DVD Recordable drive disappeared!!

[nearly]

The DVD drive on my T42 has become unrecognisable under Windows (XP SP1). No drive letter shows up on Explorer, and the Control Panel Device Manager shows the yellow exclamation mark and reports under Properties: "
Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)."

It was working a week ago, so tried System Restore to that point, but no good. Can't be the unit because it works tests ok under hardware tests run from Access IBM at startup (i.e. before WIndows loads). Tried Safe Mode but that doesn't allow recognition either.

Trying to avoid restoring to shipping condition if I can help it, so any advice on possible causes and/or things to try greatly appreciated!

[skanky]

it may sound a little basic, but i assume you've tried taking the drive out of the machine then putting it back in again?

[nearly]

'fraid so

[lavalamp]

Check any flash drive and all other devices with a drive letter connected via USB or Firewire. Disconnect all drives and restart - the drive should return.

[tselling]

You can also try uninstalling the drive in Device Manager and letting it be detected again.

[MadeInJapan]

Look up your error code in Google search. Something similar happened to me awhile back. I had intalled and uninstalled EZCD/DVD Creator and this was a known error in Win2K/XP when you install/uninstall that software. Anyway, with registery editting recommended at microsoft's site with info about the specific code error, I was up and running again. Check here (very helpful): http://www.cdrom-guide.com/forums/showt ... 544&page=1

[nearly]

Thanks MadeInJapan - the registry edit did the trick. I had tried the uninstall and re-detect as recommended in the MS description I had found for code 41 but to no avail.

Great stuff!!

[MadeInJapan]

Great! I'm glad my previous problem and solution helped someone here.