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Installing new CD R/RW

asthmatic camel

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I'm presently trying to fettle a Compaq Presario 7000, Model 7003EA.

The original problem was that the installed CD R/WR drive (Philips CDD4801/72) had failed and caused the sustem to crash every time the machine was trying to communicate with it.

I've installed my ( legit) copy of windows xp pro on the machine, which seems to work OK, removed the Philips CD R/WR and have tried to install an Asus CRW-5232A CD R/Wr but Windows won't recognise it.

I've set the original DVD ROM ( COMPAQ DVD-ROM DRD8120B ) jumper as cable select, which works, and have tried to get the ASUS CD R/W ( Model CRW-5232AX ) to work with the jumper set to slave, master and cable select, with no luck.

I know it's an old machine, but it could be really useful at a charity I'm involved with.

Any suggestions gratefully received. :)
 
Compaq's are notoriously fickle machines.

But the firs thing I would try is putting the Asus CD/RW into another machine. Make certain you're not busting your chops with a broken CD/RW...even if it's new out of the box.

Secondly I would try updating the BIOS on the machine.

If your XP doesn't have service pack 2, try that.

If you have dual IDE controllers inthe system try putting it on the other one, just to see if the machine recognizes it. Also, try swapping out the cable.

Check the power cable & make certain it's making a good connection; sometimes the plug on the CD unit itself gets cracked when it's manipulated.
 
ShowMe said:
Compaq's are notoriously fickle machines.

But the firs thing I would try is putting the Asus CD/RW into another machine. Make certain you're not busting your chops with a broken CD/RW...even if it's new out of the box.

Secondly I would try updating the BIOS on the machine.

If your XP doesn't have service pack 2, try that.

If you have dual IDE controllers inthe system try putting it on the other one, just to see if the machine recognizes it. Also, try swapping out the cable.

Check the power cable & make certain it's making a good connection; sometimes the plug on the CD unit itself gets cracked when it's manipulated.
Click to expand...

ShowMe, many thanks for the advice; I've tried a few of the options you suggested but I'm not too happy about plugging this old box into the web until it's fairly secure.

XP service pack 2 is on order. ;)
 
asthmatic camel said:

I've set the original DVD ROM ( COMPAQ DVD-ROM DRD8120B ) jumper as cable select, which works, and have tried to get the ASUS CD R/W ( Model CRW-5232AX ) to work with the jumper set to slave, master and cable select, with no luck.
Click to expand...

You could try setting the DVD-ROM to master and the CD-RW to slave (or v.v.) - I've often had problems with 2 optical drives on a single channel using cable select. Especially in Compaqs
 
Re: Re: Installing new CD R/RW

Doc Dish said:
You could try setting the DVD-ROM to master and the CD-RW to slave (or v.v.) - I've often had problems with 2 optical drives on a single channel using cable select. Especially in Compaqs
Click to expand...

Good thinking, but I already tried that. The CD writer isn't a necessity; it'd just be a bonus, seeing as I'm giving the machine away.

Thanks anyway :)
 
What happens if you disconnect the DVD drive and replace it with the CD-RW?
 
The drive is drawing power OK, but whatever I do, Windoze refuses to acknowledge its existence. Device manager shows only the hard drive and the dvd rom. I've tried running the install new hardware wizard without success.

When I boot the machine, the drive's led lights up briefly, as you'd expect, so somethings working OK.

On the original drive, it says "Replace with Compaq Spare blah blah". Could the machine be set up so that it'll only accept certain parts? I start to get a bit out of my depth when it comes to updating Bios etc.
 
quote:
Originally posted by asthmatic camel
On the original drive, it says "Replace with Compaq Spare blah blah". Could the machine be set up so that it'll only accept certain parts? I start to get a bit out of my depth when it comes to updating Bios etc.


I've put all sorts of CD-RWs into Compaqs (Lite-On, Philips, whatever was cheapest) and not had problems. That was with the Deskpro range, however. YMMV with the Presario.

As has been suggested, try the CD-RW in another PC, change the cable, try a different IDE channel just to isolate the faulty component.

Sorry I can't be more help.
 
Doc Dish said:
quote:
Originally posted by asthmatic camel
On the original drive, it says "Replace with Compaq Spare blah blah". Could the machine be set up so that it'll only accept certain parts? I start to get a bit out of my depth when it comes to updating Bios etc.


I've put all sorts of CD-RWs into Compaqs (Lite-On, Philips, whatever was cheapest) and not had problems. That was with the Deskpro range, however. YMMV with the Presario.

As has been suggested, try the CD-RW in another PC, change the cable, try a different IDE channel just to isolate the faulty component.

Sorry I can't be more help.
Click to expand...

No need to be sorry! I'm very grateful for all the advice offered so far.

I'll have to contact my local nerd, who is usually happy to fix things for the cost of a few pints of Robinson's Best Bitter. :) :)
 
Asthmatic...

You could also get steaming drunk...wear nylon socks / pants / shirt...shuffle back and forth on a nylon carpet...and then putting your hands on everything inside the tower...That will reset Windows to its original settings

Also...buy a Bar-B-Q lighter...open the tower...and put the spark on everything you see...That will reset the BIOS

Don't forget to spray surgical alcohol on everything first, to get rid of viruses and bugs...

Hope this helps...

DB ( PC advice you can trust)
 
De_Bunk said:
Asthmatic...

You could also get steaming drunk...wear nylon socks / pants / shirt...shuffle back and forth on a nylon carpet...and then putting your hands on everything inside the tower...That will reset Windows to its original settings

Also...buy a Bar-B-Q lighter...open the tower...and put the spark on everything you see...That will reset the BIOS

Don't forget to spray surgical alcohol on everything first, to get rid of viruses and bugs...

Hope this helps...

DB ( PC advice you can trust)
Click to expand...

Twat! :D ;)
 
10 out of 10 ShowMe! Tried the drive in this machine instead of my old Artec cd r/wr drive and it screws up everything on that cable. I got the message that my existing dvd rom is not ATAPI compatible. Errrr....

The Compaq picks up and installs the old Artec drive automatically.

Seems I've been flogging a dead horse. :hb: :hb:
 
Check any settings on the drive to see if it is REALLY set to Master/Slave. As mentioned above, Cable Select is a problem in some machines, and you can get some "fun" :rolleyes: results in some cases.
 
Problem solved! One of the pins was bent on the cable socket; a little careful fiddling and hey presto! Fixed.

Thanks guys. :)
 
asthmatic camel said:
Well, anything's a step up from being dead isn't it? I'd be better if Darat would stop shouting at me though. :(
Click to expand...
Heh! I'd buy you a drink next time I'm through Blighty to celebrate the Ashes victory, but it will have to be a weak fizzy orange now, I guess.
 
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