DVD-RW drive locks up computer

[Terry]

I just built a system with an ASUS P4C800E-Deluxe
motherboard and a P4 2.8Ghz processor. I am using XP with
SP1 and all other critical updates installed. I installed
a DVD-Rom and DVD-RW drive on the secondary IDE. Both of
these drives worked fine in my old Dell. Both drive
jumpers were set to cable select, and when I started the
new computer the DVD-RW was not recognized. I set the DVD-
rom to master and -RW to slave, and everything seemed to
be fine. The problem I have now is any disc I put into
the -RW locks up the computer for about a minute, and
will not read the disc at all. I've tried swapping the -
rom and -rw drives, different cable, installing only the -
rw drive, nothing seems to work. I thought maybe the
drive itself was bad, so I tried a CD-RW drive, it did
not work either. Everything looks good in the device
manager. I updated the mobo BIOS and DVD-rw drive
firmware also. Any advice would be appreciated.

Terry

 

[Mikey]

Hi;
How many drives (apart from Floppy) over all?

IF: 1 HDD (or even 2 HDDs) + 1 DVD-ROM R/RW + 1 DVD (pure, NOT a second
WRITER) for a total of 3 (or 4) BUT for those agencements ONLY we'll go:

1 HDD + 2 CDs
a)
HDD is JUMPERED as Master WITH Slave Present (if your brand has that
position) and is plugged at the END of your 1st IDE cable (80 wires, not the
cheap 40) as "C:" and your
DVD (pure, not a writer) is jumpered as Slave on the same IDE and obviously
goes to the mid plug=> "E:"

*NOTE:
=====-
Now only IF the (individual or both types) CD and or DVD is/are not
recognized properly in the BIOS do you move the jumper on it to CS (Cable
Select)
and redetect.
Sounds strange but things happen!
b)
DVD-Rom R/RW is jumpered Master (Master Only if such option) and goes on
Secondary IDE cable (80 is better again but not an absolute) to the END
plug=> "D:".

Stupid but here goes: The long free portion of IDE cable(s) always for the
MB connector(s).

2 HDDS + 2
=========
a)
1st IDE
======
Faster, better, bigger, higher perf HDD: Master on # 1 IDE. ==>"C:".
DVD (the pure) as above==> Slaved on same, "*" still applies==> "E:".

b)
2nd IDE (80 wires is a MUST)
=====================
2nd HDD (of equal or lower specs): Master==> "D:".
DVD-Rom R/RWriter: Slaved and see "*" if necessary.

Many will tell you not to slave a Writer (or DVD for that matter) but they
are way slower than ANY hard drive. The Write/Read functions won't be
impeded.

The only alteration to the above: IF the CD's manufacturer insists (and
proves also thru actual real-life usage) that a CD or DVD needs be a Master.
THEN: The 2 HDDS jumpered properly on 1st IDE and the
"CULPRIT" as Master on 2nd IDE with other CD as Slave. A flat "No choice
then".

***************

I use 2 + 2 and have:
1 HDD (Maxtor "C:" 120gigs, 8MBs of cache, jumpered as Master with Slave
Present) + pure DVD "E:" on IDE 1
1 HDD (Twin of 1st "D:" + DVD-Rom R/RW on # 2 "F:".
It's a screamer at writing 'n reading.
Never ever a "coaster" DVD or CD.

Mikey

 

[Terry]

Here is how I have my drives connected:
IDE1: 1 HDD with 3 partitions (C:,D:,E, 80 wire cable

IDE2: DVD as master and DVD writer as slave (F:,G, 40
wire cable (tried 80, didn't make a difference).
I did try hooking up the DVD writer only as master on
IDE2, didn't work.

Terry