Built-in DVD player no longer recognised by laptop

February 27, 2009 4:39 PM

How do I reinstall my built-in DVD drive?

A while ago, when trying to remove my USB key, I accidentally clicked the option to safely remove my DVD drive. Now I don't know what to choose in order for my laptop to recorgnise my DVD drive again (I never took it out, I only clicked the option to remove it, and now when I click the eject button it doesn't recognise the DVD player).

posted by fantasticninety to Computers & Internet (7 answers total)

Simplest thing would be to reboot. Windows will recognize the drive again.
posted by trinity8-director at 4:43 PM on February 27, 2009

Response by poster: Just tried that and it hasn't worked. Is there any thing to choose within the profile or control panel to get that thing to work again?

Thanks so much for any help.
posted by fantasticninety at 4:54 PM on February 27, 2009

Yes. R-click on My Computer, select "manage". In the left pane select "Device Manager". In the right pane, r-click on the top computer icon. Select "scan for hardware changes". Your drivers are all in place, so it should be straightforward from there.
posted by trinity8-director at 5:03 PM on February 27, 2009

Response by poster: I did all of the steps you mentioned, but unfortunately it wasn't enough. I've mentioned in a previous question that this laptop is FUBARED, so it looks like once I accidentally chose that option it wasn't able to revert back.

Once I clicked on scanning hardware changes I wasn't able to get it to recognise it.

Thanks anyway.
posted by fantasticninety at 5:20 PM on February 27, 2009

I did the same thing once. I was able to get the drive working again by downloading the driver off the companies website and re-installing it.
posted by ryanissuper at 5:35 PM on February 27, 2009

Best answer: Sometimes physcially removing the drive, then putting it back will do the trick. For a laptop there is usually a button that unlocks the drive so you can pull it out. Do this while the computer is running, then push it back in place. It can trigger the Plug-n-play stuff to get on the ball.
posted by trinity8-director at 5:45 PM on February 27, 2009 [1 favorite]

Response by poster: Thanks trinity8! That's definitely BEST answer of the evening! So pumped! Thanks again. Physically unplugged the drive and plugged it back in and that's all she wrote! Works like a charm now.

Thanks again. Most appreciated.
posted by fantasticninety at 5:53 PM on February 27, 2009