HELP - bios doesn't always recognize cd-rom drive

[abc]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list. The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave

 

[Plato]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

Put in a new drive and be done with it.

 

[isthisthingon]

It could be a bad drive, it could also be the jumper settings on the
CD-ROM drive. Newer drives are usually pretty good about handling
"Auto-Select" mode, but older drives are pretty picky. They usually
want to be set as master or slave - which of course depends on the
configuration of the other devices on your computer. Don't mess with
the jumper settings on anything else in your computer, just your CD-ROM
drive. Good luck.

-Ken

 

[Jim]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is
that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive
is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the
computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list.
The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until
the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave

So, you replace one bad drive with another that may be bad as well. It is
time to spring for a brand new unused drive. These symptoms point to
defective hardware (sometimes works and sometimes doesn't).
Jim

 

[Frank]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list. The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave

Dave:

Some older Compaq's have legacy drivers built into their Bios. Which means
using a non-Compaq complient drive will hang your system. Also be carefull.
Your restore CD for your system may not work right if you are using a
Non-Compaq replacement drive. If you have upgraded the OS this won't be an
issue.

Frank

 

[Ann]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is
that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive
is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the
computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list.
The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until
the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave

So, you replace one bad drive with another that may be bad as well. It is
time to spring for a brand new unused drive. These symptoms point to
defective hardware (sometimes works and sometimes doesn't).

Or defective wiring. Cheaper to change the ribbon cable first.

Ann

 

[Frank]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list. The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave


Dave :

One other thought came to mind. Is this drive on cable select, Master or
slave position. If your IDE cable is going to another drive and It's
already set as master. The drive in question (CD-rom) won't show up in the
Bios. I would choose cable select Position on the Jumpers to see if the
Bios can see the drive. If it still doesn't you either have a cable issue or
a bad drive. A IDE ribbon cable doesn't cost more that $3-4 to replace.

Frank

 

[deebs]

The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is
that
whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive
is
not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the
computer
over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.

When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list.
The
first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
[DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
following:
1. [DRIVE] | | 60
2. [Other Device] | |
3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232

#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until
the
bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
Dave

So, you replace one bad drive with another that may be bad as well. It is
time to spring for a brand new unused drive. These symptoms point to
defective hardware (sometimes works and sometimes doesn't).
Jim

You haven't by anychance put any Sony DRM protected stuff on the 'pooter?

The reason I ask is that Sont DRM stuff has been compromised and is
giving rise to lawsuits in California and Italia

 

[Trax]

|>Jim wrote:
|>> |>>
|>>>The CD-rom drive in my computer (compaq deskpro) died. So, I replaced it
|>>>with a cd-rom drive from a compaq presario. The problem I am having is
|>>>that
|>>>whenever I power on or restart the computer, sometimes, the cd-rom drive
|>>>is
|>>>not recognized by the BIOS. So, I have to sit there and reboot the
|>>>computer
|>>>over and over again until it works and windows xp starts.
|>>>
|>>>When it doesn't work, the bios displays a screen saying "The following
|>>>configuartion settings were automatically updated" followed by a list.
|>>>The
|>>>first item on the list is always my hard drive listed as:
|>>> [DRIVE] | 20MB | Compaq WDC########
|>>>and the second item, which should be my cd-rom drive, will be one of the
|>>>following:
|>>>1. [DRIVE] | | 60
|>>>2. [Other Device] | |
|>>>3. [CDROM] | | Compaq SCR-3232
|>>>
|>>>#3 looks correct but even if I save that setting, I get the same behavior.
|>>>No matter which of these items comes up, I have not found a sequence of
|>>>actions that helps me get correct functioning except for rebooting until
|>>>the
|>>>bios screen does not appear and windows starts. Please help and please
|>>>reply to the group. Thank you in advance.
|>>>Dave
|>>>
|>>>
|>>>
|>>
|>> So, you replace one bad drive with another that may be bad as well. It is
|>> time to spring for a brand new unused drive. These symptoms point to
|>> defective hardware (sometimes works and sometimes doesn't).
|>> Jim


|>You haven't by anychance put any Sony DRM protected stuff on the 'pooter?

That's a good point, the Sony crap puts a protection layer above and
below the CD's driver’s initialization function.
http://www.sysinternals.com/Blog/

It really can't be rule'd out.

|>The reason I ask is that Sont DRM stuff has been compromised and is
|>giving rise to lawsuits in California and Italia