Computer Question

[PRP]

I have a question for all the computer experts.

I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop with a dual core intel Pentium processor.
It no longer recognises, plays or burns CD or DVD's.

What is the likely problem (software/hardware/virus) and is it worth repairing?
An external burner being another option.


thanks

[NightWolf]

just replace the burner with a external or get a internal replacment

[KingBob]

Yeah odds are the drive is dead, it happens. A replacement will probably set you back around $100, about the same as an external cd/dvd drive.

[matharvey]

If you are confident to back up and reinstall the driver , failing that, the operating system, this would be worth a try before buying a new drive.

[obzELiTe]

wont need drivers, and you wont be able to reinstall without a working drive either.
laptop drives are crap to start with. if the drive is showing in explorer and tries to read but throws back errors then i'll say theres a 99% chance the drive is dead.
as long as the laptop is new enough to have 2.0 usb slots then an external would be the best bet.

[PRP]

wont need drivers, and you wont be able to reinstall without a working drive either.
laptop drives are crap to start with. if the drive is showing in explorer and tries to read but throws back errors then i'll say theres a 99% chance the drive is dead.
as long as the laptop is new enough to have 2.0 usb slots then an external would be the best bet.

The drive does not show at all even when you put a disc in the machine.

[obzELiTe]

can you get to the bios? and does it show there. you may need to mash F2 as the machine boots to get there. pretty sure f2 is for toshibas

[PRP]

I took my laptop to Budget Computers in Malaga.

Fixed for $45 and took 2 minutes (their minimum charge).
He simply turned an Upperclass Filter back on. He said it was probably a virus that was designed to target CD/DVD drives (prevents people loading software onto their computers to prevent viruses). Apparantly it's quite common.
Does this mean I can't look at porn anymore:(

I'm happy that it's fixed.

[shaun]

did you take note on how he did it incase it happens again?

[obzELiTe]

sounds more like you have installed or un-installed some burning/cd emulation software.
kind of thing early versions of nero used to do.

[PRP]

did you take note on how he did it incase it happens again?

I tried but he was lightening fast. He said it happens a lot.