recovery utility - cannot find cd/dvd recorder

[JungleMunkey]

Hi Guys

Tried a search but couldnt find a definite answer, i have just sent my laptop back to sony for a repair under warranty due to the dvd recorder not working.

The letter i received back with it says that it was replaced/repaired.

however i am trying to make a recovery disc and i keep getting the error message

"cannot find the cd or dvd recorder

the recorder may be in use

check your recorder then restart the vaio recovery utility"

Can you offer any advice on how i can solve this? i thought that by sending the laptop back it would be fixed?

thanks!
JM

[Blencogo]

Hi JM,

Check in Start -> (My) Computer and see if your DVD-RW is listed along with Local Disc C:, Memory Stick and SD drives.

What is the Drive Letter? This is usually F:\ but may have been changed. If it has been changed, the Recovery Utility may not be able to find it.

Check in Device Manager under DVD/CD-ROM Drives to see if your DVD-RW drive is listed. Double-click on it to see if it is installed and working correctly. If there is an error code, come back here with the number and we will see if it can be fixed easily.

[JungleMunkey]

Hi Blencogo

thanks for your reply!

you're right!

i have 2 cd/dvd drives listed - the correct working one is listed as E and there is another one (possibly the old one?) that is F.

Do you know how i can change the letters over at all?
Thanks for your help

[Blencogo]

Yes, it is probably looking for F:\

Try this: -

* Start
* Control Panel
* Administrative Tools folder
* Computer Management
* Double click on Disk Management (left, bottom)
* Maximize the dialog box size or scroll down the list of drives
* Right click the drive letter
* Change the drive letter
* Reboot when prompted

Good Luck.

[JungleMunkey]

thanks 🐵

just having one slight problem... there is only one drive listed in disk management which is mapped as E... but when i try and change it to F it isnt there in the drop down menu?

Thanks for all of your help on this i really really appreciate it!

[JungleMunkey]

aha! i fixed the previous problem it was an old installation of ultra iso.

i have now changed the drive letter but it is still giving me the same error message.

there are no errors listed in device manager.

thanks for your help on this one!

[Blencogo]

Sorry - just been out to feed the horse!

I'm not sure what to do next - perhaps someone who has had the problem will see this thread tomorrow.

Have you tried uninstalling the drive(s) in Device Manager and rebooting to reinstall it under the new drive letter. It may put it right.

[JungleMunkey]

ooooh i love horses

sadly that didnt work either 😞

fingers crossed someone can help - im desperate to reinstall windows before my laptop dies completely

Thanks again Blencogo

[Blencogo]

What are you trying to reinstall, the original OS or your own retail OS?

You can reinstall the original OS without discs by restoring directly from the recovery partition.

What model do you have? XP or Vista?

[JungleMunkey]

ah I'm trying to downgrade Vista on a fe41s to XP.


But i suppose i could try restoring from the recovery partition and then making a recovery disc after, would that work do you think?

Thanks :smileygrin: