CD_ROM & CD_WRITER not working

[yigit]

Hello all,

Running XP Pro with all latest updates and SP's on an AMD Athlon machine. Here is the problem.
Machine has two CD drives, one only reads, other one is a writer. A few days ago the computer stopped recognizing both of these optical drives. What I mean by that is, when I boot the computer it will look for a “secondary master” (which is the one that reads only), and a “secondary slave” (which is the cd writer) and will not find anything. These two drives had been working fine for 18 months now.

I tried to isolate the problem and here is what I came up with:

When I open up the machine’s box and disconnect IDE cable and power cable of the cd writer, the reader drive works fine. But if I connect the power cable into the reader as well (the power cable is a split one feeding both optical drives) none of the drives work.

If I connect only the cd writer (data and power) and set it as the master, this drive still does not work.

I just cannot imagine that a drive would just stop functioning and that there has to be a cause for everything.

I will appreciate any advice comment whatever anyone can provide. Thanks so much in advance.

[halovivek]

welcome to pcguide ...
:D

there is a good idea regarding your problem.
are you using only one hard disk. if yes then no problem.
disconnect the cables from hard disk and all cd-reader and cd-writer
connect only one cable to hard disk and leave the other end
then in next cable connect both cd reader and the other one writer also

then restart the computer go to bios setting in the computer by pressing f2 or delete button.

select there master slave and all

the main problem lies there

reply
if not working

[pave_spectre]

How old is the CD writer? Could it jsut be worn out, or alternatively, still under warranty?

Are you able to test it in another machine?

What are the specs of your Power supply?

[ski]

I've seen that problem happen when a CD drive goes bad.
In your case, the CD-RW drive appears to be the culprit.

The only way to determine if the CD-RW drive is definitely the cause is to install it in another system, or install another CD drive in yours. If the same thing happens when it's installed in another system, or if another drive works ok in your system, then the CD-RW drive is bad.

And yes, they can and do just stop working.