Losing optical drives in various laptops - All XP

[sam7557797]

Hello and thanks for reading!

I've searched Windriver's forums and Microsoft's KB to no avail. I have 3 laptops (HP Omnibook 500, HP Omnibook 510 & IBM Thinkpad T30) running XP SP1 with latest patches & updated BIOS (laptop & expansion base). All 3 are "losing" their optical drives [CD (500) & 2 DVDs (510 & T30)]. When lost, the is absolutely no evidence in XP that the drive exists. The only repeatable scenario I've found is:

laptop docked
optical drive available
shutdown
undock
boot (optical available in T30, not physically present in 500/510)
shutdown
dock
boot
optical drive unavailable (all 3 laptops)

I've deleted both docked and undocked hardware profiles. Moving the floppy to the optical drive bay; floppy works.

Thanks for any insight!
SAM

[NooNoo]

Do any of these have hotswap bays? How about hotdocking drivers?

[sam7557797]

They are all hot swappable. Re: hot dock drivers, I'm not sure what you mean. The Omnibook 510 was reloaded from the recovery CDs about 6 weeks ago.

[NooNoo]

hp drivers and firmware updates for 510 (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/DriverDownload.jsp?locale=en_US&pnameOID=77991&taskId=135&prodTypeId=321957&prodSeriesId=77989&lang=en&cc=us&swEnvOID=228#425) Can I assume you have never looked at hp for updates and patches?

[sam7557797]

I have updated completely; my previous post was meant to show the system is fresh. Also, this is a multi-brand problem which is why I posted to the XP forum. It's occuring in HP and IBM laptops. While I appreciate the need to update OEM drivers, I feel this is more a Microsoft "feature" since more than one type of laptop is involved. I have encountered similar situations commented on the web that seem to support this.

http://channels.lockergnome.com/news/archives/009793.phtml
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;834563

Thanks for the effort,
SAM

[NooNoo]

I was talking about the firmware for the optical drives... I put the entire page up for information.

Have you got the 834563 fix? Or are you positive that acpi and hibernation are not involved in these laptops?

You see, there have been a number of posts where the dvd functionality vanishes on laptops that have never been docked.

I am just wondering if we are looking at a root cause here, even if the symptoms seem different.

[sam7557797]

No, I have not updated the firmware on the HP opticals. Have dloaded and will do when can gain access to unit. Is that the 834563 fix you reference? I could find no mention of that number. No ACPI or hibernation involved. Will post results of flash.

Thanks, Noo Noo.

[NooNoo]

The you didnt read the link you posted (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;EN-US;834563) fully

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the hotfix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

[meatwad]

I had a customer just come in stating that their IBM ThinkPad R32 will (apparantly) "lose it's CD-ROM drive" and XP will not detect the drive anymore. No docking station and I've yet to recreate the problem, but I'll keep an eye on this thread and post if I discover anything.

[geoscomp]

I've had the same thing happen recently in 3 desktops that came in from different customers..all had XP pro. For some reason, spyware cleaning fixed the problem in two, but one required a repair install of XP..I'm wondering if maybe just repairing the ASPI layer would have worked

[NooNoo]

geo, I would agree if the device was in the device manager, but according to sam here, they are gone.

[sam7557797]

Noo, you got me! :)
I was looking for 834563 in the link you posted! :rolleyes:

[meatwad]

Any solutions yet? I recreated the problem, but I'm still stumped.

[NooNoo]

What did you do to recreate the problem?

[meatwad]

What did you do to recreate the problem?

:D

I put a music CD in and hit play on Windows Media player. Around track 4 the music stopped and windows didn't see the drive anymore. I rebooted and the CD-ROM was back, but it went away on it's own after about 10 minutes. A couple of times the CD-ROM was missing right from boot. Scanned and removed spyware to no avail. I'm about ready to tear it down and check the connections. :rolleyes:

[NooNoo]

ok I am pretty sure this may be copyright protection overkill going on here

Some patch or other is doing things it aint supposed to.

[sam7557797]

The 510 & T30 users have never played any music CDs or DVDs. The 500 user constantly plays music CDs.

The firmware update on HP's site (for 500 & 510) is for QSI SBW-081, the 510's drive is QSI DVD-ROM SDR-081. The only mention on HP of SDR-081 is for a guy having it recognized as a floppy drive.

I've googled SDR-081 and found many people looking for XP drivers (to no avail).

From manufacturer's site (http://www.qsinc.com.tw (http://www.qsinc.com.tw/qsi/Official_Download_en)):
All of our drive is driverless need except you want to work under DOS mode. The driver we provide currently is for DOS purpose. Since Windows OS system will provide the build-in driver automatically. The user doesn¡¦t need to install driver for all the optical device drive. If you have problem for reading/writing data, please kindly find below suggestion for diagnostic:

1. Can not recognize the drive by your system. It may cause neither read or eject the tray (the door of CD-ROM)

Make sure your CD-ROM is well assembly into system. You can check the BIOS CMOS setting while system POST period.
Make sure you are using the original install OS. The entire system configuration has installed with the optima configuration. If you installed the new OS. Your laptop vendor should not guarantee all the function properly.
Make sure you using the original BIOS of this system. Upgrade BIOS version may cause other function problem. Suggest consult to your system vendor.
Check the Windows control panel setting. Make sure the device list has CD-ROM device.

Sounds like HP may have hosed it w/ BIOS updates...

Still doesn't cover problem with IBM T30, but may be unrelated after all.

[NooNoo]

supposing they used the same precepts for a bios update?

[Grateful_Dad]

Just to add to the confusuion.... I was going through a stack of cds that i made, 2 of them cause my XP Pro to lose its cd drive. This is the first itme I've seen this. I boot up, all good, cd drive is listed in "my computer", put ( I assume corrupted cd) in, hourglass, then pointer comes back. No cd drive in "My Computer"
Have to reboot to get it back ( without cd in) I have 2 cd that do this. They are old and scratched. I haven't tried them in anything else yet ( the contents aren't important at this point, old drivers etc.., just wanted to check before i trash them)
It's just strange behavior i haven't encountered before, than 2 days later, I see this post on windrivers. Weird.......... I'll keep watching this thread too...

[NooNoo]

Someone want to send this thread to the Microsoft suggestion box? Anyone know where the ms suggestion box is?

[sam7557797]

Just ran Spybot S&D on IBM T30; no spyware, just cookies. DVD-ROM drive (model No. GDR-8081N by HL Data Storage) was replaced with another (known working) drive. No worky. Floppy drive inserted into same bay works. DVD drive removed from problem laptop works in another laptop.

HP 500 user has Teac CD-224E. HP & Google turn up no results for firmware or drivers, except in regard to Proliant servers.

[NooNoo]

this is an interesting kb (http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=817357)

check the file date/version listed there.

[hojx93]

I have such problems too.
When I go to my computer, I can't see my cd-r drive there.
But now my cd drive can be detected.

Go to the device manager
find your cd drive's name.
right click it
click remove
go to add new hardware wizard at control panel
let the wizard detect for new hardware.
since you removed the cd-drive at device manager, you drive is counted as a
new hardware.
If it detects the drive, there should be a box at the taskbar with an additional
icon.
Wait a while till it says the drive is ready for use.

I hope this helps
_________________________

HOJX93

[Low_Level_Owl]

I have a similar problem with a IBM T30...

The CD-ROM (D:\) doesn't show up in "My Computer"

But if I browse it using the run command, I can see it's contents.

Edit: I've tried removing the CD-ROM from Device Manager and rebooting but the problem comes back after a while.

[quimbola]

I have the same problem, when I check device manager, it has the exclamation mark. If U try to update driver, it states that the driver I have is the latest.

This happens with my sony burner, and my toshiba DVD drive. Only way to get it back is to restore.

I wiped my drive and reinstalled, this solved the problem for a week before it came back.

Just adding more fuel to the fire!

[quimbola]

I have the same problem, when I check device manager, it has the exclamation mark. If U try to update driver, it states that the driver I have is the latest.

This happens with my sony burner, and my toshiba DVD drive. Only way to get it back is to restore.

I wiped my drive and reinstalled, this solved the problem for a week before it came back.

Just adding more fuel to the fire!

Well, I can now recreate the problem. When I install itunes latest release. After I install it, everything is fine, after I shut it down, restart, optical drives gone!!