XP Pro - software install knocked out CD drives

[gannmaster]

I have a small network with a win2k3 server and various windows clients, one of which is running XP Pro. I use it for development and the only software on it is Visual Studio and a couple of proprietary analytical programs. It is fully patched. At some point the OS has started being unable to find the CD drives, which I think coincided with the installation of one of the proprietary analysis programs. I can see the CD drives if I boot with a floppy, and they are seen by the BIOS at startup... I have checked in device manager and they are not there so I can't use the hardware troubleshooter wizard... I can't think of anything else to try....

Has anyone seen this sort of behaviour before and know of a solution other than scrapping and reinstalling (which would just be a pain)...

Thanks

[GreenV8S]

Roll back the recent installation and see if that helps?

[chris watton]

A long shot I know, but the jumpers at the back of the CD drives haven't been knocked off, have they? Also, try disconnecting one of the drives, and boot up and see if Windows can see it. You never know...

[BliarOut]

Device Manager > View > Show Hidden Devices.

Check the driver and reinstall as appropriate.

[gannmaster]

OK thanks for the suggestions guys.. Device manager -> hidden devices does not show any DVD/CD-ROM drives... I am about to pull it out of the rack and check all the jumpers connections etc, but failing that it's a rebuild..

thanks again for your input

[gannmaster]

success... just disconnected one of the drives and the other is now visible.. disk access light has gone out as well

[pdV6]

I was going to suggest a dead drive on the cable, but it looks like you've found it.