Computers and Related Hardware/Software

phlargo wrote:

I don't have any answer based on what you've said. Were I there, I might be able to think of some other things to try.. but really I got nothing - you basically have ruled out everything but 1. systemic error from original OS installation, 2. hardware failure, or 3. specific disc damage.

Maybe the discs you were trying out contains hidden JE images and videos and your disc drive is doing you a favor by not reading the disc? :beaten:

Like phlargo, I don't have any answers either. Not sure if another reinstallation of XP would do the trick, provided you would even want to go through that process again.

Again.. you said you ran Memtest86, right? Memory and power errors can creep up into anything else. I'd make sure of your memory. And your install error is highly indicative of memory failure or overly agressive overclocking.

deseipher wrote:Like phlargo, I don't have any answers either. Not sure if another reinstallation of XP would do the trick, provided you would even want to go through that process again.

I've already done it a half-dozen times already. :sweat: :bleh:

EDIT: New discovery (which confuses the issue even more): When I connected my older Pioneer burner, the new XP install has no problem with the DVDRW or any other disc.... WTF???? :crazy: :nut: :banghead:

That points out something peculiar with my Optiarc burner... But what? It still works fine with my old XP install... :shakehead:

This is insane. :grumble:

bmwracer wrote:
:sweat: :bleh:

<snip>
:shakehead:

This is insane. :grumble:

and you've been using Winblows for how long? :hehe:

^ As always, thanks for your support.

bmwracer wrote:
I've already done it a half-dozen times already. :sweat: :bleh:

EDIT: New discovery (which confuses the issue even more): When I connected my older Pioneer burner, the new XP install has no problem with the DVDRW or any other disc.... WTF???? :crazy: :nut: :banghead:

That points out something peculiar with my Optiarc burner... But what? It still works fine with my old XP install... :shakehead:

This is insane. :grumble:

That sucks indeed :(

Maybe you should just buy a new burner, use the old one as a player for copying DVD's and such - have 2 DVD drives, in other words :)

bmwracer wrote:
I've already done it a half-dozen times already. :sweat: :bleh:

EDIT: New discovery (which confuses the issue even more): When I connected my older Pioneer burner, the new XP install has no problem with the DVDRW or any other disc.... WTF???? :crazy: :nut: :banghead:

That points out something peculiar with my Optiarc burner... But what? It still works fine with my old XP install... :shakehead:

This is insane. :grumble:

Insane and confusing :sweat:

I guess it's time to just plug and pray with the Optiarc burner. Maybe by some stroke of luck, or slight electrical surge, the burner starts working properly again.

I'm just going to throw stuff out. Yes, some of these may fall under "no duh," but I figure at this point what the heck.

- Uninstall/reinstall drivers
- clean up lens
- uninstall whatever burning programs you may use (file this under "WTF?!?")
- firmware (highly unlikely, but maybe a reflash of the firmware might help?)
- switch IDE cables, check the jumper switch.
- throw in a dvd-rw disc, reboot computer, see if it even reads during bootup and asks if you want to boot from disc.

Again, some of the stuff listed you probably don't even need to bother with, but since I can't really think of anything else, I figure I just throw stuff out and maybe something might be of use. Better yet, maybe it'll remind someone of an actual solution they might have forgotten. :beaten:

krim wrote:

and you've been using Winblows for how long? :hehe:

Tell me an OS where this couldn't happen, kindly...

phlargo wrote:

Tell me an OS where this couldn't happen, kindly...

Linux!! :beaten:

deseipher wrote:Insane and confusing :sweat:

I guess it's time to just plug and pray with the Optiarc burner. Maybe by some stroke of luck, or slight electrical surge, the burner starts working properly again.

I can always plug the burner into the AC outlet. :beaten:

I'm just going to throw stuff out. Yes, some of these may fall under "no duh," but I figure at this point what the heck.

- Uninstall/reinstall drivers

Tried that numerous times... There aren't any drivers that can be had: all modern drives seem to default to the Windows drivers... :sweat:

- clean up lens

Haven't tried that, but seems moot, since the Optiarc works fine with the old XP install.

- uninstall whatever burning programs you may use (file this under "WTF?!?")

Installing and uninstalling Nero 7 made no difference... But again, it works fine with my old XP install.

- firmware (highly unlikely, but maybe a reflash of the firmware might help?)

Did a flash upgrade... No change.

- switch IDE cables, check the jumper switch.

The drive has always been a secondary master and all by itself... Swapped 80-conductor cables... No change.

- throw in a dvd-rw disc, reboot computer, see if it even reads during bootup and asks if you want to boot from disc.

Sees the disc as non-bootable, so it continues booting from the HDD.

Again, some of the stuff listed you probably don't even need to bother with, but since I can't really think of anything else, I figure I just throw stuff out and maybe something might be of use. Better yet, maybe it'll remind someone of an actual solution they might have forgotten. :beaten:

That's what I've been trying to do: retrace my last install's footsteps... Nothing's clicking... :puppydog:

Well, I've posted the same problem on the videohelp.com and cdfreaks.com sites, hoping for a possible solution... But I'm getting the same basic questions so far: cables, bad hardware, bad discs, etc.

I did verify that my Optiarc burner was on Microsoft's HCL (Hardware Compatibility List), so that shouldn't be the problem.... :rolleyes:

bmwracer wrote:^ As always, thanks for your support.

Well, you hate Steve and I hate Bill. It's a Yin Yang thing.

phlargo wrote:

Tell me an OS where this couldn't happen, kindly...

For something like what Beem is going thru, what deseipher said.. or OS X. Of course, i heard Vista is rather good if you can get it running on your machine.


---
Back on topic.. i'm considering getting a new machine just so i can play Spore. I think i have issues.

Yet another weird discovery:

I removed the Optiarc burner from my main PC and attached it to my secondary PC and it works fine on that PC... :headscratch: :crazy: :grumble:

So the Optiarc works everywhere EXCEPT with my new XP install. :nut: :banghead:

krim wrote:

For something like what Beem is going thru, what deseipher said.. or OS X. Of course, i heard Vista is rather good if you can get it running on your machine.


---
Back on topic.. i'm considering getting a new machine just so i can play Spore. I think i have issues.

Hehe... you really think spore will be worth a new machine? To me it just looks like another strategy game.. it just will have different games built into one.. I just imagine 4 different games that don't necessarily create a satisfying experience on their own. Once the creature creator came out, I think it was about all I needed to see.

As far as getting things running on multiple platforms - I am highly multiplatform and, to be honest, there is no OS I've run that couldn't have something similar happen - there are always strange quirks in OSs... granted I bet it's less likely in OSX 10.5 or Vista, but having run a very recent version of Ubuntu.. I would be happy if I could say that DVD reading was a problem of consequence while running it :) I mean, when it works, it's fine.. it's just when it doesn't, blue screens seem "easy going" by comparison.

Gonna try a new tactic later today: I'm going to install XP on my new HDD using my old Pioneer burner and once that's done, I'll swap in the Optiarc burner.

If memory serves, my last clean install used the Pioneer burner and I added the Optiarc as an upgrade...

Hope this works, 'cause I'm plum out of ideas. :sweat:

Hmm, the problem is resolved (sort of): I did yet another XP install on my new HDD, but using my old Pioneer burner... After the install was completed, I swapped in the Optiarc and now everything's OK. :headscratch:

Obviously, the "right" driver was loaded or configured for the Pioneer and remained even though I swapped burners...

Cautious optimism here: I'm going to do some more fiddling and testing just to make sure everything's stable.

If the problem is completely gone, I suppose I can let go of this issue and move on... :sweat:

bmwracer wrote:Hmm, the problem is resolved (sort of): I did yet another XP install on my new HDD, but using my old Pioneer burner... After the install was completed, I swapped in the Optiarc and now everything's OK. :headscratch:

Obviously, the "right" driver was loaded or configured for the Pioneer and remained even though I swapped burners...

Cautious optimism here: I'm going to do some more fiddling and testing just to make sure everything's stable.

If the problem is completely gone, I suppose I can let go of this issue and move on... :sweat:

Yeah.. as much as that's a pain, that would have been my next step as well - allows you control over an additional variable :)

You'll beat this!

bmwracer wrote:Hmm, the problem is resolved (sort of): I did yet another XP install on my new HDD, but using my old Pioneer burner... After the install was completed, I swapped in the Optiarc and now everything's OK. :headscratch:

Obviously, the "right" driver was loaded or configured for the Pioneer and remained even though I swapped burners...

Cautious optimism here: I'm going to do some more fiddling and testing just to make sure everything's stable.

If the problem is completely gone, I suppose I can let go of this issue and move on... :sweat:

Congratulations on the resolution of your hardware dilemna...

In the future, if you have continuing problems w/ drivers, try this...

It's always worked like a charm for me....

=== Uninstall and Reinstall CD/DVD drivers ===

1. Start the computer.
2. Press F8 repeatedly to display the startup menu.
3. Select Safemode from the startup menu.
4. Right-Clcik "Mycomputer".
5. Select Properties.
6. Select Hardware Tab.
7. Click "Device Manager" button.
8. Click (+) plus sign next to CD/DVD drives.
9. Right-Click each component and select uninstall
10. Perform steps 9 for all the components under this category.
11. Restart the computer.

This should reload the drivers for CD/DVD drive.

runpup wrote:

Congratulations on the resolution of your hardware dilemna...

In the future, if you have continuing problems w/ drivers, try this...

It's always worked like a charm for me....

=== Uninstall and Reinstall CD/DVD drivers ===

1. Start the computer.
2. Press F8 repeatedly to display the startup menu.
3. Select Safemode from the startup menu.
4. Right-Clcik "Mycomputer".
5. Select Properties.
6. Select Hardware Tab.
7. Click "Device Manager" button.
8. Click (+) plus sign next to CD/DVD drives.
9. Right-Click each component and select uninstall
10. Perform steps 9 for all the components under this category.
11. Restart the computer.

This should reload the drivers for CD/DVD drive.

That was one of the first things I tried... Didn't do a thing. :sweat:

Have you guys seen this Firefox easter egg?

Type about:robots into the URL bar, and press return.

:mrgreen: