I can't get this to work! XP hates my dad's computer.

[dacvak]

Ok, I just built myself a new PC, and while I was on the Egg, my dad asked me to order him a DVD-RW drive for his 582-year-old desktop. No problem, I said. I got him the same one I ordered myself, the NEC Black 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 12X DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2M Cache E-IDE / ATAPI DVD Burner - OEM (Say that 3 times fast.)

So I just got the drives in the mail, and the one worked with no problem in my new PC. However, when I threw the other in my dad's PC, it gave us trouble. The drive started showing up as a "DVD-RAM" drive, as opposed to the RW drive it is. And if I tried to throw in a DVD-R disc, it turned into a CD-ROM drive and spit out errors.

I assumed it might have been a bad drive, so I took my working one out, and threw it in his. Same errors. What's more, is his drive worked in my PC just fine.

Here's his old custom-built setup:
Some old processor from the 1.3Ghz family
512 RAM
Other specs that don't matter
Windows XP Pro w/ SP2

He currently has the DVD-RW drive hooked up as the master, and a CD-RW (which works fine) as a slave. If I try to uninstall and reinstall the drive, it just keeps recognizing it as a DVD-RAM drive.

If anyone could help me out, that'd be fantastic.

~Dac

 

[CallumN]

The fact that it comes up as a DVD-RAM has nothing to do with your problems. The drive is a DVD-RAM drive, and should show up as much, mine does. Try and upgrade the firmware on the drive and see if that helps, aswell as the BIOS if need be.

 

[monkeymanuk]

Take out the old CD-RW drive. Don't connect them both.

Hook up the DVD Drive with the original cable. If that does not work then try a new cable like the one in your new machine.

Might be a problem of old incompatible technology!

 

[michiganteddybear]

Almost 50% or more of the DVD-rw's I see or install, come up as DVD-RAM.. not to worry.

does it read right, burn properly, ect??? thats the test.

as mentioned before, try different cabling/removing the CDRW if your actually having problems reading/writing. try an 80 conducter ide cable if needed (I have had problems with various brands not liking 40 conducter cables).

 

[weilin]

check master, slave settings... that could potentialy be an issue, not likely though.

 

[Shadow703793]

Take out the old CD-RW drive. Don't connect them both.

Hook up the DVD Drive with the original cable. If that does not work then try a new cable like the one in your new machine.

Might be a problem of old incompatible technology!

I suggests that you try this. It worked on the same type of problem i faced.