Windows XP Doesn’t Recognize CD/DVD-ROM Drives (XP Pro SP-1)

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Recently got new DELL Optiplex GX270 with CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, and Zip drives preinstalled. When Windows starts, neither the CD nor DVD drive is displayed in “My Computer”. Only drives recognized are:

A: Floppy
C: Hard drive
D: Zip drive

When enter F2 at startup to open System Setup screen (BIOS Version A03), the following info is displayed under Drive Configuration:

Diskette Drive A: 3.5 inch, 1.44 MB
SATA Primary Drive: Hard Drive
SATA Secondary Drive: OFF
Primary Master Drive: ATAPI Device
Primary Slave Drive: OFF
Secondary Master Drive: CD-ROM Device
Secondary Slave Drive: CD-ROM Device
IDE Drive UDMA: On

The “ATAPI Device” is specified as “Iomega Zip ATAPI 250”
The first “CD-ROM Device” (CD) is specified as “Lite-MN LTN4845 48x Max”
The second “CD-ROM Device” (DVD) is specified as “HL-DT-ST AD-RU/DVD-ROM ECA-448”

The Drive Type for both CD-ROM devices is set to “Auto”. Have sent several emails to Dell Tech Support w/o resolution. One Dell KB article recommended resetting “factory defaults” by entering ALT + F in Setup, then ALT + B to save & reboot. When pc restarts, a message is displayed briefly reading “Performing auto IDE configuration….” but when Windows loads still no CD/DVD drive recognized. The “Add New Hardware” wizard does not detect either drive. I don’t think this is a hardware problem. I have several other Dell pc’s (Dell Dimension series) & an Optiplex at work (different model & BIOS version) & have not experienced this problem before. If anyone knows what settings need to be changed to alert WIN XP to the presence of these two currently non-functional devices, please advise.

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Just a shot, but have you tried to turn the SATA Secondary to “ON” ? ( or Auto )

Bob

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I tried it (options were Auto or Off) but didn’t work….

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I tried it (options were Auto or Off) but didn’t work….

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Just a shot, but have you tried to turn the SATA Secondary to “ON” ? ( or Auto )

Bob

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Recent CD and DVD Drives (and I assume Zip Drives) have three jumpers – master, slave and cable select. Dell usually ships these with the jumpers set to ‘cable select’. Dell states that if one of the drives is set to ‘cable select’ then ALL drives must be set to ‘cable select’. If one is set to ‘master / slave’, then ALL must be set to ‘master / slave’. If Viking’s suggestion doesn’t work, it might be worth checking to see if one of the drives is incorrectly jumpered.

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Recent CD and DVD Drives (and I assume Zip Drives) have three jumpers – master, slave and cable select. Dell usually ships these with the jumpers set to ‘cable select’. Dell states that if one of the drives is set to ‘cable select’ then ALL drives must be set to ‘cable select’. If one is set to ‘master / slave’, then ALL must be set to ‘master / slave’. If Viking’s suggestion doesn’t work, it might be worth checking to see if one of the drives is incorrectly jumpered.

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If this is a NEW machine, I would return it to Dell.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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It is a new machine. That’s probably the next step, if their Tech Support doesn’t have any brilliant suggestions in response to my most recent msg. In reference to Rebel’s suggestion, I’d have no idea if the drive was “jumpered” correctly or not – I assume that’d entail poking around inside the box? I’d be hesitant to do that because (a) as noted am not exactly a hardware expert and ( since Plan B (return to Dell) may be only viable option, I don’t want to take chance of invalidating any waranty by busting something while fooling around inside the machine.

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Mark,

If you don’t want to poke around the inside of the box to check Rebel’s suggestion, then I guess your only recourse is to return it to the Point of Purchase. Hopefully, it’s a local shop and won’t require shipping and all that.

Bob

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Mark,

If you don’t want to poke around the inside of the box to check Rebel’s suggestion, then I guess your only recourse is to return it to the Point of Purchase. Hopefully, it’s a local shop and won’t require shipping and all that.

Bob

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It is a new machine. That’s probably the next step, if their Tech Support doesn’t have any brilliant suggestions in response to my most recent msg. In reference to Rebel’s suggestion, I’d have no idea if the drive was “jumpered” correctly or not – I assume that’d entail poking around inside the box? I’d be hesitant to do that because (a) as noted am not exactly a hardware expert and ( since Plan B (return to Dell) may be only viable option, I don’t want to take chance of invalidating any waranty by busting something while fooling around inside the machine.

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If this is a NEW machine, I would return it to Dell.

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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