Try booting the PC with a CD (or DVD). For example, a real XP CD is
bootable, or download and burn (on a different computer) a free "live" LINUX
CD, or a rescue CD. NOte that a Symantec or McAfee installation CD may also
be bootable. Check the documentation, if you have one of those. Links to
live CDs and to one rescue CD:
http://www.frozentech.com/content/livecd.php
http://ubcd.sourceforge.net/
If you can boot from a CD, then the basic hardware is OK, and the problem is
at the XP level (e.g., registry, drivers, etc).
If you can not boot from a CD, when the PC is set to do so in the BIOS, then
suspect the CD drive itself or associated power or signal wires. CD drives
do fail, and in my experience, more often that hard drives.
"urbaneve" wrote in message
...
okay here's the thing --
i have a compaq presario f500 (f572 to be exact) running on vista with
the latest updates, amd anthalon x2, 2 GB memory. simple little machine
i know, but it gets the job done for work. the problem is that i need
it to burn cd's and dvd's.
it used to work just fine and now it doesnt.
when i bring up my computer the drive is showing.
when i click on properties, it shows that this device is working
properly.
i have uninstalled and reinstalled -- no good
i have updated the drivers -- no good
even went and checked in the BIOS thinking it might be something in
there -- no good
when i insert a disc i hear make the normal sound the drive should make
the computer has never been dropped, or gotten wet
it doesnt matter if i have a dvd or a cd in there -- nothing comes up
-- even games. the autorun never comes up anymore. it used to be that
when i inserted a disc i would get a popup asking me what i wanted to do
-- NOPE not anymore
even when i use a program like nero or power iso -- no good
when i insert the disc it tells me -- please insert disc into drive e:
this is driving me absolutely insane and i really need it resolved --
can someone help me
the other questions i have is ---
could it be the optical lens not working?
and can i replace this drive if necessary
thanks ahead for your help
cheers
--
urbaneve