CD Drive not in My Computer or Device Manager

[drowland]

A couple of weeks ago my CD Drive simply disappeared from My Computer. I immediately checked the Device Manager, and it's not there either. I have no idea what I did to cause this, as I wasn't doing anything in particular that day, I just happened to notice it was gone. The aren't any, and never were any, particular error messages.

I'm running 64-Bit Windows Vista Ultimate on an HP dv6663us Laptop.
I'm running Symantec Endpoint Protection, as it was provided by my University.
I'm not sure of the make of the drive, as it doesn't show up anywhere... I saw it a couple of days ago (more below) and think it was Matshita, Matsushita, or something like that. It's CD/DVD/Burner/Lightscribe all in one.

When this problem first occurred, I started looking online and in forums (here included). I did the typical deleting of the upper and lower limits in the registry caused by iTunes, Roxio, etc. (unfortunately I had both). This did not work. I then tried to run the Windows Vista Mr. Fix-It tool, but it simply told me the registry entries were already deleted. I couldn't go into the device manager and uninstall the CD Drive and let Windows automatically re-install it because it's not there.

I'd check the BIOS as well, but I'm not exactly sure how to do that - and my searches online haven't helped much. I did check my startup boot list, and the CD Drive is listed there.

Yesterday I decided I'd boot in safe mode and take a look. Voila - it's there! When in safe mode, it shows up. So I promptly go into the device manager, uninstall the drive, restart in regular mode, and the laptop promptly recognizes the drive and installs everything fine. I rip a few CDs I need for class and call it a night, shut it down, go to bed.

Today I wake up, start up the computer, and the CD drive is gone AGAIN. I'm stumped and frustrated beyond belief.

As an added bit of info, I happen to have an external USB CD/DVD drive from a long time ago. When I plug that in, the computer recognizes it fine and it works fine. That's all swell and everything, but it doesn't travel well, and it's annoying to have on my desk.

Please help!

[drowland]

Anyone? Please?

[Kevin_gibson]

Have you installed, or removed any hardware or software from your laptop recently? Have you tried a system restore? Try a system restore first, if it's in safe mode, then this could be related to a Windows Vista problem, rather than an hardware fault.

Can you boot off of your Vista CD? If you can, try and do a repair, if that fails, I'm afraid you'll have to load in to safe mode, save all your personal data then do a complete format back to factory settings.

[drowland]

I'm honestly not sure about installing/removing, though I don't think I had. This happened this summer, and I barely use my laptop over the summer.

I'm afraid to do a system restore because it was a long time ago and I've done a lot of things on my computer... same goes for formatting my computer fresh.

I don't think I have a Vista CD. Bought my computer through an electronics retailer online and Vista just came on it... might be a repair CD or something somewhere, but probably in IL, and I just moved to FL... shoot.