Ok I have Windows Xp home on a laptop (sony pcg-xg18) upgraded from a windows 98. The CD drive (Toshiba SD-C2202) started to not work every once in a while and slowly degraded and worked less and less. It seemed like that laser was messed up becasue it spun until it REALIZED there was no disc then stopped. I couldnt find a cure so finally I bought another one. I slid it into my computer and the light went on, I can hear it spin and everything. It kept spinning too. When I go to my computer there is no cd drive. When i go to device manager there is no cd drive. When I go to install new hardware there isnt even a section of cd drive software to browse through. When go to my BIOS it is there, but in windows there is not a trace. There is no "ding ding" sound when i PLUG it in or anything. But it still spins and has power and WHATNOT. Please help. Ive tried everything.Laptop repair is a specialised BUSINESS. Maybe you should take it to a repair shop for an estimate.
Is the drive is 'snugly' plugged in / checked the insertion bay for any obstructions / returned & tried another drive / looked in Safe Mode to see if it's there? After looking in SM, if you see it, or any other CDROM drive in Device Manager, delete everything and reboot.

Alan <&GT;< Was the drive new or an eBay item ? ?