CD-ROM - is it really, really dead?

Hi All - nice place you have here!
Now I'm just wondering if you can tell if my CD-Rom is really, really dead or just tricking me...? See - it stopped playing yesterday after a big session for some reason, and when i put a CD in and closed the door it did nothing...none of that fancy 'whirring' type noise when it starts reading etc, just dealthy silence and nothing cept the power is on, and it does open and close ok - its just not doing anything else...like its not being detected or something? Clicking F-Disk in Explorer doesn't work, nor the run command.
There are no errors listed under DevMngr, but there is no driver listed for the CD-Rom either...hmmm...shouldn't it have a driver? Anyway, after lots of snooping i managed one message which was "can't read F drive, make sure the door is closed and the disk is formatted and free from errors'. They were. So, tis problem no?
I run win98se, the CD-Rom player is a Sony CDU5231 and the installation guide suggests when installing select type as 'a non-listed IDE CD-Rom' to install the ATAPI IDE interface so the drive can be detected by the os".
I must confess also - It is possible I may have puled the door out a little the last time I removed a CD-rom, but I'm just guessing at that.
Anyway, I sure could use some help from you clever folk cos I had to have it working yesterday of course!
So, I'd appreciate any help you can offer thanks just let me know if you need any info.

 

Hi Tim,
Thanks for the reply...tried this and still get 'device working properly' on Gen tab (DM), Driver tab tells me 'no driver files required or have been loaded for this device, to update driver files, click update driver' - this doesn't work either cos I don't know where to look for the driver, so it reinstalls the same thing.

When I try to use the CDRom, or F:\drive I get the message "F:\is not accessible, the device is not ready - retry/cancel". The CDRom power button comes on/off when open/close door, but not when CD is sitting in tray ready to play, then silence. Took the case off and 'wiggled' all the bits that looked relevant (real techical stuff), but no change.

Is this an easy fix-er-upper (considering my technical ability ) or should I just kiss it goodbye and buy another? Time is of the essence...I'm in exam mode
Thanks for your patience
Regards

 

CDROM drives are dirt cheap these days ,i'd just buy a new one
try removing ide cable connected to cdrom/motherboard and reconnecting it,no harm in that

also look in bios on whether the cdrom has been detected,if nothings in there check the start up screen when u boot and look for it there.

 

Hi again,
I've seen it on the start-up screen.
I've downloaded (but not installed) http://www.download.com/Adaptec-ASPI-Drivers-Windows-98-Me-NT-2000-XP-/3000-2098_4-10219041.html?tag=pub - curious why I'm installing driver for "bios & systems update" and not a "CD-Rom" driver?
Also, I'm still not sure how relevant that message "please select 'Non-listed IDE CD-Rom' to install the ATAPI Interface so the driver can be detected by O/S" is?
Guess I should take the case off again and if still no joy will try this new driver. If still no change will go shopping
Thanks for all your help guys

 

Hi,
Just updating to say yep - it really was dead!
Have now replaced it and want to thank everyone for their input - appreciated