Hey everyone,

I am new to this site and would appreciate any help please. I'm runnning windows xp on an AMD Sempron 2200. I was trying to install a dvd rom drive on my girlfriends computer which already has a cdrw. I left the cdrw to master and the dvd rom to slave and put it on the same ide ribbon with the middle connector attached to the master and the end connector attached to the slave. I booted the computer up and BIOS does not recognize it. The DVD rom has no power going to it. SO I tried a different power connector and still no luck. SO I said forget it and just unhooked the dvd rom and hooked back up the cdrw.

Now the computer does not even read the cdrw. After the memory test it says detecting cd rom drive and says failed to detect. I went into BIOS and tried to autodetect but did not work.

Please help!! I feel terrible cause now her computer doesn't even work.
Any help would be much appreciated. THANKS :confused:

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How many lines are on the IDE cable 40 or 80? I think the CD RWs are pretty much all 80s but check to make sure as I'm sure the DVD will be needing an 80.

Usually, when adding a drive as Slave it goes to the center connector with the Master on the end position. What you might want to try at this point is to jumper both drives to the CS or cable select position and reference same in the BIOS.

I would shut down and unplug the IDE cable from the motherboard. There might also be some confusion at this point with what we call Ghost Drivers in Device Manager. I would enter SAFEMODE and remove "all" instances of optical drives in Device Manager. Shut down again, and reconnect the IDE to the motherboard. Power up, and let Windoze find the drives and reload the drivers...

Hopefully, this will get you back into good graces with your girlfriend...:)

The DVD rom has no power going to it.
As well as jumpering and connecting the ribbon cable correctly both devices must be connected to a 4-pin molex power connector. If there is not one spare to use then you will need a Y-adapter to allow both optical devices to have power.

Hey everyone....thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try