CD ROM Hang Up

No CD in my CD unit, but the CD light keeps blinking like there is, and the little CD symbol stays on beside the mouse arrow on the desktop.
When I re-boot to try to straighten it out, the computer hangs up on the Dell logo UNLESS the CD tray is out, and then the symbol disappears and all re-boots and works fine with the CD tray OUT.
When the CD tray is IN is the only time that I've having this problem.
It's a 1998 Dell 40X Max Variable CD ROM.
I have Pentium II, and WIN XP Home OS.
Is there some updated software somewhere that I can get to straighten this out? Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Mike
Computer Illiterate

 

You might try uninstalling it in Device Manager and letting XP reinstall it at boot time. Honestly, I think it may be time for a new one if it won't work at all with any CD and exhibits these boot time problems.

 

Thanks, Chris.
I've already tried uninstalling it in Device Manager. Didn't work.
Rats. With the bucks that I've already put into this old dog this year, I probably could have bought two new ones. LOL
It's looking more and more like it's time.
Thanks again.
Mike

 

What happens when you disconnect the CD drive itself and then reboot? Try removing the driver with the drive removed, and then after booting, reboot with it connected, and install it.

 

Thanks, Bob.
I also disconnected the CD unit and re-booted, but nothing changed.
I'm not sure that I follow you on "removing the driver with the drive removed, and then after booting, reboot it with it connected and install it".
Does that mean?:
A. Disconnect the CD.
B. Re-boot.
C. Re-connect the CD.
D. Re-boot again with it connected and install it again.
I did that. If that would work, would WIN XP re-install it automatically? I'll try that again, if it will.
Mike

 

O.K., Chris and Bob.
I just re-did both of the above, and still no change.
Looks like a new CD tomorrow.
Thanks for your help.
Mike

 

if you are going to spend the money,see what you can get in the way of a cd burner dvd reader, or dvd/cd burner combo. shouldnt really cost more. good luck. oh yeah, did you try to swap the cable out?

 

The USB cable from my digital camera? Kodak Easy Share pulls up the CD player, too.
Or the flat cable inside the computer?
No, but I'll give that last one a shot.
I also had gone back and done a "Restore" from the day before this started, but that didn't work either.
TY. Mike

 

Disconnect the CD player --> Reboot with CD disconnected --> In Device Manager, remove the CD player from the hardware listing --> Reboot --> Shut down the computer and reconnect the CD --> boot up and let Windows auto reinstall your CD player

It's important to allow your PC to fully reboot after you have removed the CD listing from Device Manager, and then shut down your PC, otherwise, Windows doesn't really remove the driver unless it sees that the hardware is physically gone.

 

After having tried all of the above at least twice, it still won't work right, so I ordered a new external 52X CD burner from Dell, assuming that it will solve my problem. Thanks for helping.
Mike