Please I'm desperate to find my D Drive for W2K

I've looked at the suggested forum threads and none of them apply to the problem I'm having concerning OS W2K PRO so feel free to move this if there's a more proper place for it.

I'm beside myself. One day I could burn, the next day my D Drive, which is my CD Writer, my E Drive, which is my CD-ROM, and my external F Drive, which is my DVD burner all disappeared. When I open My Computer, I see the A drive, the C drive, and the folder for the Control Panel. I go to Device Manager. They're all listed as working, but they don't show up when I click open the My Computer icon on my desktop, and nothing happens when I insert a disk in any of them. I do get a message that these devices aren't working because another device that they depend on isn't working. The device error is Device Manager Error Code 31. I've done Add/Remove Hardware stuff, I've reinstalled and updated drivers. I've done everything I know to do short of throwing this computer off the top of the Sears Tower, since I live in Chicago.

I don't know anything about DOS, for me to use the "run" command I would need someone to help me step by step. I'd love to just reinstall the OS, but with a CD-ROM that doesn't work, well, need I say more.

 

quote,

Code 31 (new in Windows 98)
This device is not working properly because <device> is not working properly. (Code 31)

To view the properties for <device> and see why it is not working, click Properties."


where <device> is the dependent device that must be fixed in order for this device to work properly.

Solution button: Properties

This code appears when a device is dependent on another device to be functioning correctly. This does not include devices that are enumerated by the parent device.

The Properties button displays the properties for the other device. More than likely, the other device will also have one of these Device Manager error codes. Follow all the recommended solutions. If the devices still do not work, remove them from Device Manager and use the Add New Hardware wizard to redetect them. Finally, consult with the hardware manufacturer for updated drivers.

 

It's a registry issue

I hold adrynalyne/colemanguy totally responsible for this

http://adrynalyne.colemanguy.com/CD.html

 

That may be how it appears in 98 but I "upgraded" this dinosaur to 2000 and I can't click on anything, it's all "grayed" out. I'm a bit hesitant to mess around in the registry because while it's only a matter of a month until I buy a new computer, I need this one to continue doing what it's doing. I wouldn't worry so much if my D drive was working, I'd love to just reinstall the whole OS. Between 98 and 2000, in all honesty, I wish I would have left it alone but when all is said and done...

..."I want my XP"

 

The solution was posted by studiot.

 

I'm responding in this way and over here because I've been to the 'backup files', 'system restore' forums and nothing applied to W2K and that's my problem. Actually, that's why I miss XP so much. I'm late to the game. The very first computer that I owned personally came with XP. First, I never had this problem, and secondly, I love the 'system restore' feature and creating restore points. When it comes to w2k, I don't know how to back up the system, etc and I've spent hours and hours researching Microsoft's website and IMO, using that website looking for help for anything other than XP or Vista OS related problems is enough to make you give up. So...if anyone can direct me to the proper forum for backing up my registry using Windows 2000 Pro so that I can ask someone to tell me how, and how to restore that backup should that be necessary, I would really appreciate.:confused

 

Open it up, go to the Registry or File menu and choose export with the top of the tree selected.

Just use the downloads on the site if you are worried about manual editing.