DVD-ROM won't work at all.

Hey there fellas. So I came to a problem that I just can't figure out and I was wondering if you could help me.

First off, I have an Alienware M14x, Windows 7 x64 with a "HL-DT-ST DVD+-RW GS30N". Do take in mind that I have a SLOT-LOADING drive, without a button.
So the story is, that I loaded a disc today and noticed that the disc drive won't show up in My Computer. So what I did to try and fix the problem:

• I opened up Device Manager and checked the DVD-ROM, it showed "Windows cannot start this hardware device because its configuration information (in the registry) is incomplete or damaged. (Code 19)"
• I tried looking for the little hole, to eject the disc manually. There isn't one.
• Tried using the combination "FN + F6" to eject the disc, didn't work.
• Since there is no disc drive icon in My Computer, I couldn't use the right mouse button thingy to "Eject" the disc.
• Of course I tried disableing the device, uninstalling it etc. It just "failed to install" it or something.
• I launched the Troubleshooter in Control Panel, it tried applying some fixes, but it didn't do anything.
• Since I don't know when the disc drive actually stopped working, it tried to restore my system to two days ago. Still nothing.
• I also tried booting up in "Last Known Best Configurations" or something.

Well, that's all I remember I did. Would be really great if you guys would let me solve this issue, I sure hope it's not technical, cuz the laptop is only like 4 months old.

Thank you in advance!

 

It look like either the cable that connect the DVD drive to the motherboard is loose or the drive is faulty to me. You can try re-connect the cable or re-install the Alienware OSD (On Screen Display). But as I read the step you try to troubleshoot, it's sound more like a hardware problem though, if everything else didnt work, I'd suggest you call Dell support for the DVD drive replacement.

EDIT: By " Of course I tried disableing the device, uninstalling it etc. It just "failed to install" it or something. " If it "fail to install" then it must be the hardware problem - either faulty or cable loose.

It doesnt matter how old is your laptop, because if a hardware is going to fail, it will fail. The question is just "when". Like my HDD that fail on me about 3 weeks ago, it is just a 3 month old and it already fail, but before I know that the HDD is going to fail it started to gave me lots of BSOD, so does your DVD drive act weird before this problem happen? As for DVD drive I dont think it would give you any BSOD though, lol.

 

Well to re-connect the cable I'd have to open up my laptop, which I think would mean my warranty not being valid anymore?

Could you please link me to the OSD drivers, because I tried re-installing some of the drivers, but I'm not sure those were the ones.

No, my DVD worked fine when I used it, but I used it really rarely.

I'll try to ask Dell support for help, hopefully they have a warranty office in Lithuania, lol.

 

I had the same issue,It's pretty common with some owners. I cleared and re downloaded drivers on dell's support page and after the Osd driver loaded It worked!I don't know if it was luck,but I don't use the drive alot so not sure If it will happen again.There's alway's issue's with new released machines,wort case you have a warranty.Also Ive taken mine apart quite a few times and never had a warranty problem due to opening my laptop,dell actually sends me part's almost every time I need a part changed,they even sent me a motherboard because I couldn't wait for a tech to come and wreck it anyway.It took less than 45 minutes to swap a mother board,Only thing with laptops is alot of plastic!Be careful whenever you take any laptop apart and ribbon cables are very easily broken also.I'm in US,I dont know if that makes a difference.

 

I tried re-installing my OSD driver, nothing happened. I'll probably contact dell support and ask them what I should do. It's really a bummer that I've paid so much money and now it's falling apart! I know that this stuff happens, but still.

 

I went through a nightmare with mine I'm awaiting a replacement now and you can see by my sig,I have the top of everything,you cant get a better specd M14X from dell,period.Point is that's what support is for,I suggested the osd driver cuz that worked for me and I was trying to keep you from going through dells support.Sorry,but call now sooner the better plus youll have it documented in case you have other issues.Please take my advice write down every name time etc,believe me you'll thank me later.Good luck.

 

I didn't quite understand your suggestion, could you re-phrase it?

 

Your warranty will not be void unless you damage the hardware intentionally or accidentally, but if you already saw it damage then you can ask for replacement using that warranty.

This is the link Alienware OSD Application

 

My suggestion is to not waste anymore time, call dell support and write down the times and all info, incase you have a problem,you'll have eveyrthing documented.Dell has a bad habit of making you go crazy with support.

 

Yeah, I wanted to call dell about it. But the thing is, that my system is bought in the US, but I live in Lithuania. We don't have a technical support station here. And Dell says that for my system, they don't support email or chat help! I don't want to pay a lot of money for calling over-seas.

A few updates - I reinstalled the OSD, nothing happened. I opened up my laptop, took the optical drive out, plugged it back in - STILL NOTHING.
The strange thing is, that when I perform the hardware diagnostics (the one where you choose at the boot up menu), it says that the CD-ROM is fine.

Any OTHER POSSIBLE ways to check if my CD-ROM might be fixable?

 

EDIT:

The CD-ROM actually works, it's just not being detected - the driver is not found.
Also, I flashed my BIOS from version A03 to A05, I believe.
The disc ejects when I use the combination (FN + F6) when I am exploring the BIOS.

Should I try to completely reformat my whole laptop?

 

Well, today I went to My Computer and noticed that I can see the DVD drive icon. I tried it out and it worked! No idea why it started working randomly, but thanks for the help anyway, fellas!

 

Try shaking it really fast up and down.

 

Hey, I am from Lithuania too. I've bought XPS m1730 probably 4 years ago, 1,5 years of use... One of gpu's died (I consider myself lucky that it worked for so long ). It took me almost a half of a year to get it replaced... No support from Dell, anything, so I googled Dell partners. I've asked dsd.lt if they could fix my problem and they did. I had parts only warranty and I had to pay for work. And now gpu died second time... So i started to look into m14x, but it seems it has as many or even more problems than m1730... Damn... I now it is off topic, but I hope this helps you if you'll need a serious repairs.

 

I have experienced the same problem. I got my laptop in early December 2011. By the end of January 2012 I noticed my DVD drive was no longer in My Computer. I had a DVD in the drive which would not eject using FN F6 while in windows. During a reboot I executed the eject command and the DVD ejected. After re-installing numerous drivers Dell I came to the conclusion that this had to be a Windows issue. I thought back to the last time I had used the DVD drive and then looked at system restore. I restored back to point at that time and my drive now works. At this point I am installing Windows updates conciously to determine which update causes the error (in theory).

 

I have finished updating Windows and am completely up to date. The DVD ROM still works. I'm not sure what caused the registry corruption but the system restore point actually did some good for me for a change.