My computer will not read CDs

[Fallen Angel]

Want to know something amusing? My pc wont let me uninstall it!
I went to the device manager, right clicked on the drive, clicked uninstall, restarted the pc...and it was still there. I uninstalled it twice.

That's because it automatically re-detects and installs it on startup.
You will not be promted in anyway. The unistallation itself was succesfull, but because it's immidiately reinstalled, you'll never get confirmation of that fact

[FFLeader]

But it still doesn't work. I'll get in touch with Dell, and I'll see if I have to buy a new drive....bugger.

[wadi]

But it still doesn't work. I'll get in touch with Dell, and I'll see if I have to buy a new drive....bugger.

Right there, there's your problem. DELL. I have had nothing but headaches with them recently, and I don't mean little stuff I'm sorta upset about either:

1.) Almost EVERYTHING they use that doesn't have a dell logo on it (I.E. the drive IN the case, the memory IN the case, anything without a physical little DELL logo) is substandard at best. I lost 3 harddrives in one laptop because they kept sending me fucking hitachi POS's and refurbished IBM travelstars with problem histories a mile long.
2.) They've out sourced their tech support to FUCKING INDIA. Now, usually this wouldn't piss me off except for one small detail. THEY DON'T SPEAK ENGLISH IN INDIA. As if dealing with STUPID ENGLISH SPEAKING call center people was hard enough! I had this shit-for-brains asshat douche bag with the thicked goddamn accent I've ever heard try to tell me the defective monitor they sent me was MY PROBLEM because my RADEON 9600 WAS INCOMPATIBLE WITH THEIR DEVICE! Everything's industry spec, and I tested the card and cable with other monitors. To top it off, after I finally convinced him that _maybe_ it was DELL's fault, he FUCKING TRANSFERRED ME TO A CLOSED DIVISION. I think I used fuck, fucking, fucktard, and fucking-idiot-douche-bag-shit-for-brains-indian-piece-of-english-illiterate-shitn the "helpful" customer satisfaction survey they sent me 4 GODDAMN TIMES after the call was over.

I finally did get the monitor returned, and their flat panels are still probably the best value on the market. BUT! AVOID DELL LIKE THE PLAGUE ON COMPUTERS AND PRAY TO GOD YOU'LL NEVER HAVE TO CALL YOUR TECH SUPPORT IF YOU DO.

Try emailing them instead. They're absolute ass faces about having an express service code. Too bad they don't put those on their peripherals (like monitors).

Fucking Dell.

[Fallen Angel]

But it still doesn't work. I'll get in touch with Dell, and I'll see if I have to buy a new drive....bugger.

You're drive itself is probably FUBAR.
One last thing you could try: remove your IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers (primary and secundairy) in the device manager. You'll be prompted to restart and the controllers will be reinstalled on startup. Not sure if you need the Windows cd-rom (which ever version you have installed) to reinstall, but I don't believe so.

[FFLeader]

I think I'll get on to Dell before I try anything else. I'll post whatever crap response I get.

[Mr. Peanuts]

Ja, my friend had a Dell and he had to completely sack off uprgrading it, I mean small upgrades cause Dell are a load of wankers and I cant be arsed explaining the fucking problem.

[Dark Commando]

Dell is shit, sell you're computer ASAP and buy a new one. If you're lucky you will find one of those 'Dell Fanatics'

[Mr. Peanuts]

FFLeader, get an Alienware with me man.

[FFLeader]

FFLeader, get an Alienware with me man.

Excuse the Newbie response but what's Alienware?

[wadi]

Excuse the Newbie response but what's Alienware?

A pretty name to candy coat your overpriced hardware. They look like crap, peanuts has been blinded by the hype. No one needs LEDs on their RAM, no one.

[Mr. Peanuts]

good thing you dont get LEDs on your RAM then isnt it...

well over here theyre relatively cheap for what you can get...