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Help! Fitting a DVD-ROM

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Minerva
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Help! Fitting a DVD-ROM

Post by Minerva »

I've just bought a DVD-ROM for my computer. As I already fitted CD-RW, I thought this was to be an easy Sunday job. Alas, it wasn't. When I switched on, it doesn't start. Well, the power goes into the machine, and computer recognize both CD-RW and DVD-ROM, but nothing appears on the display.

I have two Hard disk drives on the primary IDE port, and the CD-RW on the secondary port. So, I made CD-RW as the master drive, and DVD-ROM the slave on the secondary port.

When I removed the DVD-ROM (by just plug off the IDE connector and power supply from the back of it), it starts as usual. I didn't have to change anything whatsoever. Is this mean the DVD-ROM is a faulty drive? What am I missing? :confused:

Any advice welcomed. Thanks in advance. :)
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Post by Mr Flibble »

It sounds like either you've got two of the drives on the same setting (ie, both on master) or one of the IDE ribbon cables is plugged in the wrong way around on one or more drives. The cables should have a red stripe down one side. This goes on the side of the IDE connector closest to the power connector.

If the drive was dead it just wouldn't show up anywhere.
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Post by HighLordDave »

You might try booting the computer with the DVD-ROM as the only optical drive. Plus, you might want to check your IDE cable and make sure that it's not torn or frayed.
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Post by Minerva »

Thank you, both. :) I'll check when I go home.

I don't think we can plug the IDE cable upside down, can we?
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Post by KidD01 »

If you ment accidently plug pin1 into pin 40, there is a possibility.

But if you examine carefully pin1 on IDE cable always got red mark or red color. ;)
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Post by Minerva »

Update
Originally posted by KidD01
If you ment accidently plug pin1 into pin 40, there is a possibility.

But if you examine carefully pin1 on IDE cable always got red mark or red color. ;)


Nope, I wasn't as stupid as that (I checked), thank goodness! :D

I found each time I connect both DVD-ROM and CD-RW, the computer refuses to show anything. It starts, both drives spin, HDDs turn on, but nothing from there. They work when I connect either of them, but not both at the same time.

Anyone has idea? :(
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Post by Xandax »

Sounds as Mr. Fibbles suggestion is the right one. Possible, your drives are trying to run as "master"-setting.


Check the manual for information on "jumper settings", and place one as master on the second IDE cable, place the other as slave on the primay IDE cable (where your harddrive most likely is hooked up also, wich of course should also be a master setting).
Or place one as master and the other as slave on the seconday IDE cable, but preferable split them so that you have the harddrive and DVD-Rom on IDE 1 (master/slave) and have the CD-RW on IDE 2 as master.
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Post by Minerva »

Mmm, I have checked the jumper switch, and made sure CD-RW is on the master (because it's there first ;) ) and DVD on the slave. I've changed DVD-ROM's jumper to "cable reliance (or whatever), just in case I've got them mixed up, but still didn't work. :(

I thought about splitting two hard drives into separate lines, as you suggested, but I wasn't sure if I have to change any other setting for the computer (last time I changed HDD, I had to reformat them).

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Post by KidD01 »

Hmm check on CPU BIOS setting - if the CPU found your DVDdrive it should be appear on first time boot.

If you have doubt changing setting on your CPU BIOS I guess you should wait for the tech.

If not read thru :
1. During first boot press "DEL" button. This should work unless your PC like those Compaq ones which require a disk or other button pressed to open BIOS setting
2. Check on standard CMOS feature in the BIOS set up
3. To make things easy just set all Primary & Secondary setting into "Auto"
4. Exit to the BIOS set up main menu then select "Save & Exit setup" to close BIOS set up.
5. Don't change anything or other set up besides these :
Primary master, Pri Slave, Sec. master, Sec. Slave unless you have idea what you're doing.

6. Check if the DVD already show up along with the HDD during first time boot screen.

First time boot screen shoul be like this :

BIOS name (AMI or AWARD)

Total memory counted

Primary HDD type
Primary Slave HDD type
Sec Primary HDD type
Sec Slave HDD type


From your infos the DVD drive should be shown in Sec Slave HDD type.

Hope that helps. :)

<EDIT>BTW to navigate on BIOS setup screen, check on the bottom of the screen there's some info about which key used to navigate in BIOS set up screen. Most system use arrow keys and to change the setting mostly use Page up or Page Down buttons
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Post by HighLordDave »

Your IDE cable may be bad. Swap it out with the IDE cable on your HDDs and see if the problem follows the cable or the drives.
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Post by smass »

One more suggestion - some drives do not work well as slaves. I ran into this a few years ago with a Plextor CDRW that just wouldn't work as a slave drive.

If this is the case you may want to add a separate EIDE card - this is a PCI card that adds two or four more EIDE connections on different EDIE channels. Promise Technologies makes a card like this and they are inexpensive.
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Post by KidD01 »

smass, would you be more specific which type of Plextor CDRW got that prob ? Thanks
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Post by Minerva »

Thanks, guys. :)

I have to try on Sunday, but I suspect I have to move one HDD to IDE cable 2 to make one HDD each with CD-RW in one and DVD-ROM in the other.

@HLD: I've tried spare cable, and didn't work. However, one of the cable which I'm using with HDDs has marking for "slave" and "master" (they came with the computer when I bought). And the markings are the other way around from the manual I've got.
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Post by Minerva »

Update

Okay, I tried to swap one HDD with DVD.... And came across another problem: The cable aren't long enough!

I have midi tower, and DVD and CD-RW are on the top two slot while two HDDs are in the lower part of the case in the hidden bay. The distance between master and slave connecters will be too great if I try to connect one HDD and DVD-ROM. ARGH!! :mad:

Now I need a new case... :(
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Post by Xandax »

Re: Update
Originally posted by Minerva
Okay, I tried to swap one HDD with DVD.... And came across another problem: The cable aren't long enough!

I have midi tower, and DVD and CD-RW are on the top two slot while two HDDs are in the lower part of the case in the hidden bay. The distance between master and slave connecters will be too great if I try to connect one HDD and DVD-ROM. ARGH!! :mad:

Now I need a new case... :(


Or simply get some new cables - much cheaper.
Cables can be bought up to (and possible beyond) 90cm and longer cables means longer distance between the connectors :)

( Just don't get round IDE cables, they are a rip-off and does nothing for the airflow - they can be supstituted with a rubber band :D )
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Post by Minerva »

Well, the cables themselves are long enough, but the connectors between master and slave aren't. They need to be close together. Is there a cable which has long distance between connecters?
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Post by Xandax »

My 90 cm cables have a good deal of distance between the connecters. So I would think it is possible to find some others.

If nothing else - 2 long IDE cables are somewhat cheaper then upgrading the casing :)
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Post by Mr Flibble »

Originally posted by Minerva
Well, the cables themselves are long enough, but the connectors between master and slave aren't. They need to be close together. Is there a cable which has long distance between connecters?


You may be able to find a computer cabling specialist who can make some custom length IDE cables for you. I've seen a few made for the exact reason you've described.
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