Windows 7: DVD/CD ROM Drive Incompatible

I have a Windows 7 (other details below) and since Day 2, the DVD/CD rom drive has not worked, it only worked when we used it to set-up the computer on Day 1. (To give you an idea of how long it's been, as I am posting this it is about Day 480.) This disability wasn't much of a problem to me because I don't really use CDs (I'm more digital), until recently when I had a sudden craving to play Roller Coaster Tycoon. RCT only runs when there is a CD in the drive, but that is the problem when my CD drive doesn't work.



I looked in the Devise Manager and under the "DVD/CD-ROM Drives" my "HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH41N SCSI CdRom Devise" had the little yellow caution triangle in front of the icon. Right clicking it and selecting "Properties" shows: I didn't install any other drivers, so I don't understand this. I don't know how to find the drivers on my computer so I don't know how to enable the disabled driver that I never disabled. However, it is definitely a problem with the driver because my dad and I used Linux on a thumb drive and booted that, and it read the CD just fine. I am able to use the "Linux on a Stick" to move files from the CD to my computer, but this is a long and tedious process as I need to always switch to Linux to copy something from a CD, and I am unable to use the CD with Windows like playing RCT.

If anyone can help, I will be satisfied with two solutions:
1: How to get the driver to work so my CD drive will be recognised (by Windows)
2: How to get my games to run without needing the CD (don't worry, I have the physical copies) (though this is a little inappropriate to ask in a place like this) I think this is called a virtual drive, but no matter what I have tried I haven't figured out how to get one to work
I would prefer help on the first more than the second, but either is fine for me right now. My main goal here is to not spend a hundred dollars on another CD Drive (either internal or external) or to restore to factory settings.


My computer info:
OS: Windows 7, Home Premium, 64 Bit
Model: Acer Aspire X1301
Faulty driver: HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH41N SCSI CdRom Devise driver (I don't know what it is).
Username: NosirrahK
Password: ***** (Yeah right)

Welcome NosirrahK

In Device Manager can you right click on the CD/DVD drive, then click on Properties.
Then click on the Tab that says Driver, then choose Update Driver

Hey Doc, thanks for welcoming me.

Unfortunately, I'm afraid that clicking "Update driver" doesn't work (I meant to say that in my post, and I did, but I edited it, didn't proofread carefully, and deleted it). I click "Update", "Search Automatically", then it says my driver is up-to-date and already installed, but it still doesn't read any CDs. I think it is because another driver has the same function, disabling the driver that actually works. I know almost nothing about drivers, I just know they are programmes that allow the computer to communicate with devises.

Thanks for the thought, though.

Have you tried Uninstall Driver, then immediately power down & re-Boot the computer to see if it automatically finds the latest driver ?

Yes I tried Uninstalling and rebooting, but even that didn't work. The driver was found, but still had the caution symbol on the icon and still didn't read any CDs.

(This is going to be my last post til tomorrow. It's 10.30 pm here in California and I need to sleep. If you reply now I'll check it tomorrow after school.)

Have you tried this? Microsoft Fix it Solution Center: troubleshooting software issues

Yep, I tried the Microsoft Fix it, it still doesn't work.

What I did:
Step 1: Open the Microsoft Fix it
Step 2: Clicked Accept
Step 3: Clicked "Detect problems and let me select the fixes to apply"
Step 4: Looked at the diagnosis slide and made sure my CD ROM was clicked and clicked Detailed Report
Step 5: Looked at the Issues slide and tried to soak all the info in
*- It says my devise is detectable, but has a code 32 error, which means something
Step 6: Clicked Next and Next again
Step 7: Yelled at the computer for discovering the obvious "Problem detected with [CD ROM] Devise".
Step 8: Clicked Next and waited
Step 9: Clicked View Detailed Report
*- It says that my CD drive is still faulty
Step 10: Clicked Next and Clicked No and clicked Submit and clicked the Close X.

I need to go soon, but I think I found out what might help all of us figure out this problem.

Is this a desktop or laptop computer. I tried searching for this model drive & not sure what kind it is ??? IDE, SATA, SCSi ?

OK thanks for this info. Maybe this will help you further; CD/DVD-ROM drive error code 32 - Microsoft Answers

I believe its a desktop Doc