I have been asked by a friend to get his laptop optical disk working again. He has a Sony Vaio pcg-grx616mp laptop with a removable dvd-cd/rw drive. When slotted in, it lights up and even starts to spin.

I know power is getting through to this drive because I can see it light up. But what is weird is that is is not detected in the device manager.

I've tried to look up drivers on the Sony web site but cannot find the device drivers for this pice of hard ware.

He has windows xp on it which came pre-installed and currently 512mb of ram

He says that it used to be fine ages ago, but when another friend tried to help him install a usb floppy drive onto his laptop, the dvd-cd/rw drive diapeared from My Computer.

Is there any way I can get the drive to be reconised in the device manager or is there any drivers for the drive. Would that make it work?

Any help would be appriciated.

Many thanks,

Nick :)

Is the computer OFF when you install the drive?

In device manager, did you try the search for new devices button?

I installed when it was off and on both don't matter as it won't reconise it no matter what. I've have already done what you have suggested.

Thanks though,

Nick :0)

Does the Disk drive work?

Make sure no pins got bent... I also checked sony's website and didn't even see the 616 listed? Only a 600 or 650?

Is this Vista?

Yeah it works as there is power going into the drive and it spins up. It is just that the drive isn't reconised in device manager. It seems that you were looking on the US site for Vaio's.

The 616MP is a UK model as it is listed on the UK Vaio support web site and not the US one. There is however, device drivers for the drive. Although, I am unclear as to wheather the drivers listed is for the drive that I have. I guess I have to find out.

Nick :)