# My CD ROM is dead...why?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [September 8, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180 "2003-09-08T00:02:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Vlad\_M.Paler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/d26b3c/32.png) [@Vlad\_M.Paler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vlad_M.Paler)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180/1 "2003-09-08T00:02:41Z")

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My CDROM/CDRW drive has been disabled but I can’t figure out why. I’ve got the most current drivers installed, but when I go to “Add New Hardware” and I see the list, there’s an icon next to my CD drive with a red X, and a code 22, the hardware has been disabled. I then have Windows try and fix it, and a screen immediately pops up, “Windows could not fix the problem” WTF?

Anyone know what else I can do?

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**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180/2 "2003-09-08T00:30:27Z")

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Try “removing” the drive and re-boot. The system should recognize the drive and find the correct drivers.

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**Author:** ![Horseflesh](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/horseflesh/32/7502_2.png) [@Horseflesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Horseflesh)\
**Post date:** [September 8, 2003, 2:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180/3 "2003-09-08T02:12:53Z")

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Have you clicked the “Enable Device” button?

It could also be that your IDE controllers don’t have the correct drivers loaded. Depending on your operating system you may have to change these instructions around a bit: Open Device Manager, locate Hard Disk Controllers and expand it. You should see at least 3 entries, Primary IDE controller, Secondary IDE controller, and your chipset Bus Master Controller (mine says VIA). Check the status of each and ensure a driver is loaded for each device.

But try **Mr. Blue Sky** ’s suggestion first by deleting the reference to your CD drive in the CDROM section of the Device Manager.

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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:** [September 8, 2003, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-cd-rom-is-dead-why/200180/4 "2003-09-08T15:03:28Z")

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I need to know the version of Windows before answering. Also, did you put in any new cd software lately?