[SOLVED] Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives

waltthesalt · 07-28-2008, 03:09 PM

Hi,

I custom built my pc a couple weeks ago. I am using an ASUS P5WD2-E Premium motherboard and I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3.

If you need to know any other specs...they are right here
<-----

Ok, so...the problem is: I have two DVD/CD drives that I have hooked up to my motherboard. Both are IDE and are using the same cable. Both jumpers are set to "Cable Select" (I have tried setting them to Master/Slave but to no avail). When I power on my system, the BIOS detects the drives, but when I load Windows they are not found. They don't show up at all in hardware manager, not even as unknown devices. Windows does not detect either drive in any way.

All suggestions are always appreciated!

-Walt

bobalazs · 07-29-2008, 10:01 AM

if the bios sees it, windows should find it no problem so i dont understand why.
did you try to use them separately? so that one dont work and the other does? then consider using a separate data cable for it.

waltthesalt · 07-29-2008, 10:27 AM

I'll try that

waltthesalt · 07-29-2008, 11:34 AM

I switched the cable and used just one at a time but still didn't work. When I just used one drive, I would power on the system and it would freeze on the post message.

bobalazs · 07-29-2008, 05:18 PM

if you changed the cable to a worse one then its the cable's fault.
try using one at a time and do it first so that u set it to master,,, if that doesnt work set it to slave... and post your results... we'll figure it out...:)
some cables are really cheap... and/or you can try with a different power cable too, it might be faulty also.

waltthesalt · 07-29-2008, 05:52 PM

I have the ASUS CD-ROM IDE cable that came with the motherboard, and I also have one that came with my other case. I tried both same result. When I do one drive at a time, the system only boots if I have it in master. If I have it set to slave it stops at the post message. Even when the computer boots though, windows doesn't detect the drives.

I'm wondering if this has anything to do with that I have my HDD attached to the motherboard through a PCI card IDE header. The HDD works fine and I tried connectign the dvd drives to it and the HDD directly to the mobo, but the same thing happens.

I also tried switching the power connections but that didn't work. With the current power connection, they both power on their LED lights when I power on the system and are detected in the BIOS. It's just when I load Windows that they hide from me :)

In a couple days I will be getting a new video card along with a new monitor and I guess I will re-install windows once I get them. If that doesn't work then I'm up to anything to get these to work.

waltthesalt · 07-29-2008, 06:04 PM

Got it!

The whole time you guys were right.

Quote:

consider using a separate data cable

Both of the IDE cables I tried to use were 40-Wire IDE cables. When I found an extra 80-Wire IDE cable laying around I decided to try that one. It worked! Windows detected both drives and installed them successfully. It was weird because the motherboard came with an IDE cable labeled "CD-ROM"...So...you know...I used that cable for the CD-ROM drives. I guess I just had to use a 80-Wire cable.

Thanks to all who helped!

-Walt

07-28-2008, 03:09 PM	#1 (permalink)
waltthesalt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York Posts: 122 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 x86 My System	[SOLVED] Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives Hi, I custom built my pc a couple weeks ago. I am using an ASUS P5WD2-E Premium motherboard and I'm running Windows XP Pro SP3. If you need to know any other specs...they are right here <----- Ok, so...the problem is: I have two DVD/CD drives that I have hooked up to my motherboard. Both are IDE and are using the same cable. Both jumpers are set to "Cable Select" (I have tried setting them to Master/Slave but to no avail). When I power on my system, the BIOS detects the drives, but when I load Windows they are not found. They don't show up at all in hardware manager, not even as unknown devices. Windows does not detect either drive in any way. All suggestions are always appreciated! -Walt __________________ "A Mac vs. PC commercial you'll never see: 'Whatcha doin, PC?' 'I'm playing this new game'. 'Oh really, which one?' 'Any'. 'Oh'. (silence) (fade)." Last edited by waltthesalt; 07-28-2008 at 03:11 PM.

07-29-2008, 10:01 AM	#2 (permalink)
bobalazs Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hungary Posts: 95 OS: xp My System	Re: Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives if the bios sees it, windows should find it no problem so i dont understand why. did you try to use them separately? so that one dont work and the other does? then consider using a separate data cable for it.

07-29-2008, 10:27 AM	#3 (permalink)
waltthesalt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York Posts: 122 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 x86 My System	Re: Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives I'll try that __________________ "A Mac vs. PC commercial you'll never see: 'Whatcha doin, PC?' 'I'm playing this new game'. 'Oh really, which one?' 'Any'. 'Oh'. (silence) (fade)."

07-29-2008, 11:34 AM	#4 (permalink)
waltthesalt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York Posts: 122 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 x86 My System	Re: Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives I switched the cable and used just one at a time but still didn't work. When I just used one drive, I would power on the system and it would freeze on the post message. __________________ "A Mac vs. PC commercial you'll never see: 'Whatcha doin, PC?' 'I'm playing this new game'. 'Oh really, which one?' 'Any'. 'Oh'. (silence) (fade)."

07-29-2008, 05:18 PM	#5 (permalink)
bobalazs Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Hungary Posts: 95 OS: xp My System	Re: Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives if you changed the cable to a worse one then its the cable's fault. try using one at a time and do it first so that u set it to master,,, if that doesnt work set it to slave... and post your results... we'll figure it out...:) some cables are really cheap... and/or you can try with a different power cable too, it might be faulty also.

07-29-2008, 05:52 PM	#6 (permalink)
waltthesalt Registered User Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: New York Posts: 122 OS: Vista Ultimate SP1 x86 My System	Re: Computer Won't Detect Optical Drives I have the ASUS CD-ROM IDE cable that came with the motherboard, and I also have one that came with my other case. I tried both same result. When I do one drive at a time, the system only boots if I have it in master. If I have it set to slave it stops at the post message. Even when the computer boots though, windows doesn't detect the drives. I'm wondering if this has anything to do with that I have my HDD attached to the motherboard through a PCI card IDE header. The HDD works fine and I tried connectign the dvd drives to it and the HDD directly to the mobo, but the same thing happens. I also tried switching the power connections but that didn't work. With the current power connection, they both power on their LED lights when I power on the system and are detected in the BIOS. It's just when I load Windows that they hide from me :) In a couple days I will be getting a new video card along with a new monitor and I guess I will re-install windows once I get them. If that doesn't work then I'm up to anything to get these to work. __________________ "A Mac vs. PC commercial you'll never see: 'Whatcha doin, PC?' 'I'm playing this new game'. 'Oh really, which one?' 'Any'. 'Oh'. (silence) (fade)."