Windows cannot find CD devices (Code 41)

[ron040401]

Using Windows XP with SP2 installed. All was working fine then, during a restart, I got an invalid boot.ini message. When I got to the desktop, a message stated that the HP PSC 1210 All-in-one printer was found. It had always been there and functioning well.
I fixed the bootcfg problem by doing a bootcfg /rebuild at the Recovery Console (note that bootcfg /list claims there was no boot.ini present). When I restarted, I noticed that both the internal CD/RW and external DVD/RW were no longer listed. Device Manager shows an exclaim next to them and the following message is listed in the general section:

Windows successfully loaded the device driver for this hardware but cannot find the hardware device. (Code 41)

If I uninstall both CDs (I did this in both Safe mode and regular), Windows finds them immediately. But they never appear in My Computer because of the error message. I noticed that all other hardware is working, including a USB memory stick. All others except for the printer which I uninstalled and used HP's Scrubber program to remove its entries. The internal CD works from the system start (I got to the Recovery Console). There is nothing wrong with either CD. The DVD/RW does not need any driver installs for XP. The error appears whether I am in Safe mode or regular. System Restore as far back as a month ago came up with no changes. Microsoft's explanation for Code 41 is that a cable may be disconnected. NO!!! How does an internal cable disconnect affect an external CD? Code 41 really means "we don't know either".
I suspect some sort of controller was corrupted along with the boot.ini file. I take very good care of this particular machine and maintain the latest protections and cleaning habits.
What could cause only CDs to be unrecognized? Particularly when they operate from DOS and the two are so dissimilar to each other?

 

[jimp56]

i would disconnect the external cdrom, power down fully, boot back up, and try to reload the ide controller driver (or delete the controller and let it redetect) from device mgr.

then reboot and see if the internal cd shows up properly. then and only then reconnect the external.

and, try to check you BIOS to make sure the IDE settings look normal (devices are autodetected and the cdrom shows up as a detected device)--for that matter, set the secondary controller from "auto" to "none" -- reboot, and then reset it to "auto" again, which makes the system redetect the drive - this might help windows PNP "see" the drive again....

also, are any unusual events showing in the event log prior (and after) the boot.ini problem that may provide a clue?

lastly, you may try reinstalling xp on top of itself, which retains data/settings. there is a thread here on that, will try to find it.