No cd/dvd (different than other guy)

[Ralphy]

I put a cd-r into my computer and now win xp doesn't recognize either my dvd drive that was already there or my new cdr. When I hit the open button both will eject trays. Add new gardware doesn't detect anything. Creative disk detector doesn't work when I put a disk in. Nero doesn't recognize any either. I've tried everything I can think of and put them in numerous times.

I am using the same ide cable for them both. But i did that before on my old computer and it worked. Its plugged into the secondary ide slot likes its supposed too. What am I possibly doing wrong?

[Psycho Logical]

Just to be clear -- When you push either drive's eject button, both trays open?

The first thing I'd do is replace the ribbon cable, and then try different power supply leads. Double-check the master/slave jumper settings too.

[Ralphy]

When I unplug the jumper (the thing that plugs into the back right of a cdrom I'm thinking) of the new cdr, my old dvd was detected. But the cd-r stopped working. The cd-r I got was ordered over the internet and didn't come with any instalation instructions.

The last time I did this all I had to do was plug the cdrom into an ide and I think it automatically became a slave. It worked anyway. I've read the " to how to build a new computer" sites but the talk about set master and slave and prepair jumper and change settings and all that and I have no idea what it means.


The dvd says 6v 12v and the cdr says +5v 12v. All the things that plug into them say the same unreadable thing. When they are both plugged in the ejection trays work but they are undetected and unusable. When I unplug the the new cdr but leave the ide cable in the dvd becomes usable but the ejection tray for the cdr doesnt work and it is still undected.


I'm sorry to be a pain. If I knew this was going to be a pain I would of made sure I got installation instructions with my order. I reallly thought this was going to be simple.

[BipolarBill]

There is a tiny plastic block jumper on the back of the new drive. Pick it out with your finger tips and move it one set of pins to your left (facing the rear). That's the jumper. Don't lose it! The real reason that they're called jumpers is because they jump out of your hand and into someplace inaccessible whenever they can! They have eyes and strong legs. :eek:

The long plastic thing is called a harness. It's on the IDE ribbon cable.

[lito pospos]

You can use any cd drive manual as your reference ,regarding jumper setting who is the master (m,ma) ,slave(s,sl),cable select (cs),,,, and it usually written in the metal cover or left side of your drive power connector where the jump is located .

[cheekymonkey]

I know of someone who had similar probs when installing a drive.
Even with the jumpers set correctly xp would not recognise either drive when 2 were installed but fine with just one?!

In the end (after many weeks of puzzling) he upgraded his power supply (something he was going to do anyway) to a more powerful unit (Enermax 430w) and on installing the new drive again it recognised all drives straight away !!

He had many various cards/drives/fans installed so I'm not saying this is your problem - Definitely try all jumper settings first - But if you're still having probs, try borrowing a better PSU and give it a try.

[Ralphy]

That was it, just had to move the little jumper. I really thought I had a big technical issue. I feel pretty retarded.


Thank all of you for the help. You guys are the greatest. Not only can you figure out a problem from a poor description but you can explain how to fix it in easy to understand and do steps. thank you guys again.

[BipolarBill]

Now that we have an understanding, I want you to reverse the master-slave roles on those two drives. Set the CDR to the Master jumper and the DVD to the Slave position. Do what you can with the IDE ribbon cable.

The CDR should always be Master.

Glad I could help. :t

[cheekymonkey]

On a similar subject then . . .

What is the best slave/master setup for 2HDD, a CD/DVD drive and a CDR/RW drive.

Also, does running a device from a PCI slot IDE controller card improve or degrade performance compared to running it form the motherboard controller (both are rated same speed UDMA100)?

[BipolarBill]

If both HDDs are UDMA100 and one is seldom used, I would leave them as Master-Slave on channel one and the others as recommended.

The ideal setup would have both HDDs as masters on a UDMA100 controller card (answering part 2) and the other two drives as masters on the onboard ports.

[cheekymonkey]

So . . .
(Bootable)HDD as master 1 on the controller card
Other HDD as master 2 on the controller card
CDR/RW Master on primary of m/b
CD/DVD Master on Secondary of m/b

Is that right?
Sounds confusing doesnt it !!:D

[BipolarBill]

Oui. Too many chiefs and no Indians. Sounds like my workplace. :x