Lite-on LTR-52246s MY CD ROM driver is no longer recognised by my machine, i.e. Drive D no longer exists!  Device Manager says that the driver can't be found. Any ideas please?

In device manager, delete something like a USB device and perform a hardware scan with the menu item and it will detect the optical drive if its running ok. Then you can upgrade the driver for motherboard or the cdrom if exists on their web site. If the issue persists, check BIOS and see whether it is disabled in any way before you try to disassemble it and tighten the cable connections or try that cdrom on other machines.

Check your device manager and look for flags or exculmation marks under the drive.
If none found, go to lite-on and download most recent drivers for the drive.

The link in my question is Acer's Driver Downloads page. :)

Here is the link to the firmware for that drive
http://us.liteonit.com/us/index.php?option=com_wrapper&Itemid=153

Hope that helps you out, it was the only software Lite-On provided.

--Second Idea--

Right click on my computer
Properties
Hardware tab
Device Manager
DVD/CD ROM DRIVES
* Right click on the drive and uninstall
* Restart your pc and it should reinstall the drivers for it.

to boot from a Cd drive, the very first thing u gotta do is to enter the CMOS setup at ur system startup and change the boot device preferences, as
first boot device: CD Rom,
Second boot device as : hdd0.

then save changes and reboot ur computer, then reinsert the bootable disc and it should work.

all the best :)

If windows sees the drive in device manager you can attempt to update the firmware. To access device manager, right click on My Computer and then go to properties. Then click the Hardware tab and then the Device Manager button. Look under DVD/CD-Rom Drives and see if it's listed. If it is, then get the model information off the the drive. Sometimes it is listed in Device Manger, sometimes not, you may have to take the drive out of the PC. After you get the info, post it here and I can point you in the right direction of a firmware update.

We bought a new cd burner

there is no problem with the system. only you need to clean the lens using CD/DVD cleaner.

1. go to device manager / right click on cd drive / uninstall driver / reboot and windows will reinstall driver 2. go to My computer right click on cd drive properties - check digital cd playback recording - check enable cd recording on this drive driver - update or uninstall reboot your computer

This may not help, But worth trying. First make sure the eide braid is connected firmly on both end and the power cord is pushed in all the way. if all that is okay do a Google search for lite on they have a website with lots of drivers and firmware upgades. Just need to find yours in the list. Good luck