cd rom troubles

[NotHisTechiness]

a hallmate of mine has for some reason gained the ability of not being able to use his cdroms. windows doesn't detect them and says there is a possible registry error. i tried to fix the registry to no avail using the advice it gave me. now the dilly of the pickle comes from the bios where the bios supposedly reads it but when i placed a windows cd in there it didn't boot up. also, we can't swap hardware cause he forgot his key to his case (one of the antec ones). here are his specs
asus p3v4x
coppermine 600 @ 800
256 pc133
2 maxtor 30 gb's
HP 8100 4x burner
toshiba cdrom

[Shadow ÒÓ]

obviously it's going to be tough if you can't even get in to the case, but does the bios recognize them on boot up?

If not, you may have a bad ide controller.

[Yodums]

So the case is completely SEALED?

Tool needed for this procedure a saw! To cut the lock :D

Well anyways if he can go into the bios and set the detecting of all the IDE controllers then it will boot all your hard drives and detect the cd-rom and cdrw at the bootup.

[WyrmMaster]

or if you really want to get messy a plasma cutter would do the trick quite nicly. :D :D

[FRANK]

It sounds to me like the CD ROM is done. What's the environment like where the computer is located, I have a problem with CD ROMs here. Two smokers living in the house and the computers running 24/7 has taken it's toll on these devices. I go through one every two months or so between six / seven computers.

These devices can still be detected during POST but will not function properly. I've read that smoke in particular is a big contributing factor.

I hope this helps.

Good Luck!

[NotHisTechiness]

it's a smoke free enviroment, and his room is around 70ish. and i think the cdroms are done too if not some other hardware. we'll have to see when we open it up. thanks for all of you help, i appreciate it

[Bonka]

Check the cables. If that's not the problem, check the back of the cdroms and see if you have any of the pins pushed in. That will detect in bios but not in windows. This usually happens when your cables have one pinhole blocked to make sure you plug it in the right way, but some people like the word "force". I had that problem before. Pull the pin(s) out with a set of pliers. If that's not the problem, looks like something is shot.