Laptop doesn't recognize d drive

[kcprichmond]

I am having trouble w/my laptop. When I put in a cd & try to open it the message comes up saying that the d drive is inaccessable & not ready. I have turned off the computer & tried everything I know & nothing helps. Any suggestions? Thank you.

[chroot]

Does the disc spin up when you close the drive? Are you putting the disc in right-side up? Do the access lights flash on the outside of the drive?

- Warren

[kcprichmond]

No the disc does not spin when I close the drive. Yes, I am putting the disc in right-side up. No lights come on.

-Kathy

[chroot]

Try removing the drive from its bay, and plugging it back in. It sounds like it's not getting power.

- Warren

[kcprichmond]

How does one go about that? It appears to be built in.

-Kathy

[chroot]

Most laptops have "drive bays," into which various devices like CD-ROM drives can be inserted. If you have a very old laptop, it may be different.

If the disc does not spin up, nor do any lights flash, then it is either not receiving power, or it (or the laptop) has had some kind of internal power-circuitry failure, and may need to be repaired.

- Warren

[kcprichmond]

Yes, I suppose it is old, 1999. I'll turn it off & use a screw driver on it. If I find anything I'll post another question. Thank you for your help.
-Kathy

[kcprichmond]

I was in contact earlier w/a Warren about my laptop not working. When I switched to my pc (less than 6 mo. old) the d drive is now also not working & it shuts down the pc. At one point it said that I have a virus, must have transferred it to the pc. I will have to get a new virus protection since I have scanned it & it still is defunct. Any suggestions?
--Kathy

[z-component]

Get into safe mode and clean the affected system(s).

[kcprichmond]

I don't quite know how to get into safe mode. I have been there when the computer went into it, but I tried everyway, except turning it off to get there. Is that the only way? Thanks.
-Kathy

[chroot]

You can get into "safe mode" by pressing F8 at the very beginning of Windows' boot process. I believe z-component is trying to point out that some viruses are clever enough to hide themselves from anti-virus software when Windows is run normally, but they aren't given the opportunity to hide themselves when Windows is run in safe mode.

- Warren

[z-component]

I recommend the following: download free antivirus software such as AVG (grisoft.com), make sure its virus definitions are updated, boot into safe mode by following chroot's instruction, and running the scanner to clean your system(s). Hopefully this can restore functionality to your computer. Finally, my last piece of advice: be more careful of what you download!

[advitiyas]

Once I expereinced same kind of problem after i used my laptop DVD burner. And i was getting some error msg. i used the error code to find the colution on MS website. It says to uninstall the Burning softwares and restart system and hopefully u will get u drive back.....but it was in XP 03. they must hav fixed the bug..