# Help With CD-ROM Drive

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [April 17, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429 "2003-04-17T23:08:02Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429/1 "2003-04-17T23:08:02Z")

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Today I got onto my computer only to notice that that the CD-ROM doesn’t work at all. The little orange activity light isn’t flashing, and I get no response when I press the button. I’ve tried restarting. I’ve tried going into the BIOS to make sure the IDE controller is enabled. I’ve tried reverting the hard drive back a day. I can’t use my System Restore CD for obvious reasons. What is wrong with my drive and how can I fix it?

tia

- Lat

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**Author:** ![Doomtrain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/0ea827/32.png) [@Doomtrain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doomtrain)\
**Post date:** [April 17, 2003, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429/2 "2003-04-17T23:29:53Z")

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Try opening up the case (unless you can’t because of warranty stuff) and seeing if the cable has come loose.

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**Author:** ![Lateralus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/35a633/32.png) [@Lateralus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lateralus)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429/3 "2003-04-18T14:06:35Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by GMRyujin \*  
> \*\*Try opening up the case (unless you can’t because of warranty stuff) and seeing if the cable has come loose. \*\*

I checked both the IDE and power cables, and both are in tightly. I was told by someone else that I should just cough up the money for a new one, but my BF1942 CD is still in there, and that damn thing cost me $50!

- Lat

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**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\
**Post date:** [April 18, 2003, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-cd-rom-drive/169429/4 "2003-04-18T14:52:33Z")

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Maybe its the cd? why dont you just put a paperclip in that tiny hole in the front & out comes the cd tray with your cd.