laptop problems

[Thrasher]

I have a Dell Inspiron 3800 laptop. It has Windows ME installed. Recently the CD-RW drive has quit working. It notices if I put a CD in and I can hear it spinning around but it just says the CD is blank. I don't know what is wrong with it.

I am hoping that it is just a problem with the drivers and that reinstalling windows will fix it. The only problem is that if the CD drive is not working, I can't use the Install-CD to reinstall.

Im am not really a windows user and my normal computer is a mac but here is what I'm thinking: I can use my mac to copy all the files from the install CD onto a compact flash card. Then I can plug the card reader in to the laptop. Then I can run the reinstall program from the CF card

Will this work?

Do I need to make the laptop boot up from the CF card? if so, how do I do this?

Is there any way to reinstall without it deleting all of my files, programs etc...?

 

[ESPNSTI]

I doubt that reinstalling Windows will fix it, but copying to compact flash ought to work.
Don't boot from flash though, just copy the files from the flash card to your HDD and run the install from your hdd.
You can install on top of you existing Windows, however I've never found that to be a very clean way of doing things.
If you're going to reinstall, I'd start from scratch.

However, I very much doubt that it will fix your problem, it sounds more like there is physically something wrong with your CD-RW drive.
Have you tried a cleaning CD?
Have you tried updating / re-applying the drive's firmware?

If possible, take out the drive and connect it to another laptop and see if it has the same symptoms.

 

[Thrasher]

No I have not tried a cleaning CD. There doesn't appear to be any dust on the lens thing.
I have not re-updated/installed any drivers. I don't really know where to get the drivers from.

I would take the drive out and put it in another laptop but i don't have another laptop or know anyone who has a laptop that the drive is compatible with.

The only reason that I don't order a new drive is that i don't really know if it is the software or hardware problem and I don't want to waste $50 if the new one doesn't work and I can't return it

 

[ESPNSTI]

I don't think CD drives really come with drivers for Windows, I think Windows just has a generic built in one.
You can maybe uninstall the drive (go to device manager, right click on the drive, click uninstall), and then reboot. (it should try to reinstall it)

Firmware is maybe something you can look in to.
What is the exact make / model of your drive?

 

[Thrasher]

The drive is made by sony for dell as a dell product. The drive itself says CRX-700 and in device manager it says BRX-700D

 

[ESPNSTI]

I couldn't find anything.
It's not listed on Sony (probably since it's an OEM drive).
Your best bet is to look on www.dell.com, use the "my account" link.
They'll probably prompt for serial numbers and such, and then they might show info about your computer and available updates.

 

[Z102]

Those symptoms seem to indicate the drive is dead. I don't think Windows needs drivers for CDs since back in Win 3.1. As ESPNSTI suggested try updating the firmware. But if it's a lens problem (which seems very likely), I'm afraid you will have to replace it.