I have two disc drives--one that reads cds & dvds and one that reads and also burns them. Neither of these will recognize that a disc is even in there--when I try to play the disc or open the file it says "please insert a disc." The dvd burner drive does show how much disc space is available if there is a disc in, and when I try to open it, the menu that should show the disc contents is empty. This happened after we took our computer on a long trip to have a different issue addressed--could something have been jostled loose? Or is it more complicated than that? Any ideas?Open a side panel and check the IDE cable is snug both at the drive end and the MBoard end...I'm sorry...is that the flat, wide cable or the three little wires, red white & black...because those are the ones I've been messing with and one has been COMPLETELY unplugged this whole time...but I out it back in and the PROBLEM REMAINS... thank you and I'm sorry I am so ignorant about this!The ribbon cable is the IDE or data cable...
The other connectors are the power connectors. You may have to try another power CONNECTOR. They do sell extensions if it's a little short.