DVD Drive(s) Disappear

JeffreyGoff · 02-14-2006, 08:37 PM

Having a problem over the past few days. I think it's related to the drives. While playing games (Doom3 and Civilization 4 to be exact), the sound starts to skip. The computer as a whole starts running "like a broken record"; sound skips, mouse 'skips', etc. I restart and one of my DVD Drives no longer shows up in BIOS and in my Computer; whichever drive had the CD for the game I was playing in it. If I restart AGAIN, everything is fine, until I start playing games.

Either drive still mechanically functions (open & close, light flashes) - jumpers are configured correctly, OnBoard Audio is disabled (I am using a PCI soundCard - SoundBlaster Audiology)

It's not life or death, just kind of an annoyance, any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

Caoctane · 02-15-2006, 04:21 AM

I am also having the same problem, my device manager says that my DVD drive is conflicting with CD rom drives Ive never had...

Edit: Ive managed to get rid of the strange drives, but there is still the small yellow icon next to the name, and it still isnt in My Computer

Caoctane · 02-15-2006, 07:55 AM

the Drive is in my BIOS,

~~whodat~~ · 02-15-2006, 08:19 AM

JeffreyGoff ....

please give us your system specs including the power supply

Caoctane ....

start your own thread.. as per forum rules

JeffreyGoff · 02-15-2006, 08:43 AM

Systems Specs:
O/S - Windows XP Pro SP2 - 100% updated
MB - ASUS K8V-MX
AMD Athlon XP 64 3400
1024MB Corsair XMS DDR 400
IDE Hard Drive - 80G Maxtor
2ND IDE Hard Drive - 250G Maxtor
Graphics Card - Nvidia GeForce 4800 Ti 128MB
Sound Card - Sound Blaster Audiology 5.1 w/Firewire
Disk Drive - Sony 2.4x DVD+RW
2ND Disk Drive - 12x DVD ROM
Power Supply - Enermax 500W

I think that should be everything - I recently reformatted and reinstalled everything - drivers should 100% up to date as well.

Thanks!

~~whodat~~ · 02-15-2006, 09:34 AM

run the game with the side off and a fan blowing in
we need to eliminate heat as the issue

then we need to know what virus/spy protection is installed on the computer

JeffreyGoff · 02-15-2006, 06:30 PM

I doubt heat is an issue, my case runs at about 23-25C, temp is taken right near processor and graphics card.

Spyware - Webroot Spysweeper 3.0 & Lavasoft AdAware 6
Antivirus - Norton 2006; also Norton System Works, and Internet Security 2005 are running.

Latest devolpment - the CD Drive DOES NOT show in BIOS or in 'My Computer' but functions completely normal - even reads CDs - I can play games with the CD in the Drive that does not show up; but the Audio, is NOT skipping anymore???? Very ODD!

JeffreyGoff · 02-21-2006, 05:52 PM

I had a few days to play around. I ran the games a few times with the case open; and a few times with the case as normal. It only did the "sound skipping" once; case was closed. I really doubt it is a heat issue I have had this computer for a year now, and this has never occured before, but I have been wrong in the past.

I am really unsure about this one. The drives still do not show up in "My Computer" or the Bios, but put a CD in and you can play games that require CD to play, and they work. Something else has started happening lately. The Drives do not open and close 100% of the time, sometimes will only open half way or wont close all the way; then the light blinks, usually until I restart; then it will function fine.

I guess I can live with it, but if anyone has any more ideas, I would greatly appreciate it, I am more afraid this is the beginnings of a larger problem.

~~whodat~~ · 02-22-2006, 04:37 AM

go into your device manager, and see what is listed.

try changing the ribbon cables, are the drives pinned on cable select?

JeffreyGoff · 02-22-2006, 05:07 PM

Nothing is showing up n Device Manager; there is DVD/CD Drive listed.

I checked the jumpers - they are both set to Cable Select. I didnot switch cables - I have a big case, only one is long enough.

But I think I may have found the culprit - I had the power to the DVD drive split with the fan controller/temp monitor. I pulled out the splitter and put a direct power to the drive, and everything was back to normal. Drives show up in Bios, My Computer and Device Manager. Open and close perfectly.

Unless someone thinks I just go lucky doing this, I may have my answer.

02-14-2006, 08:37 PM	#1 (permalink)
JeffreyGoff Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Prof	DVD Drive(s) Disappear Having a problem over the past few days. I think it's related to the drives. While playing games (Doom3 and Civilization 4 to be exact), the sound starts to skip. The computer as a whole starts running "like a broken record"; sound skips, mouse 'skips', etc. I restart and one of my DVD Drives no longer shows up in BIOS and in my Computer; whichever drive had the CD for the game I was playing in it. If I restart AGAIN, everything is fine, until I start playing games. Either drive still mechanically functions (open & close, light flashes) - jumpers are configured correctly, OnBoard Audio is disabled (I am using a PCI soundCard - SoundBlaster Audiology) It's not life or death, just kind of an annoyance, any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated!

02-15-2006, 04:21 AM	#2 (permalink)
Caoctane Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, England. Posts: 82 OS: Win XP SP3	I am also having the same problem, my device manager says that my DVD drive is conflicting with CD rom drives Ive never had... Edit: Ive managed to get rid of the strange drives, but there is still the small yellow icon next to the name, and it still isnt in My Computer Last edited by Caoctane; 02-15-2006 at 04:37 AM.

02-15-2006, 08:19 AM	#4 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	JeffreyGoff .... please give us your system specs including the power supply Caoctane .... start your own thread.. as per forum rules Last edited by whodat; 02-15-2006 at 08:20 AM.

02-15-2006, 07:55 AM	#3 (permalink)
Caoctane Registered User Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: London, England. Posts: 82 OS: Win XP SP3	the Drive is in my BIOS,

02-15-2006, 08:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
JeffreyGoff Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Prof	Systems Specs: O/S - Windows XP Pro SP2 - 100% updated MB - ASUS K8V-MX AMD Athlon XP 64 3400 1024MB Corsair XMS DDR 400 IDE Hard Drive - 80G Maxtor 2ND IDE Hard Drive - 250G Maxtor Graphics Card - Nvidia GeForce 4800 Ti 128MB Sound Card - Sound Blaster Audiology 5.1 w/Firewire Disk Drive - Sony 2.4x DVD+RW 2ND Disk Drive - 12x DVD ROM Power Supply - Enermax 500W I think that should be everything - I recently reformatted and reinstalled everything - drivers should 100% up to date as well. Thanks!

02-15-2006, 09:34 AM	#6 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	run the game with the side off and a fan blowing in we need to eliminate heat as the issue then we need to know what virus/spy protection is installed on the computer

02-15-2006, 06:30 PM	#7 (permalink)
JeffreyGoff Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Prof	I doubt heat is an issue, my case runs at about 23-25C, temp is taken right near processor and graphics card. Spyware - Webroot Spysweeper 3.0 & Lavasoft AdAware 6 Antivirus - Norton 2006; also Norton System Works, and Internet Security 2005 are running. Latest devolpment - the CD Drive DOES NOT show in BIOS or in 'My Computer' but functions completely normal - even reads CDs - I can play games with the CD in the Drive that does not show up; but the Audio, is NOT skipping anymore???? Very ODD!

02-21-2006, 05:52 PM	#8 (permalink)
JeffreyGoff Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Prof	I had a few days to play around. I ran the games a few times with the case open; and a few times with the case as normal. It only did the "sound skipping" once; case was closed. I really doubt it is a heat issue I have had this computer for a year now, and this has never occured before, but I have been wrong in the past. I am really unsure about this one. The drives still do not show up in "My Computer" or the Bios, but put a CD in and you can play games that require CD to play, and they work. Something else has started happening lately. The Drives do not open and close 100% of the time, sometimes will only open half way or wont close all the way; then the light blinks, usually until I restart; then it will function fine. I guess I can live with it, but if anyone has any more ideas, I would greatly appreciate it, I am more afraid this is the beginnings of a larger problem.

02-22-2006, 04:37 AM	#9 (permalink)
~~whodat~~ Register user Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 5,931 OS: XP	go into your device manager, and see what is listed. try changing the ribbon cables, are the drives pinned on cable select?

02-22-2006, 05:07 PM	#10 (permalink)
JeffreyGoff Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 22 OS: Windows XP Prof	Nothing is showing up n Device Manager; there is DVD/CD Drive listed. I checked the jumpers - they are both set to Cable Select. I didnot switch cables - I have a big case, only one is long enough. But I think I may have found the culprit - I had the power to the DVD drive split with the fan controller/temp monitor. I pulled out the splitter and put a direct power to the drive, and everything was back to normal. Drives show up in Bios, My Computer and Device Manager. Open and close perfectly. Unless someone thinks I just go lucky doing this, I may have my answer.