If I unistall my cd-rom drive, can I reinstall it, for free?

Question

I really need help on this one. My disks won't read and the device manager says it is broken. I REALLY NEED HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if i press uninstall, and the device is still there, if i right click will it say install or re-install?

i have a laptop windows vista

This device cannot start. (Code 10)

Click 'Check for solutions' to send data about this device to Microsoft and to see if there is a solution available.

Lets go with frogz idea

Answer 1

please add exact error in device manager to additional information

if you have a prebuilt pc it may void the warentee to do ANYTHING to it but who cares?
it could be as simple as a irq conflict or as bad as the cdrom just decided to die in which case you should go to your local computer store, buy a dvd recorder(as cheap as about $20 usd currently), remove the cdrom and check the jumper configuration(little pins on the back near the cables which would be master, slave or cable select, somtimes there is a few others but its rare) set the new drive in the same way(if the old drive is a master, set the new drive to master) there can be a master and a slave on each cable on a single ide port(the big long flat cable that plugs into the back of the drive)
just set it the same, plug it in to the same cable and you are good to go

edit: uninstall from the device manager just removes the driver, just go to add/remove hardware from the control panel to re-add it, if you really want to you can pay me but i can garentee you microsoft wont charge you a cent to reinstall existing hardware even if they want to

device can not start can refer to many things, could even be bad hardware but most of the time i've found it to be a irq conflict, driver incompatability(vista isnt exactly the best when it comes to drivers as it is very new) try checking the maker of the cdrom's webpage for updated drivers
sicne it is a laptop, you can call the maker of your laptop and complain since it is new and SHOULD work
i personally would recomend downgrading your os to windows 2000 or xp(i recomend 2k but eh, its just what i use)
also google the model and the problem to see if anyone else has had similar, has it ever worked and if so, what has changed since then?

Answer 2

So you want to remove it and re-install it? Sure - very easy, but I'm not confident this will solve your problem if the drive is broken. You didn't specify if this is a desktop computer or a laptop. DVD/CD drives are very inexpensive.

My advice to try and troubleshoot it would be
1. Remove any reference to the drive in your device manager.
2. Power off the computer, remove the drive.
3. Verify the drive's jumper settings are correct. Make sure it is set to the CS setting. This will ensure it will operate correctly no matter if it's a master or a slave.
4. Put the drive back in the computer. Verify all cables are secured properly.
5. Turn computer back on and see what happens.

If it still doesn't work then it looks like your drive is inop.

Answer 3

Yes, you can. Once you have bought and paid for a piece of hardware, it's yours to install, uninstall, reinstall, or throw out the window. If the device manager says it's broken, then it might actually be broken; I'd check with someone tech savvy in your area and have them see what the problem is.

Answer 4

You should be able to install & uninstall it as many times as you want to. Dill doesn't want, or need to know that info! He's just interested in finding out about the other end of software piracy!!

The discs are most likely dirty, damaged & might need to be repaired or (oh no!) replaced. Or, dread the thought, the cd-drive might be faulty.

'Device mismanager' doesn't say that! It's the 'Idiot' 'Add new headaches blizzard' that messes with it!

Might need to use another computer to access the manufacturer's drivers, the 'Drivers.com' website or 'Multiple Suffering' website to download drivers for your computer!

I hope that makes some sense of of this mess!

Answer 5

You are probably referring to some type of laptops wherein the drive bay can interchangeably accommodate either a detachable CD drive or a floppy drive. Frequent interchanges may potentially damage something. If still under warranty, return for servicing.

If out of warranty, try cleaning the contacting pins then re-attach.

Answer 6

Get a CD-R,CD-RW from a pc, connect it to a USB, or IDE or in spite of Serial Cable IDE ? then good to go. you would be able to would desire to open it as much as get to a lead, so acquire any manuals or stuff in the past you're taking something aside. I even have an previous AMS Tech that I placed BeOS in then I placed Win2k on it and the CD is broken. So i understand this is one way that worked for me. The CD is back in the Dell and the dell continues to be working high quality.

Answer 7

go device manager ( right click my computer -> properties -> hardware tab -> device manager ) , uninstall your cd rom (right click cd rom drive and uninstall ) .

then press Scan for hardware changes, (Action -> scan for hardware changes )

Most probably your computer install it automatically , if it ask for driver , http://digilander.libero.it/pnavato/drivers/ there is a list for Cdroms , select your hardware and download driver, install with it.

Answer 8

you yourself can install it., just remember how you remove it because if you know how to remove it you'll know to install it.