Curse

The Muffen Man · Jul 18, 2008, 05:19 PM // 17:19

Hi I need some help with my Dvd-rw drive.

I just got a new computer and tried to use the drive for the 1st time the other day to install GW

and its not working.

When I say its not working Windows doesnt recognise my dvd-rw drive.

It shows up in the bios boot sequence and on the boot screen. It shows up in green ODD0 Pioneer dvdrw

So its working? In that sence.

In windows when I put a disc in it the green light comes on and the disc spinns for a sec and then nothing.

When I go to computer its shows up in devices with removable storage as

removable Disc (D: )

In device manager under disk drives there is my hard drive and this:

CF Card SCSI Disc Device

If I uninstall it removable disc (D: ) disapears.

When I try to open removable disc (D: ) tells me I need to formar it 1st??

Specs as follows

mobo-asus formula rampage intel x48 chipset
dvd-rw-pioneer dvr 115dbk
os-windows vista home premium 64 bit

I have searched google but found no answers to my problem.

Please any help would be greatly appreciated.

moriz · Jul 18, 2008, 05:24 PM // 17:24

i did a quick search on the drive, and apparently, it is a PATA device.

did you set the master/slave configuration correctly? there should be a few jumper pins on the drive, and it should be set to "master" if it is the only device connected, via the PATA connection cable.

EDIT: did you install vista with this drive? if there's really something wrong with it... then you shouldn't be able to install.

The Muffen Man · Jul 18, 2008, 05:27 PM // 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

i did a quick search on the drive, and apparently, it is a PATA device.

did you set the master/slave configuration correctly? there should be a few jumper pins on the drive, and it should be set to "master" if it is the only device connected, via the PATA connection cable.

EDIT: did you install vista with this drive? if there's really something wrong with it... then you shouldn't be able to install.

PATA? is that different to IDE?

I didnt build the pc, I assume the dvd drive would be set to master as a default out of the box no?

I guess Im going to have a look. I didnt really want to open up the pc and take the drive out.

moriz · Jul 18, 2008, 05:31 PM // 17:31

PATA and IDE are the same thing.

if the machine is prebuilt, then i'm not surprised that they ripped you off with a PATA device. these things are pretty much obsolete now (or will be soon).

anyways, if it's prebuilt, then vista should be reloaded onto the harddrive. try putting some other disks into it to see if it runs. though judging by your problem, i doubt they will work.

before you open it though, make sure to check the warranty. if it voids if you open the machine, send the machine back and demand a replacement.

The Muffen Man · Jul 18, 2008, 05:35 PM // 17:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by moriz

PATA and IDE are the same thing.

if the machine is prebuilt, then i'm not surprised that they ripped you off with a PATA device. these things are pretty much obsolete now (or will be soon).

anyways, if it's prebuilt, then vista should be reloaded onto the harddrive. try putting some other disks into it to see if it runs. though judging by your problem, i doubt they will work.

before you open it though, make sure to check the warranty. if it voids if you open the machine, send the machine back and demand a replacement.

Hmm, I think maybe I miss worded my problem? Its not the problem with the hard drive, the hard drive is SATAII (samsung spinpoint f1 1TB)

Its my optical drive (DVD-rw) thats not being recognised by vista and its showing up as I discribed in my 1st post.

moriz · Jul 18, 2008, 05:37 PM // 17:37

no, i understand your wording perfectly. your optical drive doesn't work properly, and the only reason why windows was installed, was because prebuilt computers have the OS preloaded into the harddrive during assembly.

Elder III · Jul 18, 2008, 05:48 PM // 17:48

I had a friend who got a new system with Vista... it arrived with the same problem - she ended up sending it back and having them reinstall the OS and it worked.

don't know if that helps or not, but in any case, if it's new and under warranty opening it up will invalidate that for sure, so it's best to send it back and demand they fix it and give you some free coupons too. :d

zamial · Jul 18, 2008, 06:02 PM // 18:02

prebuilt? demand coupons? for more of their junk?

What I would try is this. Unplug the psu, if it has a switch turn it off as well. Hold down the power button for a long 20 seconds. plug it all back in and boot the sucker.

Snograt · Jul 18, 2008, 07:48 PM // 19:48

May I suggest trying it with a different DVD/CD first? There is the possibility that you have a dud GW DVD - shouldn't give the results you've had, but it's best to rule out all possibilities before trying anything potentially leaving you without a PC for a while.

When you can, get a SATA DVD-RW. They're as cheap as chips and there is no excuse for manufacturers to install PATA drives any more (I suspect they're getting rid of a mountain of drives they'd otherwise have to trash.)

The Muffen Man · Jul 19, 2008, 08:02 AM // 08:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by zamial

prebuilt? demand coupons? for more of their junk?

What I would try is this. Unplug the psu, if it has a switch turn it off as well. Hold down the power button for a long 20 seconds. plug it all back in and boot the sucker.

What does that do?

Also I just tried a DVD of S.T.A.L.K.E.R shadow of Chernobyl and it installed the game but then after it finished and went to start the game it came up with no cd/dvd drive found??

I put in my DVD of Vista and that too started auto play, but when I put in a cd nothing happens.

Snograt · Jul 19, 2008, 11:38 AM // 11:38

Thoroughly weird. It recognises the drive during installation, then not when just accessing.

I haven't a clue what would cause that odd behaviour. Loose cable? Defective cable? Dud drive? Master/slave jumpers incorrect?

Personally, I would be tempted to buy a cheap but perfect SATA DVD-RW (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16827136142 ($25)) and install that.

But - this is a new PC. Tell the suppliers it is defective and demand repair or money back.

The Muffen Man · Jul 19, 2008, 12:41 PM // 12:41

Ok I have come to the conclusion that this a Vista related problem and not a harware problem.

I took out the drive from the new computer to check the cables and jumpers and they are all in order.

Next I used a different IDE ribbon cable and still Vista detects no optical drives.

Then I used a known working drive from my old computer and still Vista didnt detect it.

Lastly I put the drive from my new computer into the old one which had win xp sp3 and it had no problem detecting it and it worked fine.

So its something to do with Vista but what??

moriz · Jul 19, 2008, 12:45 PM // 12:45

well, i guess it's time for you to buy a $20 SATA dvd writer and be done with it, since you obviously cannot return it now.

Elder III · Jul 19, 2008, 12:48 PM // 12:48

Can you try to re-install vista yourself? (or restore it to factory condition)
It could be that the drive is not compatible with vista, but that doesn't make much sense that they would put a non compatible piece of hardware into a new machine.... although stranger things have happened.

I suggest reinstall Vista or send it back and hope they still honor the warranty.

good luck in any case

Quaker · Jul 19, 2008, 02:04 PM // 14:04

Have you tried running "Add Hardware" in the Control Panel?

Snograt · Jul 19, 2008, 03:02 PM // 15:02

Or maybe dodgy IDE socket. Consensus is with buying a cheap SATA drive - assuming you have a SATA socket free.

The Muffen Man · Jul 19, 2008, 05:57 PM // 17:57

Ok so the conclusion (hopefully) to this saga is this.

I spoke to support and after telling them that I did the swaps and the drive is working in my old computer, they may think that if all else fails then the IDE controller on the mobo may be faulty.

So they have arranged for me to return the DVD-RW drive (IDE) and they will send me a replacement SATA one.

Since I have 6 on the mobo it shouldn't be a problem and I prefer this to having to send the whole computer back just in case the IDE controller on it is faulty.

Because to be honest with you the computer is ace

and since IDE is old news and SATA is now the standard I cant see myself ever needing the IDE connection in the future if ever I wanted to add more drives.

Sooo lets see what happens shall we.

I shall be returning the drive on Monday and by weeks end I should have the new one in my grubby little hands

Ill keep you guys posted as to if this solved my problem.

Snograt · Jul 19, 2008, 06:06 PM // 18:06

Yep, the ideal solution. Apart from speed (negligable or zero difference with an optical drive) the cabling is so, so much better. Thin cable = better cooling.

Only one problem.

It's the Muffin Man, and it's Drury Lane