My HP a420n was working fine.To replace the cd-rw drive with a dvd-rw drive I turned the computer off, removed the power cord and replaced the drive (I wore an anti-static wrist band). I then pushed the power button - and nothing happened. No fans moving or noise of any kind. The power is on to everything else (monitor, speakers, Linskys modem & router, etc.)I am now using our old Dell with the Linksys adapter. So I removed the new dvd-rw drive and re-installed the old cd-rw. Still now power. I then removed that drive and left the drive slot empty. Still no power. There is a green light blinking in the back of the tower. When unplugged it blinks slowly but speeds up when I connect the power cord.I read where this may only mean the the network is active. I have checked and re-checked all of the connections and now have no idea what to do. I hope this does not require a new power supply. I already spent $240 including installation for a new hard drive about 6 months ago. Any help will be greatly appreciated. jim

Open "My Computer".
Is the CD-writer shown as a device?
If not, then the Nero software cannot find the "not-attached" CD-recorder device.

Turn the computer off. Remove the power-cord.
Check the "power" and "data" connections to the CD-recorder.

If all else fails, spend $40 to buy a replacement CD/DVD reader/writer.

hi.. go to this link.. www.techpot.info.. the website will ask u for login user ID and password.. ID = mygoal Pass = 2help..
once in.. go to models on top.. and then enter the model number u provided on next page click option.. PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS.. then go to the option that says CHASSIS.. click it.. and u will get a Detailed link on how u can take each and every part out of ur computer.. cheers and regards :-P..

Try a cold boot. Shut down the computer. Remove the battery. Unplug the power cord. Wait at least five minutes. Start up the computer. If still does not work, go to device manager --> CD/DVD drives. Uninstall the Optiarc drive. Go to Actions --> Scan for Hardware Changes, or simply reboot to reinstall the drive.

First, try a new USB cable. Two, try a different USB port (if using a hub, directly connect to the computer). Three, check if there are any updated drivers or firmware for the drive.

Cindy Wells
(also make sure that the external drive is self-powered that the cord is undamaged and the power isn't surging or going into a brown-out. If it is one of the new bus-powered DVD drives, make sure that the computer has a good power source (not on battery for a laptop).)

motherboard or cpu failure. or possibly power supply.

Please try to remove all the connections from your computer and also connections inside the motherboard, the power cord for your hard drives and also the power cord from the power supply to your motherboard.After that, remove the memory and clean the pin by using an eraser of the pencil. And then insert again the memory stick and connect all the connections from the power supply to motherboard and everything. Lastly reset your bios and put it back to normal again. Hope this would help. Thanks..

When this happen the problem is usually the CD drive, even if a virus can cause same problem.
To test if the problem is software, go to bios or boot options, set primary bot device CD/DVD, and start the computer with a boot disk inside.When asked chose boot from CD.

If the computer does not see the dvd drive, and does not ask you if to boot from CD on this conditions, then you have a faulty DVD RW drive.

Try first removing the DVD drive and refitting it in place, after removing battery and unplugging the AC adapter cord.

If that does not work, you usually need to replace the driver, even if on rare circumstances a faulty motherboard can cause the same.
That is however quite unusual.

the most common is a faulty optical drive.

Hello Rfd832,
What I see from the description is that the drive is a combo drive. Combo drives are CD-RW and DVD-ROM drives means
CD-RW = Compact Disk-Read Write
DVD-ROM = Digital Versatile Disk - Read Only Memory
so these drives can read and write CDs but can only read DVDs (Cannot write or burn DVDs)
If you want to be able to burn DVDs then you need to have DVD RW drive (either DVD+RW or DVD-RW)

You said that you are able to burn DVDs on other computer so please check the label on the DVD drive.. it should be DVD-RW/DVD+RW drive


Hope that helps.. :)

Thanks and Regards,
Srinivas

There is a screw (tiny machine screw) that holds the entire DVD/CD assembly in place. Usually this screw is located by looking on the bottom of the laptop and has a little picture of a cd embossed in the plastic. Sometimes this screw is under a "lid" such as the cover for the RAM or HDD, depending on how your laptop is engineereed.

Find this screw, unscrew it, set it aside and them pull entire cd/dvd assembly from computer. Replace the cd/dvd drive into the slot you pulled it out firmly and quickly.

Turn on and test reading of CD/DVD.

If love is found, replace screw holding asembly, etc.
If no love, replace CD/DVD drive.

Other sources of love:

correct cd/dvd driver.
remove/replace cd/dvd driver
update cd/dvd driver

First ensure ya DVD is OK in BIOS, IE: Ensure the Drive Table shows it "Active". Otherwise the drive is faulty & must be replaced. If OK, Then Boot, & go to Device Manager & right click the DVD & "Uninstall Driver" when asked if you want to totally removal/remove all files say Yes. Then close down & turn power off, then open PC & disconnect the DVD drives Power & Data Cable.. then reboot.. Get to the desktop and then shutdown & Turn the PC OFF, then reconnect Power & Cable, restart PC. Windows should "Detect" the "New" DVD and pretty much "Just work".. it may ask for "Drivers" if you have got them, point it in the right direction of the Driver files & install If windows doesn't "Detect" & install driver & and pretty much "just work" after this.. then again your device is faulty. If it's not working, then ya gotta replace the DVD with a new one, when doing so, just do as above to install.. Connect Power & then the Data Cable, etc.. etc.. and ya should be all good.. as usually if it's a good one.. they just work..