Toshiba Sat Pro U300 prob

[sparky2k1]

Need to format this drive as it had XP placed in it and the owner didn't like it. Problem starts with the dvdrom drive wont show in My Computer, but does show in Bios. Now I know you might say F12 choose drive and stick Vista in which he wants but that just aint playin ball. I managed to get Vista installed after splitting the drive and placing and extracted ISO of Vista on it and installed from there. All goes well, I click on My Computer and the dvdrom is still missing even after checking in device manager that all was well and no drivers missing.

Bit stumped with this one as Ive never experienced it before and have setup countless machines.

[The Phone Guy]

Just some suggestions..

Tried updating the firmware of the dvdrom drive?
Does it show in removable storage when you right click on my computer and select manage?

[sparky2k1]

No mate it don't show in the removable storage under manage.. add to that its frikkin dissapeard from the bios now :saywhat:

As for updating the FW I dont even know what drives in it to search for a FW update.

[Van Nugent]

Try updating to Vista SP2: x86 SP2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=a4dd31d5-f907-4406-9012-a5c3199ea2b3&DisplayLang=en) - x64 SP2 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=656C9D4A-55EC-4972-A0D7-B1A6FEDF51A7&displaylang=en).

When you install Vista, use a Vista SP2 setup disc.

Edit: We'll need to have SP1 installed before we can install SP2. x86 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=B0C7136D-5EBB-413B-89C9-CB3D06D12674&displaylang=en) - x64 (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?familyid=874A414B-32B2-41CC-BD8B-D71EDA5EC07C&displaylang=en).

[Van Nugent]

add to that its frikkin dissapeard from the bios now :saywhat:

- Maybe it's a bad drive;

- Check for the BIOS update for the laptop.

[sparky2k1]

D/L now .. will give it a go :tup:

Also have updated the bios as well with same results. I dont believe the drive is knackered as it ejects and lights.. at least that should be recognised by the laptop rather than a dodgey laser & just not spinning up.

[Van Nugent]

The plain vanilla Vista has a bug that it doesn't recognize the optical drives on some systems. About the BIOS could not see the drive, I was thinking of a bad drive or bad BIOS.

[sparky2k1]

Let ya know later bud.. headin out but I'll put that update in when home. Thanks

[Van Nugent]

Please remember to install SP1 first before installing SP2. I edited post #4 to have the links to SP1 x86 and x64 in case you need it.

[sparky2k1]

Sp1 just been installed with all the updates as it goes online ok.

And no, nothing changes when I try updating via the web but SP2 is about to get chucked in soon.

[Van Nugent]

If SP2 doesn't cure it, please try this (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060).

[sparky2k1]

Cheers mate.. getting into the early hours here but I won't sleep till I see that drive appear. Going through the SP2 motions now and then will try the above if fails.

On a second note, is Windows 7 known for the same issues as Im certain its Vista based. That may be the next port of call :uhwell:

[Van Nugent]

Windows 7, even though it shares many same looks and functionalities as in Vista, is a much better OS. Most people liked Win7 after they'd tried it.

[sparky2k1]

Ive tried it, I like it, but in the laptop concerned the missing optical drive is still an issue, thats why I backtracked to Vista rather than put Windows 7 in, as it originally had Vista in it according to the base sticker. Why he changed to XP I can understand, but turns out now he prefered Vista and I have the headache.

[sparky2k1]

Ok... SP2 didn't cure it... MS ATS, ran the cd/dvd reading and writing and issue found 'CD/DVD drive is not detected' The drive is missing or disconnected, but I can eject with the button and the light flickers as per normal when closed as if its trying to read media.

Guess its a reading game to discover the drive that's in these to double check a FW update though my thoughts are how can it apply a FW update to a device it can't see :saywhat:

/me goes for more midnight oil.

[Van Nugent]

I believe your DVD drive is bad. Even though you could eject it and its LED still worked, the hardware in it (PCB, IC's, laser...) has failed. I had a couple of drives that had the same symptom. Check to make sure the drive does not come loose.

[sparky2k1]

Browsed a few dismantle pages with no joy and removed some covers of the bottom which I though was covering screws but they wern't. Ejected the drive.. shook it about a little and more or less slammed the tray shut. Booted up and it found it :rolleyes:

Maybe the threat of a dismantle scared it...

Thanks for all you help Van Nugent.

Now I know its not an OS problem I can for now put Windows 7 in and get shot off :tup:

sparky