PlexWriter CD-RW - new machine won't boot

[JaneK]

I'm building a new PC with the following spec.:

Asus A7M266 motherboard
512 megs DDR 2100 (Crucial)
ELSA Gladiac Ultra 64 meg graphics card
2 Seagate UDMA100 hard disks
Pioneer DVD
Plextor CD-RW

When the Plextor CD-RW is added, the machine won't boot at all - it doesn't even get as far as the beep.

I've tried the 2 hard disks, the Pioneer and the Plextor in every possible combination of primary/secondary slave/master. The machine boots fine with just the hard disks, or hard disks + Pioneer, but add the Plextor to the equation and - no ball. It won't boot with just the Plextor either (i.e. as master on the primary channel).

I was kinda hoping the Plextor itself was faulty, but it works perfectly in a different machine.

I would really appreciate any advice about this.

JK

[Randy_tx]

It must be a DMA conflict or and I/O address conflict.....I know you said you tried every combo.....have you tried 1 HD + DVD(slave) on one channel and other HD + cd read/write(slave) on the other? It is time to contact Plexor for sure.......I've seen many posts lately about that unit...dont know why it has so many probs.

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Will XP save Me ?

[JaneK]

Many thanks for speedy reply.

I tried 1 hd (master) + Plextor (slave) on primary channel. I can't do the combination you suggested because the cables won't stretch that far! The manual for the Plextor advised that it be configured as a master, so I tried 1 hd (master) on primary + Plextor (master) on secondary; and also 2hd (master and slave) on primary + Plextor (master) on secondary. Same result each time - no boot.

I contacted the company where I bought the Plextor (they suggested trying it in a different machine). They told me they'd had no reports of conflicts with the Asus motherboard.

Thanks again for your suggestions.

JK

[Randy_tx]

Well........It aint magic, that's for sure! There is SOMETHING going on between the resources the Hard Drives want to use and the cd writer...see if you get a post up with NO hard drives attached(and Cdwriter as master)...then at least you will know where to go next .......
It might be necessary to set the HD's up with "Cable Select" setting instead of master/slave type setup.
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Will XP save Me ?





[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 04-20-2001).]

[JaneK]

I tried CD-RW on primary as master (i.e. no HDs at all), and that didn't work either, so the conflict isn't with the HDs.

So where do I go next ;-) ["the pub" might be a good answer here]

JK

[Randy_tx]

Geeeezzzz Louise......I dont know what to tell ya.....maybe one of the CD/RW guru's will weigh in with an idea........I'm totally busted http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif...Pub is sounding like a good plan though. Obviously the Plextor and the BIOS dont agree on SOMEthing....ok ok ok-just thought of somethin.......have you gone into BIOS and tried messing with the PIO settings for both controllers (mode settings as in 0,1,2,3,4 etc)??? Maybe that is the ticket!
Randy is grasping at straws here as you can tell by now http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif
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Will XP save Me ?





[This message has been edited by Randy_tx (edited 04-20-2001).]

[Randy_tx]

Jane.......If you ever get that sucker running right it WILL be a SCREAMER for sure. BTW.....there is a Bios upgrade already out: http://www.asus.com/Products/Motherboard/bios_socka.html#a7m266

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Will XP save Me ?

[JaneK]

I knew about the BIOS upgrade (my CPU has a 266 front side bus but it's only running at 133 at the moment, because that's all the BIOS supports), but as my nerves are sticking out of my body at present - this being my first attempt at building a PC - I've chickened out of doing the upgrade for the moment. I've been working on this thing since about 8:30 this morning (and it's now 11:15 at night)!

JK

[tjaymadison]

What size (wattage) is your power supply, and is it "approved" by AMD?

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"When I nod my head, hit it with the hammer."
(Moe, holding nail, to Curly, holding hammer)

[This message has been edited by tjaymadison (edited 04-20-2001).]

[JaneK]

300 Watt. The case is an EN-72370KZ1 (Enlight). But I don't think power's the problem, because the led on the Plextor comes on, and the tray will open.

[Randy_tx]

May be time to try another brand of CD Writer........it will save you a lot of time and grief I thinks.

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Will XP save Me ?

[JaneK]

Problem solved!

I gave up on the Plextor yesterday, and just set up everything else, and installed Windows. Today, just for the hell of it, I plugged in the Plextor again, and it booted up fine, no problems - Windows recognises the drive too. Why on earth it would work without the OS, I don't know. (But I'm beginning to think that I'm not going to be able to get it to work with Linux on my other disk!)

Sorry about the wild goose chase, and many thanks for your help anyway!

Jane