DVD-RW drive not functioning

Hello!

I have a Dell XPS M1710 that I purchased used. The laptop works beautifully except it did not recognize the DVD-RW driver. I uninstalled the old driver and downloaded the new driver but when I try to install it I get a prompt 'admin privileges are needed' and wont continue. This is the only profile on the PC so I don't understand why it wont allow me to install the driver. Help!

Thanks,
Blake

 

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Optical drives don't need any special driver, so I'm puzzled about what you are trying to do.

John

 

Well it's not JUST the optical drive, its also the drive where all data CD's are used in, if I'm understanding you correctly. Like I said I don't know a ton about this stuff. All I know is that the driver wont even open, and the Dell website has a driver download for my XPS model, and that I need to figure out why I can't install said driver because of my Admistrative properties.

 

1. Optical drives mean all the CD / DVD / Blu-Ray drives which use a laser to read the disc.

2. The two things I would do are to (a) remove the IDE ATA/ATAPI controller channels in Device Manager then reboot to redetect the hardware; and (b) read this.

However, if you don't have administrator powers then you may not be able to take the required action.

John

 

So I tried that, but there are no upperlifters or lowerlifters files in my Registry Editor where they should be. I'm getting a new error message now when I try to install the driver:

"Target NEC ND-6650A is not found correctly."

At least it's not giving me the admin problem...but what the heck does this mean? And how on earth can I just get this driver to install?

 

Does the BIOS system info screen list the NEC ND-6650A?

Can you boot from the optical drive (get Windows CD/DVD and then press F12 when the BIOS spash screen shows)?

Does Device Manager list the NEC ND-6650A?

What happens if you uninstall the IDE ATA/ATAPI channels in device manager and then reboot?

John

 

I haven't tried looking in BIOS.
I'll take a look and let you know.

Otherwise..A. I can't get the tray open, and B. I don't have the windows disk ask I purchased the laptop secondhand.

Device manager lists a CD-ROM driver, but no DVD driver at all because I uninstalled it, thinking that was a requirement to reinstall/update the driver from the Dell website. Silly I know.

I was going to try uninstalling the ATA/ATAPI channels in device manager but wanted to ask you if there was any information I should back-up before I do so, and also, if I should delete a certain sub-category or the entire IDE controller section. Listed under the IDE ATA/ATAPI section are several subcategories including 2 "IDE CHANNELS", an "Intel(R) 82801 GBM/GHM (ICH7-M Family) Serial ATA Storage Controller" - 27C4, A "Ricoh Memory Stick Controller", "Ricoh MMC Host Controller", and "Ricoh xD - Picture Card Controller". As I said I'm not sure which of these to delete and whether or not I should back them up or whatever.

By the way, Thanks so much for you patience and help!

 

Unscrew the cd drive from the bottom of the laptop. It only requires one screw to be removed to take the optical drive out.
power the system on with no optical drive.
Than shut it off
Plug the optical drive back in and screw the drive in place
Power up and go into windows, and it should reappear

Dell mainly uses TSST optical drives. To be honest, I have had this problem for nearly a year on my E1505. I follow the steps I listed above and it always works for me.

K-TRON

 

That worked!
Thank you both so much for your time!