Please can somebody help me? 

The disk player burner just quit working with no reasoning behind it.  I seriously need it.  I have some very important stuff that is in need to utilize it.  I just tried to download a new driver with no avail.  My computer does not recognize it at all. 

I am not a hardware geek.  I do more programming/running of software and learning graphic design.  Please if you have some advice help me out.

1) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop?

2) What operating system are you using?

3) By "not recognized at all" do you mean the drive no longer works for any function? (read, write, play audio or video etc.)

     If it is a laptop try removing the drive from it's bay and gently blow out the connectors on the drive and in the bay while the laptop is off. Reinsert the drive and start the laptop. See if the operating system finds the drive.

1) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop?

Laptop

2) What operating system are you using?

Sorry to say that I have Vista.

3) By "not recognized at all" do you mean the drive no longer works for any function? (read, write, play audio or video etc.)

That is correct.  It no longer works for any function.  It will open and when I put in a disk it sometimes tries to read it but then does nothing.  However, it does not show that it even has it in my computer at all.

Thank you Jim B I will try that.  Hopefully that is the problem.  I just wish it was the kind that I could just slip out from the side instead of having to take the whole back off to get to it.

1) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop?

Laptop

2) What operating system are you using?

Sorry to say that I have Vista.

3) By "not recognized at all" do you mean the drive no longer works for any function? (read, write, play audio or video etc.)

That is correct.  It no longer works for any function.  It will open and when I put in a disk it sometimes tries to read it but then does nothing.  However, it does not show that it even has it in my computer at all.

Thank you Jim B I will try that.  Hopefully that is the problem.  I just wish it was the kind that I could just slip out from the side instead of having to take the whole back off to get to it.

1) Is the computer a laptop or a desktop?

Laptop

2) What operating system are you using?

Sorry to say that I have Vista.

3) By "not recognized at all" do you mean the drive no longer works for any function? (read, write, play audio or video etc.)

That is correct.  It no longer works for any function.  It will open and when I put in a disk it sometimes tries to read it but then does nothing.  However, it does not show that it even has it in my computer at all.

Thank you Jim B I will try that.  Hopefully that is the problem.  I just wish it was the kind that I could just slip out from the side instead of having to take the whole back off to get to it.

Kelly

If the contacts turn out to NOT be the problem, you may have to replace the drive.

Usually, failure of ALL function means the drive has "died" &MUST be replaced.

With connector problems, only a FEW of the functions fail!