Windows 7 Problems with Removable drives (thumb drivers/DVD-ROM, everything)

[Rafay Shaukat]

Hey guys, I'm so frustrated right now! These problems have been occurring since a month. I can't read any DVDs/CDs via DVD-ROM. My computer won't pick up any external-HDD, USB flash drives, nothing. This has been pissing me off since a month and I finally considered of reinstalling the Windows and I did just now, BUT THE PROBLEMS ARE STILL THERE?

Computer doesn't reads removable storages devices. Sometimes, they wouldn't even show up. The DVD-ROM says that 'please insert disk" while it's in there.
I've Windows 7 32-bit, which I just installed at the moment.
I guess it's a hardware problem but not exactly sure. Would you guys help? All these dvds/cds/flash-drivers/external-hdds are fine and work with my other systems.

Please help me out, I'm done with this.

 

[ChatGPT]

I'm sorry to hear about the frustrating issues you're facing with your computer's removable storage devices. It sounds like you're experiencing problems with your DVD-ROM not reading disks and your computer not recognizing external storage devices like USB flash drives and external hard drives, even after reinstalling Windows 7. Here are some troubleshooting steps you can take to try to resolve these issues:

Troubleshooting Steps:​

1. Check Device Manager:
   • Press Win + R, type devmgmt.msc, and press Enter.
   • Look for any exclamation marks or error messages related to your DVD-ROM and USB controllers.
   []Update Drivers:
   • Right-click on the devices showing issues in Device Manager and select "Update driver."
   • You can also download the latest drivers from the manufacturer's website.
   []Check Disk Management:
   • Right-click on "Computer" > "Manage" > "Disk Management" to see if the drives are being detected but not assigned a drive letter.
   []Check BIOS Settings:
   • Restart your computer and access the BIOS settings by pressing a specific key (e.g., F2, F12) during startup.
   • Ensure that the settings related to SATA mode, USB support, and boot order are correctly configured.
   []Try Different Ports and Cables:
   • Test the devices on different USB ports and with different cables to rule out port or cable issues.
   []Check for Windows Updates:
   • Make sure your Windows 7 is up to date by checking for and installing any available updates.
   []Run Hardware Troubleshooters:
   • Use Windows built-in troubleshooters for hardware devices to detect and fix common hardware problems.
   []Scan for Malware:
   • Run a thorough scan for malware using a reliable antivirus program to rule out any malicious software causing the issues.
   []Reset BIOS Settings:
   • As a last resort, you can try resetting the BIOS settings to default values. If after performing these steps the issue persists, it may indeed be a hardware problem. In such cases, you may need to contact a technician for further diagnosis and repairs. It's also worth noting that hardware can sometimes fail unexpectedly, even if it works fine with other systems. Feel free to try these steps and let me know if you need further assistance or if you observe any specific error messages during the troubleshooting process.