IDE Connection for CDROM and DVDROM

[shoryuko]

Hi,

I have a hardisk (MAXTOR 20GB), CDROM (LG 48X) and DVDROM (SONY 16X). I want to connect the hardisk to Primary IDE (master), whereas CDROM to Secondary IDE (master) and DVDROM to Secondary IDE (slave). The DVDROM cannot be recognized, appeared with weird characters in the BIOS. I have checked the jumpers and they are all correct. Strangely, if the DVDROM is Secondary IDE (master) and CDROM is Secondary IDE (slave), both drives will work. My current connection is now hardisk to Primary IDE (master), CDROM to Primary IDE (slave), and DVDROM to Secondary IDE (master). All working, but I know it'll make the hardisk slow.

Any comments on how I can make an optimised connection with hardisk as C:\, CDROM as D:\ and DVDROM as E:\?

Thank you for your feedback.

[Budfred]

Welcome to PCGuide!!

You said DVD as Secondary Master and CD as Secondary Slave works, what is wrong with leaving it that way??

Budfred

[shoryuko]

Hi there, thanks for your response.

Well, actually I'll prefer to use CDROM as Secondary Master and DVDROM as Secondary Slave, as some of my applications run by default on Secondary Master, which I prefer to use CDROM. I rarely use my DVDROM, mainly bcoz it's slow in speed and I want to use it solely for DVDs only.

I am still wondering why I cannot use CDROM as Master and DVDROM as Slave. Any comments on why is this so? Again, thanks ^.^

[Budfred]

Sorry, I don't know why that would be, but I sure someone here will have some idea.

Another option I know that you can use would be to install an IDE controller card to run the DVD. You could then set it as Master as well as setting the HD and CD as Masters on their lines. You would need to have a PCI slot open to do this.

Good luck,
Budfred

[Fruss Tray Ted]

What are the jumpers set as?

What are your choices? Some HDD's have more ways than others, I wouldn't know how many on your other peripherals.

[shoryuko]

Helo,

My current settings are:
Primary Master - Hardisk (Maxtor 20GB 5400rpm)
Primary Slave - CDROM (LG 48X)
Secondary Master - DVDROM (Sony 16X)
* CDROM will cause the HDD to slow down when both running.

Here are my current jumper settings:
Hardisk - Master
CDROM - Slave
DVDROM - Master

My desired settings are:
Primary Master - Hardisk (Maxtor 20GB 5400rpm)
Secondary Master - CDROM (LG 48X)
Secondary Slave - DVDROM (Sony 16X)

On Secondary IDE, here are some jumper settings I have tried to make the above work (but still cannot work though):
1. CDROM - Master, DVDROM - Slave
2. CDROM - Master, DVDROM - CSelect
3. CDROM - CSelect, DVDROM - Slave
* Hardisk always remains at Primary Master with jumper set as Master.

Any explaination on why can't "Secondary Master - CDROM, Secondary Slave - DVDROM" work? Thanks... ^.^

[ranchdog]

The device used as Master needs to be

plugged in to the END plug on the cable

and the Slave plugged into the CENTER

connection.



RD.

[Paleo Pete]

For some strange reason some drives work better jumpered to Cable Select (CS). To use CS you should have both drives on that channel set to CS and not just one. That lets the controller decide which one is master according to its position on the cable. That's also why it hasn't worked so far, with both setups you had one set CS, one set slave. BOth must be CS.

Try both DVD and CD ROM on secondary IDE, both jumpered to CS, put the CD ROM on the END connector, DVD in the MIDDLE. That's the only configuration I see that you haven't tried, it might work. That will make the CD ROM master, DVD slave.

[shoryuko]

Hi,
Thank you for all the guidance.
I did try with both CDROM and DVDROM set as CS on Secondary, with CDROM at the edge (master) and DVDROM at the center (slave), but it didnt work too. Then I noticed that actually there should be nothing wrong, so I check the IDE cable. The cable is 80-conductor cable, well, my last resolution is, of course changing it with a conventional IDE 40-conductor cable with CDROM jumper set to master and plug at the edge, and DVDROM jumper set to slave and plug to center, and voila! It works!

1. Any reason why I cannot use the new 80-conductor cable to set CDROM as master and DVDROM as slave?
2. How come with the 80-conductor cable, I manage to get DVDROM as master and CDROM as slave but not vice versa?

ps: With both set as CS, it did not work for both 40-conductor and 80- conductor IDE cable.

[mjc]

Actually, it sounds like the CDROM doesn't like 80 wire cables.......