Vista - missing DVD drive, spins and blinks

My dvd drive is no longer listed in start menu computer browser. I tried microsoft fixit to no avail. also tried to run sfc/scannow from elevated comand prompt and that will not run even in safe mode. what do I try next. I just got my pc back to normal from a vista reinstall so I would like to avoid that if possible.

Hello mtnbuilder,
If you go to device manager is it listed there , doe's it have a yellow mark beside it ?.
Also you could try and remove the power lead from the PSU for a few minutes, check all the leads to your DVD drive too.
Take a look in your Bios and see if it's listed there.
A few things to try, good luck and post your results.

What does its Device manager entry look like?

In Device Manager, might try right-clicking, uninstall. Then right-click and Scan for new hardware. Restart.

just checked the device manager. under disk drives, one entry I belive it is my hard drive "wdc wd 1600bevs-22rsto ata device". Am I looking in the right place. on the right click menu I chose "scan for hardware changes" , it said the device is working properly.

Looks like you are looking at your HDD.
It will be listed under DVD/CD-ROM drives.
If it's not there check in the bios, hit delete when booting up and take a look in there.
It will be under boot devices.
Did you try un-plugging the power lead ?, it has worked in the past for a lot of people.

dvd/cd drives was not listed in the device manger thats why I wasn't sure I was looking in the right place. so I gues that was my HD. as far as bios. I dont have a clue what that mean. I guess Ill crack her open and try unplugging the drive itself, If I can get to it, this is a lap top.

It's more than likely that a power lead has come out or got loose, you have to stop playing football with it.
If you are not sure how to get in to it, go to U-Tube and look for a video on opening a laptop.
Good luck and let us know how it goes.

Solved! thank you guys. vista forums wins again! heres what I did. removed a lot of screws, and a couple covers. pushed out the drive. powered up the computer. everything was normal, no messages or blue screens. then I shut it down. pushed the drive back into it's hot little slot and started it up. no messages or anything. opened the browser and it was there again. I dont know how something could have come lose it never leaves the desk. There have been times I wanted to throw it like a frisbie out the window but I haven't ...Yet.
thanks for the help.

Your welcome, glad you got it fixed.

now it's gone again. I used it it worked I shut it down to put all the screws back in. guess I need to tweek the contacts. of course the warrenty is expired. what a PITA, pos . I could understand if I used it all the time and removed it often. but I never removed it befor today and have only used it 20 or less times. I don't need an answer just ranting. but is this commin?