Assuming that the computer BIOS still recognizes the drives and that the 
problem is only with the OS not recognizing them, and being that you do 
not know a good time to which to "restore", I suggest trying "control 
panel/add hardware".

If the drivers have really been totally deleted, you can do an internet 
search to try to locate and download a free driver for each. They should 
probably reside in the Windows/System 32/Drivers folder though I am not 
positive on that. The site from which you do the download may have 
installation instructions. Then, if needed, you can retry the "Add 
Hardware".

I hope this helps

Tom

vernon plumlee wrote:
> I have a compaq presario 5430 running win xp and somehow have lost my 
> dvd rom and the cd rom. They were drive E and F but are no longer 
> recognized at
> all.
> My actions to this point have been (1)  I went to Device Hardware and 
> initially had the yellow question mark in Device Hardware overlaying each
> Rom device. So,  I right clicked and ran the troubleshooter. It 
> couldn't complete and came back with a code 39 error. (2)  At that 
> point, I right
> clicked and deleted the drivers, thinking that when I rebooted it 
> would source out what was on the machine and reinstall it. 
> Unfortunately, that wasn't  the case.
> Now, they are no longer in "my computer" or "device hardware" at all. 
> They aren't recognized anywhere.
> Next, I'm thinking to unplug them from the ribbon and boot up.Thinking 
> this would change the settings. Then shut down, plug them back in and 
> reboot.
> Thinking this might make the machine rereference them as new and pull 
> the drivers.
> In retrospect,  I think this might have happened when I disconnected 
> an external HP dvd writer from the computer. I don't know for sure but 
> maybe it
> used the same drivers and eliminated them when it recognized that the 
> external writer was no longer connected ?!
> This machine is about 4 years old and I haven't used either of these 
> drives much at all so I'm not 100%  sure when I lost them.
> Please, in simple terms, explain the right way to get them back. Other 
> ideas?? Thanks in advance.
> Vern Plumlee
>
>       

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