable in Windows Explorer and deleting it in System Properties and rebooting the comp & redetecting the drive does not fix it, it is going to be a dead drive. XP Pro contains resident drivers that will function for almost all of the current drives out there. Way better to go to the manufactuers web site and download a diagnostic utility as I pointed out earlier....

 

[structure]

pretty scary advice to give a person that does not know a comp well. As you prob know, getting into the BIO's and inadvertently changing a setting can create very large problems. ....

My sister-in-law called me one night, said she was having problems with her PC. Started the coversation with, "I was in this thingy called a BIOS ...."

 

[Calvin]

My sister-in-law called me one night, said she was having problems with her PC. Started the coversation with, "I was in this thingy called a BIOS ...."

lol... yep been there many a time as a tech support person... almost like telling someone to go to start > run > type in regedit > ok > and then start deleting stuff....

I really am betting it is just a dead drive.....

 

[structure]

lol... yep been there many a time as a tech support person... almost like telling someone to go to start > run > type in regedit > ok > and then start deleting stuff....

regedit .... that's when I tell them, time for a format and reinstall of the OS.

 

[pappyld04]

Support site.

If you don't know much about the PC repair end of it a site called - protonic.com - is free and will probably have seen this if it is caused by an update or similar.

 

[KurtzRoyale]

laptop

well wheneva my laptop (XP prof) fucks up i emergency restart it, when i turn it on, for a few secs it says press f11 for emergency restart, and that completely restarts your comp from scratch,a nd it has a backup option, but i don't know if it works for comps,a nd it might just be a hp thing

 

[Colton_White]

@the other people



the Thread started has NOT responded again in this thread.

looks like either her problem is solved

or she's not interested in trying.

 

[Noira]

My (screw it) speakers occasionally stop working. I panicked a bit. And then it clicked. Stupid Windows XP is not always smart enough to download compatable drivers, so it messed it up...

I had to redownload the drivers. Try getting the CD driver... if you have the disk, or go online. If that works, keep the file... every few months my speakers die and I have to reinstall the drivers.

I'm willing to bet it's a dead CD drive. We've overheated and killed a few. Make sure your computer's in a place where it can breathe so your motherboard doesn't follow, canned-air the dust out once in a while, try the CD drive in another computer if you want... (shrugs)

You don't have to reformat your computer, though...

 

[robertearl]

Boot up the computer and stop in the BIOS. Each computer is different but during the initial power on, it usually tells you what to press ( ESC , F12, etc ) to enter the bios. Once there, there is usually a summary screen. It will list the amount of memory and all of the attached IDE drives. If you do not see your CD drive in the summary, it is either the connection to the CD or the CD has died. If it shows up but you do not see it in MY COMPUTER, then it is something to do with Windows. Do this first so you can eliminate the hardware being the problem.