Hey Up,

I've just installed a new DVD re writer but the computer hasn't recognised it - It's not in the my computer or device manager area.

there's no CD with it, what have I done wrong?

Cheers

Chris

have you tried clicking on the add new hardware icon?
Also are there any instructions? (us men tend to completely ignore them unless they have cars on the front)

Yup tried that, no instructions with it (It's new from Play.com)

Cheers

Chris

Make sure the dip switches on the back are set to master or slave, whichever it needs (although nowadays, most are set auto from the factory).

That would mean taking it to bits though.

Bugger.

When your computer boots does it list it as a device? if not like Unclefista says its going to be the dip switches and master/slave setting.

I'll have a look

Please tell us you've tried a re-boot.

Then check if it ejects - if not, no power so check the leads going to it.

Pat...

Right, can't see it on boot up, there must be power to it 'cos the little green light flashes when you press the eject button, but it doesn't eject.

I'll take it out again tomorrow and try again.

Thanks chaps

Chris

[Edited on 10/3/07 by chrisg]

powered but not recognised - my money's on slave/master conflict too, though it could also be a knackered/dusty cable. Sounds daft but I've fixed computer stuff by pulling out the cable/card and blowing on the contacts before.

If you have just replaced an old drive, check the jumper settings on the back and make sure that new matches old. Also make sure that you have plugged the connectors in correctly taking note of the polarising key - not all drives have the connectors the same way up.

Chris - you have connected the power (obviously) and the data cable haven't you?

It's best to install two readers/writers on different data cables. Also, as said make sure you plugged in Pin1 to Pin1. Most are set using auto dip's but then they rely on you connecting them correctly. First plug is master end plug is slave (when two plugs exist).

HTH - Steve

As others said, sounds like master/slave conflict. If you are replacing a drive then its probably not the IDE channel disabled.

Assuming BIOS access isn't disabled, then boot your PC and go to the BIOS (usually F10 or delete). Once that screen is up there is often a drive menu which allows you to auto detect. If the drive doesn't appear then its probably a master/slave set up.

Take the drive out and check the jumper settings on the back of the drive (it won't be DIP switches these days I expect). They should match the settings of your old drive, i.e. Master/Slave/Cable Select.

You were right!

The jumper was wrongly set, and the computer now sees the drive, and it comes up on "My computer"

But

It still wont work!

It won't eject and when I got it open and placed a CD in it it didn't play.

Faulty unit?

cheers

Chris

Can you check it out on another cable connected to another IDE channel (ie on its own)?

If that doesn't do the trick then it is probably faulty.

I've got another DVD rom, do you mean try the cable from that into the new drive?

cheers

Chris

That's another possibility, sometimes the cables can become 'noisy' after a few insertions. I really meant try using the other IDE port on the motherboard - you will have two and the other one is probably unused. If you put your new drive onto this one (nothing else on the same cable) it might do the trick.

I'll give it a try, thanks a lot mate!

Chris

Mine didn't like being on the same IDE channel as the hard drive but it works fine as slave on IDE2. Have you got BIOS set to auto detect? Check the other drive if you have it sharing a cable, set them to Master and Slave and don't use the Cable Select jumper setting.

Turned out to be faulty, gone back today.

Thanks everyone!

Cheers

Chris