Cannot load device driver??

Okay so here's the problem.. Idk why, but for some reason windows isn't seeing my DVD/CD-rom drive (PBDS DVD+-RW DS-8W1P)... It's way confusing.. It says that either the driver is either missing or corrupt.. And I can't seem to find anything about this problem online or on Dell's website.. Hopefully somebody can help?

 

Try deleting the ide drivers. Windows should install them when rebooted.

 

Ide drivers??? Completely lost..

 

go to the windows menu. then click on run. type in devmgmt.msc.
this will run the device manager. find the CD drive in the list. click on it. make sure it says the device is working properly (it may not, in your case). from here you can delete the drivers. because i'm paranoid (and not as knowledgeable as zaz), i would try to uninstall it, then reboot. then go back to the device manager. see what is up then. go to scan for changes under action and see if it installs.

also, another easy way to fix this problem is to use the restore option. if your drive was working in the past.
goto computer, right click, select properties. on the page that comes up, select advanced system settings. click on the system protection tab. select system restore. if one of the points contained there is at a time point that the drive was working, you can restore that point. note that the system restore will change everything about your profile to the way it was at that set point. this includes all windows settings, drivers, etc. make sure you have all important files backed up to a different drive, just in case.

 

Definitely go to Device Manager. The ide connector connects the optical drive to the motherboard. Sometimes the get out of sorts. You do not need to delete the DVD/CD-ROM. It's below that. The one you want is below that called the "IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers". If you expand it, the optical drive is usually on the secondary channel. Just right click on it and hit uninstall then reboot. It may or may not solve the issue, but is a good place to start.