Strange problem with NEC ND2500a and XP

[cannibal869]

Hi everyone,

First off, I'm a Noobie here...

I tried installing a new DVD-burner in my computer. I can boot up with the 2500a using the windows XP installer disc and I get icons of the drive in the My Computer window. But it won't read or write anything - either on CD or DVD. Actually, in the my computer window, it lists the drive as a CD drive (shouldn't it say DVD??). I'm running firmware 1.07 right now (flashed up since 1.06 wasn't working).

I recently had to buy a new HD cause my old one died a horrible death... I almost kinda wonder if this was due to the new NEC ND-2500a being installed. Before my old HD died, I was able to burn a few DVDs and CDs fine, but I always had to run the Add Hardware util. to get my computer to recognize that the drive was there (which it then said was working fine). Now with rebuilding the drive and installing windows, it recognizes that the drive is there, but it won't let me do anything with it.

here's my config so far: any suggestions? I tried reading some other posts, but they didn't quite help. The drive is on the second IDE as the master and DMA is on. I have the OEM DVD drive (reader) as a slave on the second IDE and it works fine. I haven't tried anything involving the BIOS yet, though...

Athlon 1GHz processor
512 MB RAM
80GB HD
Windows XP
nVidia GEForce 2 card Award Modular BIOS v6.00PG
bios ID: 05/31/2001-SiS-730-6A6ISE19C-00
bios date 5/31/01
bios ROM size 256K
Bios OEM signon: K7SEM Ver:1.1 05/31/2001
Chipset: SiS730 rev 2

If anyone can help, it would be much appreciated! Short of returning the drive or trying to see if a new IDE cable will work, I'm kinda lost!

Thanks in advance,
Chris:sad: :confused:

[NooNoo]

Welcome to Windrivers Cannibal

Is your windows fully updated from windows update?
Did you load the motherboard drivers? (http://download.sis.com/download_step1.php?act=Search&mode=2&category=12&subcategory=122&os=4&x=15&y=12)
What are you using for burning and dvd playback?
Can it read a cd? A music cd?
What does it say about it in device manager?

try this - aspi layer for burning (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.jsp?language=English+US&cat=%2fOperating+System%2fMicrosoft+Windows+XP&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe&sess=no)
If you have a ! on the drive then this could be the problem (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314060) note that it is not just easy cd that causes this.

That should keep you going for a while!

[cannibal869]

Is your windows fully updated from windows update?
Did you load the motherboard drivers? (http://download.sis.com/download_step1.php?act=Search&mode=2&category=12&subcategory=122&os=4&x=15&y=12)
What are you using for burning and dvd playback?
Can it read a cd? A music cd?
What does it say about it in device manager?

try this - aspi layer for burning (http://www.adaptec.com/worldwide/support/driverdetail.jsp?language=English+US&cat=%2fOperating+System%2fMicrosoft+Windows+XP&filekey=aspi_471a2.exe&sess=no)
If you have a ! on the drive then this could be the problem (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;314060) note that it is not just easy cd that causes this.

That should keep you going for a while!

Thanks for the help, but no go. I am running Nero for burning, windows is fully updated (at least according to the windows update site). I updated the motherboard drivers from the website you listed (thanks!) but it still didn't work. It doesn't recognize that a cd is in the drive (at least when I insert a disc, it doesn't autoplay, and when I try to open the drive, the window opens, but no files are listed). Device manager seems to think everything is ok (at least as far as I can tell - no yellow question marks or anything). I tried the aspi installer too, and it seems to have installed ok (although NERO says that the ASPI drivers are corrupted!) There is no ! on the drive... When I try to burn using NERO, it says that there was a "communication error" and the "track info is invalid"

Oh yeah, I don't have the upper or lower filter problem in my registry...

Still confused... but any help is still much appreciated!
-C

[NooNoo]

ok, boot to safe mode, uninstall the cd/dvd drives - shutdown, remove the drives (yes both of them). Reboot to normal mode.

Shut down, install the nec as secondary master - do not install the other one. Turn off dma on secondary ide in bios and set nvram or escd to enable.... this causes the bios to reevaluate the hardware....hopefully windows will get the message as well.

If that solves the problem, add back the secondary slave and test, if its all still fine, turn dma back on and test.

If not, try booting from the nec when it is set to secondary master.

[cannibal869]

NooNoo - you are the &%$#% MASTER of the IDE drives!!! :thumbs2:

OK, so I did what you said - turned off DMA and reinstalled the drives one by one. I can now read the drive, it even says that it's a DVD-RW drive, it recognizes disks, and I can burn CDs at least - I'll test DVDs later.

But then I turn on DMA and it all goes to cr@p again... so I just removed everything once more and restarted the sequence again. So now I have both drives installed, they both seem to work great. But I have DMA off for the secondary IDE master and slave.

So now my (hopefully) last two questions are: is it ok to have DMA turned off for the secondary IDE (since turning it on seems to make the problem come back)? And secondly, when I use the Nero info tool, it still says that the system ASPI installation is corrupted - should I worry about this?

Once again, thank you thank you thank you!!! You kick butt!
-C :thumbs:

P.S. what the heck is up with all these "runtime errors" that I get when I visit this site?? I'm guessing this is some sort of IE bug?

[NooNoo]

Cool, just means your dvd/rw doesn't like dma.

this will fix the nero aspi problem (http://www.nero.com/en/631940726560344.html)

Finally, you have script debugging set to on when using this site in IE - in ie, tools, options, advanced - check the box disable script debugging, uncheck the box Display notification about every script error.

[cannibal869]

Thanks again! You kick butt! :thumbs2:
-C

[NooNoo]

:cool: