Can I use 2 Combo Drives?

Viking6 · 11-20-2005, 02:05 PM

I have one drive that is DVDRW/CDRW, and one drive that is CDRW/DVD ROM. I would like to connect the second one I mentioned as just permanently in the CDRW mode and packet writing. I want to use the first one I mentioned as the drive for burning other types of data and playing the DVD movies or installing software. If this would work, which one would I connect as the master and which one would be best as the slave? Also, I just got to thinking - I would have to remove the packet writing CDRW disk if I wanted to copy a CD or DVD. How would all this work and interconnect??? I am using XP Home. Thanks if anybody can figure this out.

**oldmn** · 11-20-2005, 02:56 PM

There is no reason that you can not use both.
Master would be the one you would use the most. Although it wouldn't really matter. if you plan on putting them on the same cable and want to copy from one to the other you would be wise to turn on copy to HDD first.

Viking6 · 11-20-2005, 04:14 PM

I haven't ran into anything that said copy to HDD first. Could you explain that a bit more please? Thanks, Viking6

**oldmn** · 11-20-2005, 04:28 PM

When you have two drives on the same cable. you can run into a buffer under run because the data has to be read from the first drive in to memory them written to the other drive this takes time. if they are on different cables they will read and write at the same time.
Roxio and most other software provides the option of writing to the HDD first then writing it to the target drive. So you do not get the buffer under run.
One other thing to consider when installing these is. If you only have one HDD you have it on one cable as master and the (a)drive you would normally copy from on the same cable as the slave. them on the other cable you have the other (b)drive as the master. This would allow you to either burn to the (b) drive from the hard drive or (a) drive.
Hope this makes sense.

Viking6 · 11-20-2005, 09:46 PM

Thanks! I'll have to install my Roxio 7.5 Easy Media Creator and try to find that option. Boy, there's sure a lot to learn when you build your own.

11-20-2005, 02:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Viking6 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 39 OS: WIN XP	Can I use 2 Combo Drives? I have one drive that is DVDRW/CDRW, and one drive that is CDRW/DVD ROM. I would like to connect the second one I mentioned as just permanently in the CDRW mode and packet writing. I want to use the first one I mentioned as the drive for burning other types of data and playing the DVD movies or installing software. If this would work, which one would I connect as the master and which one would be best as the slave? Also, I just got to thinking - I would have to remove the packet writing CDRW disk if I wanted to copy a CD or DVD. How would all this work and interconnect??? I am using XP Home. Thanks if anybody can figure this out.

11-20-2005, 02:56 PM	#2 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	There is no reason that you can not use both. Master would be the one you would use the most. Although it wouldn't really matter. if you plan on putting them on the same cable and want to copy from one to the other you would be wise to turn on copy to HDD first. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

11-20-2005, 04:28 PM	#4 (permalink)
oldmn TSF Enthusiast Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Gig Harbor Wa Posts: 2,150 OS: XP Pro SP3 X 3 My System	When you have two drives on the same cable. you can run into a buffer under run because the data has to be read from the first drive in to memory them written to the other drive this takes time. if they are on different cables they will read and write at the same time. Roxio and most other software provides the option of writing to the HDD first then writing it to the target drive. So you do not get the buffer under run. One other thing to consider when installing these is. If you only have one HDD you have it on one cable as master and the (a)drive you would normally copy from on the same cable as the slave. them on the other cable you have the other (b)drive as the master. This would allow you to either burn to the (b) drive from the hard drive or (a) drive. Hope this makes sense. __________________ AVG \| MEMTEST86 \| Zone Alarm \| XXCLONE \| Adaware \| Beyond Compare \| Everest If TSF has helped you, Tell us about it! or Donate to help keep the site up! Sorry no PM's for problems.[/center]

11-20-2005, 04:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Viking6 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 39 OS: WIN XP	I haven't ran into anything that said copy to HDD first. Could you explain that a bit more please? Thanks, Viking6

11-20-2005, 09:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Viking6 Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 39 OS: WIN XP	Thanks! I'll have to install my Roxio 7.5 Easy Media Creator and try to find that option. Boy, there's sure a lot to learn when you build your own.