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My computer's DVD player doesn't work

post #1 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:19am
Thread Starter 
I have this HP laptop (that I'm seriously about to throw against the wall). I bought it a year ago. I know electronics are pieces of shit but I mean, what the fuck?

It suddenly doesn't play CDs or DVDs. I don't use the DVD player that often at all, but I have on and off over the last year. Today I try putting both a CD and a DVD in, and neither work. No program can read anything. I go into the hardware thing in control panel and there doesn't seem to even be a fucking DVD player anymore.

I hate computers, so, so much. What the fuck has this happened.

Thank you to anyone who knows what to do.
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post #2 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:32am
A couple things to check:

* Is the dvd/cd-rom drive bay removable? Make sure that it's set and locked in the laptop properly.
* Open the device manager and double click on the dvd/cd-rom drives option inside the window. See if there is an actual drive listed and if so, look at the icon next to it. If there is a yellow exclamation mark or red-x it probably means there is a problem with the driver (which you should then try to reinstall).
* If there is no cd-rom drive listed in the device manager, try setting it up again using Window's "Add Hardware" tool in the Control Panel.
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post #3 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:32am
Buy a mac? Problem solved.
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post #4 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:41am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by robin View Post
A couple things to check:

* If there is no cd-rom drive listed in the device manager, try setting it up again using Window's "Add Hardware" tool in the Control Panel.

This is what im trying to do but there isn't even an option to add it. When it gives me a list of things to add, there is no option for a DVD/CD-ROM.

The thing works, when you put a CD in it you can hear it spinning it... the computer just doesn't know of it's existence. I don't know why it would suddenly decide it doesn't have a DVD player, but it has done so.
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post #5 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:59am
Have you checked HP's website for any firmware or driver updates?
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post #6 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:39am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
Have you checked HP's website for any firmware or driver updates?

There is no problem with the software. The problem is that the DVD drive doesn't exist.
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post #7 of 22
6/28/09 at 2:46pm
Thread Starter 
Is there a way to pop out the DVD drive then put it back in? Then maybe the computer will recognize new hardware?
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post #8 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:03pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
Is there a way to pop out the DVD drive then put it back in? Then maybe the computer will recognize new hardware?

If it's removable, look under the laptop for some sort of slide/switch mechanism near the drive.
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post #9 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:21pm
It could be that the connector part of your DVD drive has malfunctioned, or is being blocked by some physical object. That happened to a Pavillion dv5000t I had, what I did was to buy an OEM drive off eBay (<30 bucks IIRC) and replace it using this guide:

http://www.ehow.com/how_4912957_hp-n...dvd-drive.html

You can also follow the guide to remove the optical drive first, and see if the connector part is bent, out of place etc.
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post #10 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:34pm
Thread Starter 
What's a Multi Bay screw?
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post #11 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:36pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
What's a Multi Bay screw?

I think it's a HP terminology. Maybe your specific laptop is set up differently, but there should be 2 screws on the bottom of your laptop that holds the optical drive in place.
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post #12 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:38pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by whacked View Post
I think it's a HP terminology. Maybe your specific laptop is set up differently, but there should be 2 screws on the bottom of your laptop that holds the optical drive in place.

ok I see them... unfortunately I don't have any screwdrivers... where do you buy a screwdriver that will fit these things?
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post #13 of 22
6/28/09 at 3:40pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
ok I see them... unfortunately I don't have any screwdrivers... where do you buy a screwdriver that will fit these things?

What kind of man are you?

WalMart, Target, Home Depot etc. Any big box stores should have screwdrivers with interchangable screw bits to fit different sizes.
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post #14 of 22
6/28/09 at 9:13pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by SField View Post
There is no problem with the software. The problem is that the DVD drive doesn't exist.
Not software, firmware and drivers. They're the things that tell Windows that the drive is a DVD drive and not some odd device. They could have become corrupted or deleted somehow. Also, check the BIOS and see if the drive is represented there. Try booting from a CD to start the computer. Use the windows disk if you've got it. Do you know how to do that?
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post #15 of 22
6/28/09 at 10:10pm
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rambo View Post
Not software, firmware and drivers. They're the things that tell Windows that the drive is a DVD drive and not some odd device. They could have become corrupted or deleted somehow. Also, check the BIOS and see if the drive is represented there.

Try booting from a CD to start the computer. Use the windows disk if you've got it. Do you know how to do that?

Yea I already tried it. It doens't work, as far as the computer's concerned, there is no CD-DVD drive.
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