CD drives won't open

  • Thread starter Thread starter Cory
  • Start date Start date
C

Cory

Took my PC to a technician who owns a small computer repair shop for a
simple upgrade.

When I got it back, neither of the two CD drives would open. One's a
read/write and the other is just a read-only. I know they both worked
perfectly when I took them in, because, for one thing, I backed up all
my files and transferred them to a new computer. (I can imagine a
motivation on the shop-owner technician's part for messing with me
intentionally, but of course it's only speculation.)

Anyway, I'm hoping someone might tell me how to fix this?

You push the button, and nothing happens.

You right click on Eject in either of the drives' representation in
Explore or My Computer, and get a message that says the drive is not
accessible.

According to the Properties viewer, they're both reportedly absolutely
full -- to 100 percent capacity with 0 bytes free.

Since locking them shut somehow was deliberately done by a technician,
there must be a way to un-do whatever it was that he did.

I'm praying somebody out there knows and will tell me!

Thanks!
 
Open the case, is the power cable connected? Are the drives ATAPI or SCSI?
If SCSI, there may be a locking jumper to prevent them from being opened,
but if there is a disk in them you should still be able to read that disk.
Also, the Properties for the drive in Device Manager may have a locking
option. If you don't boot to Windows (try a Dos boot floppy), can you open
the drives. Have you tried an unbent paper clip in the emergency release
hole in the front bezel of the drive?
 
It sounds to me like the power connectors may not be plugged in. Do
you know how to take the cover or side panel off off your computer
case? It might help folks here to describe what you see. There should
be a ribbon cable plugged into the back of your CD drive, as well as
a four wire power connector.
 
Turn the PC off, then turn the PC back on. As soon as the computer has power
push the CD buttons. They should open fine as long as Windows hasn't opened
yet. If they don't then the cables may be loose or the drives may be
broken. If they do, then remove and disks and close the drives. If they
don't open once Windows is booted then it's a driver error.
 
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