Now I really did something.
I was having trouble with my ATI TV Tuner Drivers not being install correctly. So as per ATI support, I ATI Display Drivers, restarted the system. Uninstalled Utilities and programs. Restarted my computer, and now I can't do anything with cd's because my system doesn't see my drives.
How can I get these back so I can use them? What happened?
Thank You for your replies.

Sorry, let me start over. The TV tuner driver on my ATI card was missing a driver, or was not properly installed. To fix this per ATI site, I should remove the TV tuner software, then reboot.
Remove the Display drivers, then reboot. Then the ATI Utilities,then reboot.
After the last reboot I went to reinstall and the D & E drives, which are my cd-rom and dvd, where no longer in my computer.
I did this with the add and remove program.
I also removed ATI programs before, but not the display drivers, because of a conflict, but I did'nt have this happen.

Thanks for your time.

Well, there may be a better way to do it, but if that happened to me I would:

1. go into control panel>system to make sure that those drives are check on.

2. reinstall the drivers for both missing drives

3. As a very very last resort. I'd shut down computer, remove both drives, restart computer, shut off, put back drives, then restart computer and have it check for new hardware (make sure you have drivers for both drives handy). But as I said, this should be very very last resort, and I'm sure there's a better way.

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RUN AWAY FROM COMPAQS!!!

After you rebooted from your removal of the display drivers i would hazard to guess you were in safe mode ( all the colors look funky? ) that's becuase you were in 640x480 display, in safe mode windows only loads the basic drivers-so no cd/dvd will be seen-all you have to do is load your correct display drivers for your vid card, reboot and reset your display to 800x600, or 1024x768-depending on your monitor size ( 15" monitor go with the 800x600 ), you should now be in " normal " windows " and you should see all your drives.

There is no need to load any software for windows to recognize your cd/dvd drives, that driver function is built into windows-it will recognize then as standard cd drives-you'll just have to load whatever DVD software you need in order to play DVD movies on your system.

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

I'm guessing with most of the things I'm doing.
Now I understand about safe mode. I don't have any cd drives at all,
I can't locate them anywhere. But I wanted to know since this system is very new and there's nothing on it I need, is it possible to start from scratch, by clearing the bios and hard drives?
Thank You for your replies

Thats a bit drastic; but if you feel you would like to start from scratch, i would suggest you use an OEM windows disk ( probably 98se would be the best choice for you ) then do a complete fdisk and format on the harddrive. Go here (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q255/8/67.ASP) this link will help you understand how to perform these functions.

if you still feel you need help post back and someone will be glad to walk you through the procedure. http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/wink.gif

a note of advice: make sure you have all your driver software cd's/floppies on hand, and back up ( write them down if you have to ) your isp settings, your email address book, and any other files you may have downloaded and wish to keep.

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iisbob
"Soap and education are not as sudden as a massacre, but they are more deadly in the long run."

Thanks iisbob,
I have everything, I built this myself. I also have most infor written down. And also printed out the advanced system information (the whole thing). I don't know if this could help me.

D & E Drives are back.
Seems having to take out my ram sticks so many times, loosen the cable from the ide socket. I was going to disconnect them reboot and connect them again, and it was not even connected.

Thank You for letting me post my rants and questions in so many spots.
You'll never know how much you guy's helped me learn.