I can't get the computer to power up. the power

Not quite sure what you mean ? which button on top (power button)
The button on the dvd is the only one to open it.
WARNING: Before you start troubleshooting remember that you are dealing with electricity that can KILL.
http://www.kitchentablecomputers.com/static.php - rules

Click start control panel administration tools computer management device manager scroll down cd-dvd rom drives you might see a yellow question /exclamation mark ? ! or a red X right click to update driver

You might have to physically unplug the leads for this cd/dvd computer then plug them back in restart your this should activate the found new hardware wizard.

If there is a small hole on the panel of your dvd drive push a straightened paper clip inside until you feel it press down this will open up the drive.

Click start control panel,administrive tools,computer management,device manager scroll to cd/dvd rom drives right click properties then properties again then tick enable cd digital cd audio for this cd rom device or scroll to dvd regions select the no _ for your specific area
If this does not fix the problem you might try

you might have to physically unplug the leads for this cd-rom then plug them back in this should activate the found new hardware wizard or
you might have to uninstall then reinstall your DVD/CD or uninstall the driver then reinstall for this device

click start control panel admistrive tools,computer management,device manager scroll down cd dvd rom drives right click you will see options to update driver,roll back driver,or
select properties general troubleshoot, select driver click to reinstall drivers click update driver or uninstall then reinstall

make sure that the cd-dvd burner is getting enough power test all leads that are attached to the dvd drive including electrical extensions and make sure they have a secure connection or just replace them there might be bad/faulty or

if this does not fix the problem it might be a registry problem
Close all open programs

Click on Start, Run, and type regedit and press Enter
Click on the plus signs (+) next to the following folders

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE

SYSTEM

CurrentControlSet

Control

Class

{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

This folder is the DVD/CD-ROM Drive Class Description in the registry. Look for any of the following names in the right hand column.

Upper Filters

Lower Filters

Upper Filters.bak

Lower Filters.bak
If any of the above keys shown in step 4 are listed, right-click on them and choose Delete

After deleting the keys, close the registry editor
Reboot your computer
Open My Computer and check to see if your CD or DVD drives have returned. You may also want to open Device Manager and verify that the yellow exclamation and error code on the CD or DVD drive is gone.


hope this helps you

you can try opening it with paperclip if it's stuck. Straighten the clip and locate a small pinhole on the drive it and insert the clip in. You might need to push the paperclip in an out a few times to eject the drawer.

check the communication cable are inserted or not, you can see it to open the cpu cover and look for the same, there are two cables are inserted in dvd/cd rom first for the power and second for data. if you find all the things are ok you can check it from your BIOS settings.

Hi,
Try to open control panel then click add hardware. If you have entered the dialogue box, answer whatever is asked according to what you're searching. Then click whatever hardware your PC would like to detect then click finshed. After the detection, close the wizard box then try to open your DVD ROM and try it.

Hope this answers your question.

Take a paperclip and unbend it into a straight line. There should be a small pin hole on the face on the DVD ROM drive. Poke the paper clip into this hole and it is the release button to open the drive. Works great when you have powered off your computer and want to get the CD/DVD out without powering back on!

1.The laser optical eye of the CD-ROM drive may be dirty, and needs cleaning.
If the optical eye is dirty, it won't read the information on the disk you install.

A) Computer on, Windows loaded, open the tray of the DVD-ROM drive. (Or DVD burner drive. Whichever drive you are referring to. DVD-R/RW)
Shut the computer down normally. (Start>Turn Off Computer>Shut Down)

Unplug the computer from power.
Use a can of compressed air fror computers, and spray air into the DVD-ROM drive.

The optical eye, is located on the bottom of the DVD-ROM drive. (Or burner drive)
The opening in the bottom of the tray, that comes out for your disk, is where you spray the air.

You won't be able to see the optical eye, so how will you know you are spraying the air at the correct place?

If you start at the front of the bottom of the DVD-ROM drive, and work your way towards the back, you will clean the optical eye. Spray across from side to side, and in rows, as you proceed towards the rear.

(Air will make it's way through, and reach the optical eye. The optical eye is not visible, as it can be harmful to the human eye when operating.
Laser.
When the tray is closed the optical eye is exposed. It is not exposed to where it can harm the computer user.

More information that may be helpful, in understanding where the optical eye is located,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-ROM_drive

Scroll down to the heading - CD-ROM drives. Also view the photos down on the right, and the animated GIF.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/cd4.htm

How a CD Player Works. Same principle for your DVD-ROM and DVD burner drives )


2.Make Windows reinstall the drivers.
This solution requires physically removing the flat ribbon cable from the back of the DVD-ROM/DVD burner drive, then reattaching it.

Software advice of Updating the drivers, Rollback the drivers, or downloading, and installing the drivers, doesn't always work, or doesn't work.

If the physical solutions I am providing here does not work, we will proceed to the software solutions if you wish. (Comment)

1.Computer off, and unplugged from power. Open the computer case,

Dell Support - Dell Inspiron 531 Desktop PC - Manuals - Documentation - Removing and Installing Parts,

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd531/en/OM/parts.htm#wp1595069

(Removing the computer cover)

CAUTION!
BEFORE you reach inside you need to relieve your body of Static electricity!

Not trying to freak you out, just needed to catch your attention.
Static electricity, can fry out the delicate computer hardware components, inside your computer.

Touch the metal frame of the computer case.

Computer unplugged from power you are safe.
Touch the metal frame of the computer case, (AFTER you unplug the computer), the computer is safe.

In the above Manual documentation - Removing and Replacing Parts, click on - Drives

Scroll down to the heading - CD or DVD Drive
(Towards the bottom of the page)

Unplug the DATA cable from the CD-ROM drive.
(No.2 in the illustration)

[The two optical drives you have are SATA drives. Dell indicates you have a DVD-ROM drive, (Plays CD's and DVD's), and a DVD burner drive.
(Plays CD's and DVD's, and records)

DVD-R/RW is a 'Burner drive'.

If the information above is correct, you have a SATA power cable, and a SATA Data cable.
(The Data cable transfers information from the optical drive, to the computer, and vice-versa)

The SATA power cable connector, is longer than the Data cable connector.
The power cable connector has 15 pins.
The Data cable connector has 7 pins.

Information,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SATA

Scroll down to the heading,
Data

Look to the right at the photo. This is a SATA Data cable, and it's connector.
Yours may not be a bent 90 degree elbow, but it will have the L shape in the connector, and 7 pins.

Scroll down to the heading Power Supply. Look down to the right at the photo of the 15 pin SATA power cable connector.
This is Not the cable/connector you want to unplug.

Unplug the SATA Data cable from the optical drive you're referencing to.
Press the Power On button in, and hold it in for a count of Five seconds.
Let go of the Power On button.
Do this two more times.

Plug the SATA Data cable back in.
Close the computer case.
Plug the computer back into power.
WAIT 1 minute.
Turn the computer on. Try the drive.

is it sata dvd rom or ide dvd rom?

at first remove the dvd rom. check it is primary or secondary slave selected it. then add the dvd rom.
go to the bios options. check the dvd rom position.
selected is secondary dvd rom. check the power cable.
icon can change it does not mater. you need to open the dvd rom.

Step1::Ground yourself by first touching a metal object or wearing an anti-static wrist strap. This helps protect your computer's internal
components from damage due to static.
Step2::Shut down your computer and unplug it to protect yourself from electric shock.
Step3::Open your computer's case using the door on the side or follow the manufacturer's directions for your desktop.
Step4::Install the DVD ROM on its own IDE channel. Since a DVD ROM uses a good bit of memory, it should also be the master drive. Set your old
CD ROM or secondary DVD ROM drive to "slave" and set the new DVD rom drive to "master."
Step5::Slide the new DVD ROM in the free 5 1/4-inch bay and use clips or screw into place if necessary, then use the data cable that came with
the DVD drive to connect your new drive. Plug in the power cable as well.
Step6::Replace the cover on your computer, plug it back in and boot it up. If you have Windows XP, it should automatically detect and attempt
to install the new DVD ROM drive. If it doesn't, use the installation disk that came with your DVD ROM.

does the light come on on the drive ? have you tried straightening a paper clip an putting it in to the little hole to push the draw open this may make it work if its stuck or try right clicking the drive in explorer and choosing eject from there
good luck