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    Optical Drive Powers Off and then Disappears

    Discussion in 'Lenovo' started by zhaos, Mar 15, 2011.

  1. zhaos

    zhaos Notebook Consultant

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    I recently installed Windows 7-64 onto my T400, which originally had a vista preload. I then used system update to install various thinkpad software and drivers. Everything seems to be working well, except for the power manager feature of shutting off the optical drive when not active. In windows vista, I could eject the optical drive, and the light next to the ultrabay would shut off. I could press the eject button on the optical drive, and it would be powered on again. Now, whenever the optical drive powers off, the ultrabay light remains lit, and the drive is still electrically on (I can open the drive bay), only it appears in "Computer" under the category of "Other." Attempting to right click the powered off drive icon and power it on does not turn the drive back on. In the device manager.

    I've found the most accurate description of this problem here:
    T400: Optical Drive Power Off, Then Disappears - Lenovo Community

    I tried bumping that thread, but nobody has replied. Some solutions are offered in that thread, but they don't work.

    Searching across this forum, I found several posts describing the issue, but the problem has never been properly elucidated or addressed. I myself see no clear solution to the problem, but I would like to have the optical drive power off feature in windows 7. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
     
    zhaos, Mar 15, 2011
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  2. zhaos

    zhaos Notebook Consultant

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    bump

    In the device manager, it says "windows cannot use this hardware device because it has been prepared for "safe removal," but it has not been removed from the computer (Code 47) // To fix this problem, unplug this device from your computer and then plug it in again."

    It seems that the power manager has safely removed the device when it should be shutting off the ultrabay.
     
    zhaos, Mar 16, 2011
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  3. zhaos

    zhaos Notebook Consultant

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    Well, in case anyone wonders (not that I see anyone), I found a solution to the problem.

    You have to install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager for the laptop to be able to turn off the ultrabay. The problem is that System Update does not properly install that driver. You have to install it manually using device manager after unpacking the downloaded driver, following the instructions on lenovo's website.

    I wonder if lenovo has special power-saving measures in its windows 7 factory image that I cannot take advantage of.
     
    zhaos, Mar 17, 2011
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