Article ID : S500025577 / Last Modified : 11/04/2018Print

What should the user do when the CD-ROM drive is not recognized?

    When the user access the CD-ROM drive, an error message stating that the device is not ready appears and the access fails. What should the user do?
    or
    The user cannot find the icon of the CD-ROM drive in My Computer. What should the user do?

    Firstly, determine whether the symptom is caused by software or hardware.

    Follow the steps below to check the VAIO computer can be started with the supplied Recovery CD.
    1. Insert Recovery CD-ROM No.1 to the CD-ROM drive and turn off the computer.
    * The CD-ROM to be inserted varies depending on the computer.
    The new recovery method requires System Recovery CD-ROM No.1 to be inserted. For further information, please refer to the following solution available in the Knowledge Base.

    Solution:
    What are the differences in the recovering methods of the Recovery CD-ROM?

    2. Turn on the computer. If the recovery setup utility starts, then the hardware is working normally. Continue the steps in B/
    Otherwise, please refer to A below.
    Note:
    Please do not proceed with recovery procedure when it is bootable from the Recovery CD.

    A
    When the system doesn't start with the use of the Recovery CD, please double-check the following points
    1. Make sure CD media is not upside down when it is place in the CD-ROM drive. The label side of a CD media is faced up.
    2. Check there is no dust on CD media.
    3. Check a CD media is placed properly.
    4. Check a CD media is seated until it click into the center of the disc tray, if required.
    5. Check all the cables are properly attached if memory is added manually.
    6. If the drive itself is removable via PC card or i.LINK adapter, make sure there is no dust or something else on each connection part.
    7. Try to attach CD ROM drive again. Make sure that connection part (PC card, i.LINK) are inserted to its slot properly.
    8. Check what if user clean up CD-ROM drive.
    Remark:
    Regarding how to clean CD-ROM drive, please refer to the User Guide or On line Manual for the VAIO computer.
    There may be problems with the CD-ROM drive. Please send both the VAIO computer and the CD-ROM drive to the local Sony service center for inspection.

    * If there is another PC card device and confirm that it is recognized properly, CD-ROM drive can possibly cause the problem.

    * In the case of PCG-XR* series equipped with an expansion bay, connect the floppy disk drive instead of the CD-ROM drive and see if it works.
    i. If the floppy disk drive works normally, the problem may lie with the CD-ROM drive itself.
    ii. If the floppy disk drive doesn't work as well, the problem may exist in both the computer and the CD-ROM drive. Please send both the VAIO computer and the CD-ROM drive to the local Sony service center for inspection.

    B
    When the system starts with the use of the Recovery CD
    Follow the steps below to start Windows® in Safe Mode and reinstall the CD-ROM driver.

    - For Windows® 98
    1. Turn off the computer and remove all peripherals except the CD-ROM driver.
    2. Turn on the computer and press the CTRL key to start the system in Safe Mode. Click Here for information on how to start the system in Safe Mode.
    3. When the system starts in Safe Mode, click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon.
    4. In the System Properties window, click the Device Manager tab. Then click the + mark on the left CD-ROM.
    5. When the driver name appears, select the driver name that wanted to remove and click Remove.
    6. When the Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears, click OK to remove the driver.
    * When the driver is removed, close all windows.
    7. Click Start, Shut down and select Restart. Click OK.
    8. When the system restarts and the driver of the CD-ROM drive is loaded automatically, insert a CD-ROM to check if the CD-ROM drive works normally.
    * To install the driver of the CD-ROM drive, initialize the BIOS setting values on the BIOS setup menu.
    The procedure may vary depending on VAIO computers. For further information, please refer to the user's manual.

    - For Windows® 2000
    1. Turn off the computer and remove all peripherals except the CD-ROM drive.
    2. Turn on the computer and press the F8 key when Starting Windows® logo appears and start the computer in Safe Mode.
    3. Click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon.
    4. In the System Properties window, click the Hardware tab and click Device Manager. Then click the + mark on the left CD-ROM.
    5. When the driver name appears, select the driver name that wanted to remove and click Action.menu and choose Uninstall.
    6. When the Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears, click OK to remove the driver.
    * When the driver is removed, close all windows.
    7. Click Start, Shut down and select Restart. Click OK.
    8. When the system restarts and the driver of the CD-ROM drive is loaded automatically, insert a CD-ROM to check if the CD-ROM drive works normally.

    - For Windows® Me
    1. Turn off the computer and remove all peripherals except the CD-ROM driver.
    2. Turn on the computer and press the CTRL key to start the system in Safe Mode. Click Here for information on how to start the system in Safe Mode.
    3. When the system starts in Safe Mode, click Start, point to Settings and click Control Panel. Double-click the System icon.
    4. In the System Properties window, click the Device Manager tab. Then click the + mark on the left CD-ROM.
    5. When the driver name appears, select the driver name that wanted to remove and click Remove.
    6. When the Confirm Device Removal dialog box appears, click OK to remove the driver.
    * When the driver is removed, close all windows.
    7. Click Start, Shut down and select Restart. Click OK.
    8. When the system restarts and the driver of the CD-ROM drive is loaded automatically, insert a CD-ROM to check if the CD-ROM drive works normally.
    If reinstallation of the driver does not solve the problem, re-install the entire Windows® (including the set of supplied software) using the Recovery CD.
    Note:
    If Format Recovery is executed, all data in the hard disk drive will be erased. Make sure that important data is backed up to other media such as floppy disks before Windows® is reinstalled.