CDROM intermittent

[dennis2685]

I am having trouble with my CDROM drives. When copying several files from a CD (such as I386) to the harddisk, it can take up to an hour to move the files using windows explorer. The disk seems to spin up and then spin down repeatedly. The same problems occurs if I try to do any recordings (using nero 5 or 6 series.)

My CDROM drives are both Lite-on based generics (48x-12x-48x and a 52x-24x-52x.) Both are ATAPI and have the most recent Lite-on flashes. I have tried using them individually, and have also tried using either in PIO and DMA modes with the same results. It happens when the CD is on the secondary channel by itself or slaved to the primary. I have replaced the ribbon cable twice with a new one.

I have a fresh install of Windows 2000 and the same problem exists. I do not have the problems when using 98SE. The problem did not occur during the process of the windows 2000 installation. I have had similar problems with prior completed installations (which led me to purchase the 2nd CDROM because I thought the original was faulty.)

Does anyone have any ideas as to what might be causing the conflict?

Device Manager shows no conflicts. The hard drive (WD120G) seems to run fine.

Pertinent hardware and Software:

Abit MB with Intel 850 chipset,
3com 905c-tx nic
WD 120G EIDE
Geforce 4 4200
SB PCI512 soundcard
Windows 2000 Professional (not an upgrade)
Intel Chipset drivers 5.02
Nero 5.5.10.42
Norton Systems Works
Zone Alarm Pro

Thanks your your ideas!

 

[1stITMAN]

Ok I suggest using DMA mode only. Also set one as secondary master and the other secondary salve.
Ur hard disks go on as Primary.

Abit Mobo's have Via chipset's if i remeber correctly get the updated Via drivers from viarena.com

hope thi resloves ur issues

 

[VacuumTubeEra]

It's a long shot, but is your computer's power supply adequately sized? I had very strange problems with CD drives on an old Pentium II machine beginning some time after adding a second CD drive. After disconnecting other devices to cut back on the electrical load, the CD drive problems went away.

 

[dennis2685]

1stITMAN -- The MB is an Abit TH7-II RDRAM with an Intel chipset so the Via solution won't work. I know that DMA is preferable--I just mentioned that it wouldn't work properly in either mode in order to rule out a DMA problem.

SlideRuleEra -- The power supply was a good idea, except I have already tried a replacement and have the same problem. Both powersupplies were Antec and the replacement is a new True Power 420W model that has separate power rails.

Anyways, my goal is not necessarily to have both CDROMS installed in my computer at the same time--it is to get either one of them to work. I have individually tried them on both channels to no avail.

In my opinion, I seem to have some type of a Windows 2000 compatibility issue. I have Windows 98SE on another hard disk and it works great with the same programs used above. With 98SE, I can run both CDROMS, one as master and the other as slave on the secondary Ide channel.

 

[bcastner]

Your instincts sound right to me: the drives should be on the secondary channel, hard drives on the primary. DMA enabled rather than PIO.

I had a similar issue with a different drive and found to my surprise that the BIOS of the drive itself is flashable, and that a newer BIOS was available. It resolved the issue for me.

So, head the the Lite-on web site and see if a BIOS upgrade is available for the drive.