Can't install DVD burner On XP Machine

[dnovalkowski]

Hey folks, I've got a job to be done where the customer wants a DVD burner installed on his machine. Simple right? I thought so. I took an ASUS DRW 24B1ST burner off the shelf and started on the job.

One issue I faced early on was his power supply does not have any sata connectors while his motherboard (AOpen AX4GE) does support SATA equipment. I plugged my Molex to Sata adapter into one of the connectors on the power supply and physically installed the burner. The drive's tray opens fine when you press the drive button so it is definitely getting power

I started the machine and noticed the BIOS was not recognizing the burner so I proceeded to Windows anyway and did driver updates, windows updates just in case not doing them would cause grief later on (especially driver updates (DriverAgent)). Then I jumped online to find a new BIOS version for the mobo but it was already up to date.

Then I did the usual swapping of sata cables and made sure the molex to sata converter was in right and all that sort of thing and kept trying but no luck. So I installed the burner into another computer and it was recognized right away so I decided to upgrade its firmware. I put the drive physically back in the computer it needs to be in and tried using other connections from the power supply but nothing is working. I have checked the BIOS and the SATA is enabled.

I have also noticed through all the restarts on the comp that I've done that when the drive is installed and sata is enabled on the mobo, the comp takes alot longer to boot and the Windows XP screen stays up for a couple minutes longer than usual. Then it proceeds to the desktop and everything else works fine. The odd thing is why would it take longer for XP to boot if the drive isn't even being recognized in the BIOS?

Any thoughts?

 

[hyfidel]

...I started the machine and noticed the BIOS was not recognizing the burner so I proceeded to Windows anyway...

BIOS = Basic Input/Output System

Failure to recognize in BIOS is a big clue.

 

[dnovalkowski]

Clue that what? That its not gonna work? It should since the mobo supports SATA, no?

 

[hyfidel]

You've already eliminated the possibility that the drive is bad.

However, have you checked the power connector with another drive? You didn't eliminate that possibility.

You may be missing a setting in the BIOS. You enabled SATA but many boards have other settings that need to be setup correctly. Are any ports reserved?

Also, the simple solution: install an IDE burner.

 

[dnovalkowski]

How do you mean reserved?

I have confirmed that this should be a jumperless install after reading a manual.

I have also started using a different converter for the power so that should not be the problem

What other settings in the BIOS might there be that I am missing? I have looked it through about 5 times now lol.

 

[Majestic]

Hey folks, I've got a job to be done where the customer wants a DVD burner installed on his machine. Simple right? I thought so. I took an ASUS DRW 24B1ST burner off the shelf and started on the job.

One issue I faced early on was his power supply does not have any sata connectors while his motherboard (AOpen AX4GE) does support SATA equipment. I plugged my Molex to Sata adapter into one of the connectors on the power supply and physically installed the burner. The drive's tray opens fine when you press the drive button so it is definitely getting power

I started the machine and noticed the BIOS was not recognizing the burner so I proceeded to Windows anyway and did driver updates, windows updates just in case not doing them would cause grief later on (especially driver updates (DriverAgent)). Then I jumped online to find a new BIOS version for the mobo but it was already up to date.

Then I did the usual swapping of sata cables and made sure the molex to sata converter was in right and all that sort of thing and kept trying but no luck. So I installed the burner into another computer and it was recognized right away so I decided to upgrade its firmware. I put the drive physically back in the computer it needs to be in and tried using other connections from the power supply but nothing is working. I have checked the BIOS and the SATA is enabled.

I have also noticed through all the restarts on the comp that I've done that when the drive is installed and sata is enabled on the mobo, the comp takes alot longer to boot and the Windows XP screen stays up for a couple minutes longer than usual. Then it proceeds to the desktop and everything else works fine. The odd thing is why would it take longer for XP to boot if the drive isn't even being recognized in the BIOS?

Any thoughts?

I have worked on a similar machine by Aopen. The bios is custom. Even though it has the Sata connectors it will simply not work unless you go IDE. Plain and simple. Even with the latest bios.

I had tried replacing a clients IDE drive with a Sata and I had all adapters etc... But no go. So I switched back to IDE and voilà...

That's the problem with branded systems you're at their (idiotic) mercy.

Just get an IDE DVD writer and you'll be okay.

Majestic

 

[dnovalkowski]

Thanks Majestic I appreciate your response. Would you mind though elaborating on what you mean when you say 'custom'? I have come to terms with the fact that I need to put in an IDE. I have worked on this for 2 days now so I'm kinda frustrated but I'll get over it.

 

[ATTech]

'custom'

Proprietary. Filler Text

 

[dnovalkowski]

Ah that answers my question.

Majestic... I forgot to mention that I actually found an updated BIOS for the Promise SATA chip thats onboard this mobo. I couldn't update it though as I can't get any floppy drives working in this comp. Might be of interest to you.

http://www.promise.com/single_page_session/page.aspx?region=en-US&m=722&sub_m=sub_m_9&rsn=144

 

[Majestic]

Ah that answers my question.

Majestic... I forgot to mention that I actually found an updated BIOS for the Promise SATA chip thats onboard this mobo. I couldn't update it though as I can't get any floppy drives working in this comp. Might be of interest to you.

http://www.promise.com/single_page_session/page.aspx?region=en-US&m=722&sub_m=sub_m_9&rsn=144

Yup, appreciate that. However, I wouldn't waste my time with it. Honestly, in the end it's not worth the efforts. I was frustrated as you were for a good day and a half until I came to terms with it As clever as we are we can't always beat the stupidity of cheap manufacturers.

Cheers!

Majestic

 

[dnovalkowski]

Yup, appreciate that. However, I wouldn't waste my time with it. Honestly, in the end it's not worth the efforts. I was frustrated as you were for a good day and a half until I came to terms with it As clever as we are we can't always beat the stupidity of cheap manufacturers.

Cheers!

Majestic

Thanks... that cheers me up for sure lol