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Solution : Lost DVD/CD-ROM icon on Sony laptop Windows 7

Mar 21, 2015 1:32AM PDT

Suddenly, without any warnng, l lost the E:/ icon and could do nothing with DVD's/CD's - the drive was locked tight !
After ages of trying out all sorts of complicated registry manipulations offered on numerous forums (I started feeling like a blind neural surgeon), I spotted one method which sounded very simple and strange, BUT IT WORKED.

Run down and turn off laptop, remove battery, leave for about a minute or 2, replace battery, turn on computer, and lo and behold on My Computer the E:/ has returned ! I guarantee nothing, but it worked with me.

Discussion is locked

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As noted at Bob's advice here at link.
Mar 21, 2015 1:37AM PDT
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Thanks, Daffyyd,
Mar 22, 2015 11:32PM PDT

I hadn't found the link previously. Problem: it happened again today! Removing battery helped again, but why is this happening??????
Bob

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Could be like a cranky car.
Mar 23, 2015 2:53AM PDT

Something's up. It hasn't failed totally yet. There were/still are BIOS that test for the drive existence on boot and if the drive is taking longer to spin up or be ready this happens. I'm not writing that's it but you will encounter this from time to time. I tend to have 2 answers. 1. Do nothing and wait for the failure. 2. Swap in a new part I suspect (BIOS battery, drive, etc.) and then re-test.
Bob