TraderScott

(This is a duplicate post, as my posting in the Windows section did not receive any replies - hopefully some help here)
I have lost the ability for Windows XP (SP3) to recognize by two drives: a DVD & a CD drive. These drives are both plugged in and open/close fine. They also do not show up in Windows device manager, and there are no "unrecognized devices" or items in Device manager. I tried swapping cables, etc. to solve from that angle, without success. They do seem to show up in BIOS. This problem has been around for sometime and I have been trying to research a solution. They problem may have started around the time I upgraded to a new motherboard (ASROCK - 4CoreDual-SATA2), but I am not certain that is the problem.

In the past, I could temporarily solve the problem by “scanning for hardware changes” in device manager, and the DVD drive would show up; however, it would disappear again on reboot. That work around has stopped working for some reason.

I read on a forum posting recommending some deleting of a couple items in registry, which did not help my problem.

Please let me know if you need any other information.

Thanks in advance for helping solve this one.

Bounky37

Are you 100% sure that your drives support your motherboard. If not post what both are ( your motherboards up there). Did they ever work with this new motherboard? It doesnt look like a problem with your power supply as your able to open them. It seems like bad ribbon cabels or your new motherboard doesnt support them. Get back to me.

TraderScott

Thanks for the post Bounky

I swapped out to different cables - no luck.

I will try to check with motherboard; these are "standard" drives, with the DVD being a brand new generic, and the CD a bit older. Have you ever heard of major motherboards not recognizing multiple different "standard" drives?

TraderScott

My BIOS has been "freezing" when I go into BIOS setup. I think I may need to update the BIOS, but I am not sure how to do this.

Some Specs:
BIOS type:American Megatrends
BIOS Type: AMI
BIOS Date: September 17th 2007
BIOS ID: 63-152-0000010-00101111-091707-VIA-4CDS2152
Motherboard: 4CoreDual-SATA2 BIOS P1.60 - P1.60
Windows XP

Please note that I am still struggling with a problem that I posted a few days ago here (recap below), such that I can not use my DVD/CD drives until I force recognition in Windows Device Manager each time.
-------------
DVD/CD
I have lost the ability for Windows XP (SP3) to recognize by two drives: a DVD & a CD drive. These drives are both plugged in and open/close fine. They also do not show up in Windows device manager, and there are no "unrecognized devices" or items in Device manager. I tried swapping cables, etc. to solve from that angle, without success. They do seem to show up in BIOS. This problem has been around for sometime and I have been trying to research a solution. The problem may have started around the time I upgraded to a new motherboard (ASROCK - 4CoreDual-SATA2), but I am not certain that is the problem.

I can temporarily solve the problem by “scanning for hardware changes” in device manager, and the DVD drive will show up (but not the CD); however, it disappears again on reboot.
-----

Thanks for your help!

TraderScott

Update:
Motherboard does support these standard drives.
Playing with cables/connections - the DVD is recognized again on rescan hardware in device manager, but is lost on every reboot.

Help is still needed, thanks.

MyKobalt

http://www.asrock.com/support/DOS.html

http://www.asrock.com/support/download.asp?c=BIOS

dai

only post the same problem once
if you have posted in the wrong forum pm a mod to move it for you
i have moved it to the correct forum
uninstall the upper and lower filters
scroll down to how here
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=k...060&x=12&y=13#

TraderScott

MyKoblt - thanks for links - note, I can't use the bootable CD, as drives not recognized in DOS mode. Also, they are not listing my motherboard on BIOS list for some reason, but I did write to ASROCK yesterday.
Dai - I had gone through Windows link solution some time ago, including the registry "fix", with no solution.
Thanks

Houndog777

Are your drives jumpered correctly? If on the same ribbon, use Cable Select, otherwise it's Master & Slave.

You can get a BIOS download from here.......
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.as...al-SATA2&s=775

Or Here, if you have R2.0 of that board......
http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.as...2%20R2.0&s=775

dai

they will not be seen anywhere until you get them seen by the bios
use an 80 wire ide cable with the plugs
blue to the m/board
grey to the slave
black to the master
the dvd goes to master

TraderScott

Houndog,
Silly of me to miss the right BIOS link in ASROCK (perhaps due to being frustrated). I will give it a try as well as recheck the jumper settings.

Any advice on how to safely update BIOS, given I can't boot from CD?

Much appreciated!

dai

usb stick

TraderScott

Update 3:
I was able to update to new BIOS successfully using Windows proceedure (I was concerned, but worded fine). BIOS setup is fine now. Thanks!

I have updated the motherboard drivers also (just in case), as I have been having erratic behavior with USB devices - might be related.

Bad news, it did not help my DVD/CD problem & USB "erratic instability" continues. I have done several different thorough checks for viruses, spyware, etc. with several tools - no issues.

Sigh . . .

Not sure if I need new hardware (motherboard) or reinstall windows? Thoughts?

TraderScott

DAI,
Thanks - apparently cable select setting were not good enough; master/slave fixed it.
I thought new motherboards/BIOS were not so sensitive to PIN settings now. The BIOS, USB & drives seem to be functioning (for now).

I owe you one. Thanks also to hounddog, mykoblt, & bounky for helping.

Best Regards all.

dai

i think brand names use cable select for convienience,but these days master/slave is the better option
glad you have it sorted