Acer 10x4x32 not recognized-internal-help!

[nickib]

I have a partitioned PC, C-drive is '98, D-drive is 2K. My Acer CD-RW is not recognized in either OS. I cannot get it to show up anywhere on my screen. The DVD player works fine. I need to get this working so I can burn a CD with data from the 2K drive. I need to transfer this info to my second PC, which is independent, not partitioned and running 2K also. I do not know about Bios, etc., so I am lost when suggestions are to change this registry, Bios, etc. Can someone please help me? Thanks a bunch!

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windriver nickib

First of all, what computer is this? If it's branded, compay hp etc, what is the make and model

If not, download, unzip and run this (http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/file_download.asp?fid=23043&fileidx=1) and post the results, it will tell us all we need to know about your machine.

How long has this problem been evident?

[nickib]

Hi,

Thanks for the link/info. I think this problem may have been going on 3-4 months. I used to use this PC for work and would occasionally burn a data CD. I got a new PC for work about 3 months ago, so I do not use this one as much, but I have some data I would like to get off of it. I tried copying via our network, but it never completes - something about *path too deep*. If I could just burn a couple CDs with data, it would be great!

The PC is one that was built by a tech - not a brand name.

I keep trying to attach the report to this post, but I cannot see it within my reply. What am I doing wrong? I was relieved to see the Acer CD-R/RW listed, even though I am not sure if that means good news!

Thanks,
Nicki

[NooNoo]

Path too deep is an error caused by the entire name of the folder from the root directory being too long.

If you shift those files to say c:\backup and then try, what happens?

You cannot attach files, just copy the report and pasted into a reply.

Does the cdrw show up in device manager?

[nickib]

Hi,

Well, in trying to do what you suggested, I *discovered* a couple of things. Ironically, when I boot to drive C my Acker shows up - not ever accessible and *never* ready, but it at least shows up on the device manager. However, same PC, when I boot to drive D it is no where to be found. I also popped a music CD in and nothing - not accessible.

How I *discovered* this was I went to do what you said by pasting the report (which was too long - would not post. So, if you tell me what part/parts you need, I will past just those ones!) that it showed OS as '98. Since my data is on the D-drive (OS 2K), I thought - shoot - I need to run the report on my D-drive. Then it hit me - the CDRW is listed on report for C-drive but would not be listed on D-drive report, because it is as if it has been removed when I boot to D.

The DVD works just fine - doesn't matter which I boot to. The CDRW (when I boot to C-drive) lights up and shows "disk in" when I first put a disk in it, but then the light goes out.

Now - I did copy all of the files I want to get off the PC onto my C-drive - now if I could just get the thing to be *accessible*! I think - and I could be wrong - that there are 2 different problems here . . . C recognizes it, but it does not work and D doesn't even know it's there. Like I said, if I can get these few files off of either drive (they are on both now), that is all I want to accomplish.

Hope this makes sense - sorry to ramble. Oh, I also tried the c:\backup idea - then I got something about no longer valid (path? drive? - cannot remember).

Thanks a bunch!
Nicki

[NooNoo]

Paste the report into two posts then....

We need the hardware section primarily.

If the acer shows up in device manager, does it have any ! next to it? How about on hard disk controllers?

[nickib]

Hi NooNoo,

I pasted what I *think* you need . . . LMK if you need more. In answer to your question, there is nothing beside the Acer when it shows up on device manager. As far as the hard disc controlllers, how do I check that?

Thanks,
Nicki


Windows Storage


[ GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE47 ]

Device Properties:
Driver Description Disk drive
Driver Date 4/23/99
Driver Provider (Standard disk drives)
INF File DISKDRV.INF

[ ATAPI CD-R/RW 10X4X32 ]

Device Properties:
Driver Description (CD-Rom Drive)
Driver Date 4/23/99
Driver Provider Microsoft
INF File MSCDROM.INF

Optical Drive Properties:
Manufacturer Acer
Device Type CD-RW
Speed 10x/4x/32x

[ LITEON DVD-ROM LTD122 ]

Device Properties:
Driver Description (CD-Rom Drive)
Driver Date 4/23/99
Driver Provider Microsoft
INF File MSCDROM.INF

Optical Drive Properties:
Manufacturer Lite-On
Device Type DVD-ROM
Speed 12x/40x

Device Manufacturer:
Company Name LITE-ON IT Corp.
Product Information http://www.liteon.com/prod/productIndex.do?xml_id=4

[NooNoo]

I need a lot more than that. Motherboard make and model would be good.

Device manager has ide or hard disk controllers listed - what do you have shown in device manager under hard disk or ide controller?

[nickib]

Sorry I did not reply sooner - I did not know you had posted. Anyway, in my *travels* I saw on this link http://forums.windrivers.com/printthread.php?t=60211

where it appears that you solved the EXACT same problem! My motherboard is a Gigabyte also - not sure of the model, but weird - never before until last week had I gotten this particular screen when booting - doesn't matter if C (98) or D (2K). After I start I get a black screen with a picture of a dog and cat in the middle and a caption underneath that says, "GIGABYTE is hailing you!" At the bottom of the black screen it simply says "GIGABYTE TECHNOLOGY".

Have you ever heard of such a thing???

Oh - I tried what you said in the above link - but, thank God I did save a back up (like you suggested) because I accidentally deleted the WHOLE Enum :rolleyes: subkey and oh, what a mess that was! I restored the backup registry and all is okay (whew!), but CDRW still has a red "X" through it on Device Manager.

After I got 98 straightened out, I *tried* to boot in safe mode (98) - could not get it to do it. I would like to try your suggestion the *right* way. Any thoughts?

Thanks a bunch!
Nicki

[nickib]

Well, I got booted in safe mode and followed the instructions and not only did it not resolve the problem, but then I kept getting blue screens, etc. So (sigh) I rebooted in command prompt (learned this due to another problem - from another tech) and reverted back to the last *good* registry - a couple of days ago (still with CDRW problem).

I am just about ready to give up . . . :sad:

[NooNoo]

OK last test before you bin it.

Set the bios to boot from cdrom and use your 2k or bootable 98 cdrom to boot from. If it boots from the cd, its alive - just. If not - it's dead jim.

[nickib]

98 did not work - crashed the system. As soon as I get my hands on the 2K disk I will try it - but I am not holding out much hope . . . At least the cdrw shows UP on the 98 boot - with a red "X" on device manager. Doesn't even show on the 2K boot.

Thanks for trying to help me . . . I suppose I could purchase an external cd burner to get my stuff off, right?

Nicki

[NooNoo]

yup