Expert: Roy Bonner - 7/21/2004

Question
Here is my sysinfo:

OS Name   Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
Version   5.1.2600 Service Pack 1 Build 2600
OS Manufacturer   Microsoft Corporation
System Name   XEN
System Manufacturer   HP Pavilion 061
System Model   DM181A-ABA A305W
System Type   X86-based PC
Processor   x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 9 GenuineIntel ~2690 Mhz
BIOS Version/Date   Award Software, Inc. 3.17, 10/16/2003
SMBIOS Version   2.3
Windows Directory   C:\WINDOWS
System Directory   C:\WINDOWS\System32
Boot Device   \Device\HarddiskVolume2
Locale   United States
Hardware Abstraction Layer   Version = "5.1.2600.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920)"
User Name   XEN\Owner
Time Zone   Eastern Daylight Time
Total Physical Memory   512.00 MB
Available Physical Memory   287.47 MB
Total Virtual Memory   1.69 GB
Available Virtual Memory   1.33 GB
Page File Space   1.20 GB
Page File   C:\pagefile.sys

And here is my cd-rom info:

Drive   E:
Description   CD-ROM Drive
Media Loaded   No
Media Type   CD-ROM
Name   ASUS CRW-4824AH
Manufacturer   (Standard CD-ROM drives)
Status   OK
Transfer Rate   Not Available
SCSI Target ID   0
PNP Device ID   IDE\CDROMASUS_CRW-4824AH_________________________0.89____\5&33166EC3&0&0.0.0
Driver   c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys (5.1.2600.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920), 46.38 KB (47,488 bytes), 8/8/2003 12:18 PM)
  
Drive   G:
Description   CD-ROM Drive
Media Loaded   No
Media Type   CD-ROM
Name   JLMS XJ-HD166S
Manufacturer   (Standard CD-ROM drives)
Status   OK
Transfer Rate   Not Available
SCSI Target ID   1
PNP Device ID   IDE\CDROMJLMS_XJ-HD166S__________________________DS18____\5&33166EC3&0&0.1.0
Driver   c:\windows\system32\drivers\cdrom.sys (5.1.2600.1106 (xpsp1.020828-1920), 46.38 KB (47,488 bytes), 8/8/2003 12:18 PM)

My problem sir is: my drive E cd-rw no longer works. It does not read or write anything. I can not find any drivers or info on the web about this cd-rw. It ejects and the light flashes but nothing happens. The computer recognizes that it is there and says it is "working properly." I added the dvd player and the cd-rw worked fine for a while. the computer is less than 1 yr old.
If you have any info on an updated driver or what my problem may be I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance. Dan

Answer
Hi Dan, I'm rather afraid that the laser in this drive has died. The life of the laser while dependant on a number of things, averages anything from 6 months to a couple of years, with 9 - 15 months being average. Mind you, the price of a new writer is now such that you have to consider that they are now little more than a disposable item.

Regards

Roy