My Hp laptop no longer recognises internal dvd drive in my computer,

[stevieboy10]

i had the same situation on my acer l5100 pc, i googled it and managed to find a solution, apparently this is a common fault on computers running vista and windows 7. it will save you a lot of hassle backing up files and restoring os should be the last resort

[baklogic]

Anyone still having this problem can try Microsoft's fixit tool, if the uppere and lower filter method does not work.
Microsoft Fix it Center Online
Sometimes its a matter of rolling back with system restore.
With regard to replacing a faulty laptop cd/dvd drive- I have replaced many, and the main thing is the connecting tab that holds the drive in- if it looks exactly the same, then it can be just a matter of changing the fixing tab to yours, and possibly the facia- the facia is sometimes held in with a screw thatis only accessed with the drive open , and then spring plastic tabs- if you are careful almost any will fit, as long as your replacement is the same as yours-i.e if yours is a multi-writer dvd drive, and the replacement is, too, then the other will stand more chance of fitting to your laptop.
Some HP laptops have a square back fitting, not slanted like the one referred to, so check that pictorially they look the same.
I hope that helps someone.