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[BuddyC]

As you can likely guess from the topic, I'm having a problem with my CD-ROM drive, well, disappearing. It's not just from Windows, it's from the entire system - it isn't detected upon boot, which makes the startup sequence on my Dell Inspiron 1150 laptop substantially longer.

The weird part, however, is that the drive will fluctate in and out of the system's detection. While waiting on the phone for tech support, it magically reappeared in Windows, and stayed like that through another two reboots. But poof, then it's gone again.

I've removed the drive, checked the contacts, and left a voice mail at Dell for a replacement. But in the meantime, does anyone have any advice? Tips or tricks, perhaps?

 

[human5892]

I've removed the drive, checked the contacts, and left a voice mail at Dell for a replacement. But in the meantime, does anyone have any advice? Tips or tricks, perhaps?

You've already done what I would've suggested. It really does sound like a physical issue.

 

[xsarien]

I'd say it's something wrong with the physical hardware. Whether it's the controller or the drive, though, it's hard to say. The only way to really test it is to try it in another machine (if available), and also try to put something else in its spot on the current rig (again, if you have something that fits into the bay.)

Drives just don't spontaneously vanish between boots unless there's something fundamentally wrong, it's not any switch in Windows or the BIOS doing it.

 

[Lathentar]

Did you install iTunes?