Hey guys,

I got a new burner and its a combo (2-in-1), it also plays DVDs. The problem is that after I choose the DVD source to be played, my pc restarts by itself. My OS is xp pro, 256MB RAM, GF FX5200 128MB DDR, I've already installed all of the softwares in their cd driver that came with their product. The burner is fine, I've already tested it, it also reads fine when reading VCDs (but not DVDs).
Whoever has the same problem as I have, please help me out, thank you in advance.

What do you currently have on your IDE channels? Do you have your IDEs set in the BIOS to Auto Detect, or to Manual?

Do you have the appropriate jumper set on your new drive (Master, Slave, Cable Select) to match its position on the IDE cable and BIOS setup??

I have my HHD on primary IDE, and on secondary I have my CD-ROM(master) and CD-RW/DVD-ROM(slave). I don't know how to determine if its in auto detect or manual (sorry), please explain if you can and I'll try to look at it.

Master is connected to the end of the IDE cable and slave to the middle connector??

Some folks have had better results using the Cable Select option with various motherboards identifying the IDE devices. To do so you jumper the devices to "CS" rather than Master or Slave and then in the BIOS setup you find and set the option from Manual to Cable Select the IDE devices...

I'm not sure at all this is your direct problem, but it always seems to help when troubleshooting to have all variables covered...

I remember [not too well] a similar case just recently where the PC crashed every time the user tried to do something with the CD drive.
If I remember rightly it was caused by a conflict for IRQ5 with the sound card.
When he tried to use both items which were sharing an IRQ, bingo!

But the CD drives don't use an IRQ!
The IDE controller does though.
My Secondary IDE Controller uses IRQ15, how about yours?
Which controller is your CD combo drive using and which IRQ?
Any conflict?

Am I displaying my lack of understanding here? :o
I supose the combo uses the controller IRQ whether it is burning a CD or reading a DVD?

I wasn't necessarily looking for a IRQ or resource problem resolution with my questioning. I was just wanting to make sure that all connections were as they are supposed to be to ensure that the data flow was not in jeopardy due to confusion in the IDE channel positions of the devices.

Sylvander's questioning brings to mind checking the IDE connections to make sure they are secure...a loose connection can also mess with proper data flow and look like a software problem...

After my previous post, the following thought came to mind:

What if…

Only during playback of something that includes sound [like a video played using your combo], would the sound card AND the IDE controller for the combo BOTH be in use.

Hence the possibility of a resource conflict only during playback [from a CD/DVD drive using an IDE controller] with sound?

You could always try “Start=>Run=>Open=>msconfig=>ok” and choose “Diagnostic Startup” [Safe Mode plus CD access] to see if all’s well in that software environment.
It runs in a minimalist environment [nothing else running in the background] with less chance of software conflicting.

I wish I can understand every word you guys are saying, I know something about PCs but not as much as you guys. Whyzman, how do I setup my BIOS? Sylvander, "My Secondary IDE Controller uses IRQ15, how about yours?", how will I know that I am using IRQ15? How will I know if there are any conflict? Please help, thank you in advance.

1. Go to “Device Manager”=>click “View Devices by Connection”=>click on “Computer”=>hit “Numlock + *” [Numlock and Asterisk] on the keyboard to expand the tree in Device Manager=>scroll down below “PCI Bus” to “Secondary [or Primary] IDE Controller”=>click on it and click “Properties”=>click the “Resources” tab.

Under the headings “Resource Type” & “Setting” you will see “Interrupt Request” & “15” [or whatever your IRQ setting is].

2. “Cancel” that window, then scroll further down the tree, still under “PCI BIOS”, to your sound device.
Mine is “ESS ES1868 Plug and Play Audio Drive” for example.
Highlight the sound device=>click “Properties”=>click “Resources”, and look for the “Interrupt Request” “Setting”.
Mine is “05”.

If the two IRQ’s are different as above [15 & 05] then you are ok, if they are the same, then you have a conflict.

Does anyone know why this will display 1 image just fine, but if I upload 2 it shows them as files that must be displayed in a separate window?

Here's the 2nd image.

Sylvander,

I already checked and there was no conflict. Do you have any other solutions? Please share. I tried the drive in another pc and it worked perfectly, so I'm guessing the problem is in the OS, incompatibility or something. I'm now downloading "Power DVD", maybe the problem is also in the player. Thank you in advance.

Does this apply?

Windows quits unexpectedly when you try to play a DVD
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;811419&Product=winxp