laptop satellite 1800 series.the tape under DVD-cd ROM tore in half. i picked up a compatible CD ROM and installed it. the power LIGHTS light up, but wen i hit "my puter" it is not there. i have installed ( and REMOVED) many different drivers, and still it is not detected.am running off windows xp,

if it will work can i just swap the tape form the CD ROM to the DVD ROM? otherwise, how can we make the new ( second hand) CD ROM work? i must format and reinstall windows cause the puter is too slow, thank you very much for your help,
crashbBy "tape" do you mean the data cable that connects the drive to the motherboard?  If that is what you mean then you'll need to replace it.

Alan &LT;><  can i replace it with the one on the cd rom? otherwise im getting that it is impossible to find just that, and toshiba wants 300$ for the cd-dvd-rom? thanksCheck here:

http://www.impactcomputers.com/p000322660.html

If you think that's the part I'd call them and verify.

Alan <><  no it doesnt look like it, it is the black one under neath the cd dvd rom, with gold on the other side, from the part that attached to the inside of the laptop, to the eye are of the dvd rom, tahnks , any othe rhelp is REALLY appreciated,