If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
|
#1
|
|||
|
|||
strange NEC CD-RW drive problem
I've started having a problem with my NEC NR-7700A CD-RW drive
on my 2+ year old Gateway machine. If I do a power up (cold reboot), the activity LED on the drive blinks constantly, the BIOS (American Megatrends) doesn't recognize the drive properly, and consequently, Windows XP (or Linux) won't recognize the drive exists. If I do a restart (warm boot), the BIOS recognizes the CD-RW drive properly and consequently the drive can be used from WinXP (or Linux). I fiddled with the BIOS setup so it displays info on the various IDE devices (including 2 hard drives). When the failure occurs (cold reboot), the drive is identified as "2.0 NEC CDROM DRIVE: IDE". When it works (warm reboot), the drive is identified as "1.23 _NEC NR-7700A", which apparently makes WinXP (and Linux) happy. (The 1.23 seems to correspond to the firmware verion on the drive.) Anybody seen anything like this before? This appears to be to be a problem with the CD-RW drive, but could conceivably be something with the motherboard (or even the IDE cable, I suppose). This machine is still under warranty, but in talking to the Gateway tech support folks, they aren't sure whether it's the drive or the motherboard, so they want me to ship the tower to their service center in Texas to be diagnosed (and presumably fixed). However, it'll cost $50+ to ship it and I'll be missing my computer for 3-4 weeks, so I'd rather not do that unless I have to. Thanks in advance. Mike Holder |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
Mike Holder wrote:
I've started having a problem with my NEC NR-7700A CD-RW drive on my 2+ year old Gateway machine. If I do a power up (cold reboot), the activity LED on the drive blinks constantly, the BIOS (American Megatrends) doesn't recognize the drive properly, and consequently, Windows XP (or Linux) won't recognize the drive exists. If I do a restart (warm boot), the BIOS recognizes the CD-RW drive properly and consequently the drive can be used from WinXP (or Linux). I fiddled with the BIOS setup so it displays info on the various IDE devices (including 2 hard drives). When the failure occurs (cold reboot), the drive is identified as "2.0 NEC CDROM DRIVE: IDE". When it works (warm reboot), the drive is identified as "1.23 _NEC NR-7700A", which apparently makes WinXP (and Linux) happy. (The 1.23 seems to correspond to the firmware verion on the drive.) Anybody seen anything like this before? This appears to be to be a problem with the CD-RW drive, but could conceivably be something with the motherboard (or even the IDE cable, I suppose). This machine is still under warranty, but in talking to the Gateway tech support folks, they aren't sure whether it's the drive or the motherboard, so they want me to ship the tower to their service center in Texas to be diagnosed (and presumably fixed). However, it'll cost $50+ to ship it and I'll be missing my computer for 3-4 weeks, so I'd rather not do that unless I have to. They're probably counting on that. Be firm with them. Explain that you computer is vital to you, and that they need to send out a replacement CD-RW which you will install. This may well fix the problem, but at a minimum, should diagnose the problem. For added leverage, you should swap the cable and/or drive yourself indentify the faulty component. Hopefully you have a friend that has a CD and cable that you can use for a short period of time. With this diagnostic down, you can be more specific in what you require from Gateway. |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
Grinder wrote:
They're probably counting on that. Be firm with them. Explain that you computer is vital to you, and that they need to send out a replacement CD-RW which you will install. This may well fix the problem, but at a minimum, should diagnose the problem. For added leverage, you should swap the cable and/or drive yourself indentify the faulty component. Hopefully you have a friend that has a CD and cable that you can use for a short period of time. With this diagnostic down, you can be more specific in what you require from Gateway. Yep, I plan to swap the cable sometime in the next day or so. I'll try the drive as well (if I can borrow one from somebody), but that probably won't conclusively isolate the problem to the drive. (I.e., it could still be a mobo issue with the particular drive or could be a system power issue that isn't stressed by the newer (possibly lower power) drive.) I'll post what happens when I run my next set of experiments. Mike |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
|
#5
|
|||
|
|||
On Sat, 31 Jul 2004 22:52:19 GMT As another one bit the dust Mike
Holder wrote : I've started having a problem with my NEC NR-7700A CD-RW drive on my 2+ year old Gateway machine. If I do a power up (cold reboot), the activity LED on the drive blinks constantly, the BIOS (American Megatrends) doesn't recognize the drive properly, and consequently, Windows XP (or Linux) won't recognize the drive exists. If I do a restart (warm boot), the BIOS recognizes the CD-RW drive properly and consequently the drive can be used from WinXP (or Linux). I fiddled with the BIOS setup so it displays info on the various IDE devices (including 2 hard drives). When the failure occurs (cold reboot), the drive is identified as "2.0 NEC CDROM DRIVE: IDE". When it works (warm reboot), the drive is identified as "1.23 _NEC NR-7700A", which apparently makes WinXP (and Linux) happy. (The 1.23 seems to correspond to the firmware verion on the drive.) Anybody seen anything like this before? This appears to be to be a problem with the CD-RW drive, but could conceivably be something with the motherboard (or even the IDE cable, I suppose). This machine is still under warranty, but in talking to the Gateway tech support folks, they aren't sure whether it's the drive or the motherboard, so they want me to ship the tower to their service center in Texas to be diagnosed (and presumably fixed). However, it'll cost $50+ to ship it and I'll be missing my computer for 3-4 weeks, so I'd rather not do that unless I have to. Thanks in advance. Mike Holder Cdrom drive shagged.Buy a new one. HTH -- Free Windows/PC help, http://www.geocities.com/sheppola/trouble.html remove obvious to reply Free songs to download and,"BURN" :O) http://www.soundclick.com/bands/8/nomessiahsmusic.htm |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
Shepİ wrote:
Cdrom drive shagged.Buy a new one. HTH Well, that's my current guess. I was hoping Gateway would spring for the new one, but haven't managed to convince them (yet). Still, buying a new one is going to be just as expensive as sending the computer to Gateway for servicing. I've got a few more experiments to do, and I'll post the conclusions. Mike |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
.. --------------------------------------
Mike Richter, were you born with "Scam Artist" emblazoned on your face? -------------------------------------- (Mike Richter, any Material Connection w/ Roxio?) http://groups.google.com/groups?selm...mindspring.com (Messages 10, 12 -- 34, 54 -- 69) ( No pipsqueaks have been able to prove ANY of the above is a libel ) ( -- despite Mikey claimed to have proof of misquotes !! ) ' Mike Holder wrote: I've started having a problem with my NEC NR-7700A CD-RW drive on my 2+ year old Gateway machine. If I do a power up (cold reboot), the activity LED on the drive blinks constantly, the BIOS (American Megatrends) doesn't recognize the drive properly, and consequently, Windows XP (or Linux) won't recognize the drive exists. If I do a restart (warm boot), the BIOS recognizes the CD-RW drive properly and consequently the drive can be used from WinXP (or Linux). I fiddled with the BIOS setup so it displays info on the various IDE devices (including 2 hard drives). When the failure occurs (cold reboot), the drive is identified as "2.0 NEC CDROM DRIVE: IDE". When it works (warm reboot), the drive is identified as "1.23 _NEC NR-7700A", which apparently makes WinXP (and Linux) happy. (The 1.23 seems to correspond to the firmware verion on the drive.) Anybody seen anything like this before? This appears to be to be a problem with the CD-RW drive, but could conceivably be something with the motherboard (or even the IDE cable, I suppose). This machine is still under warranty, but in talking to the Gateway tech support folks, they aren't sure whether it's the drive or the motherboard, so they want me to ship the tower to their service center in Texas to be diagnosed (and presumably fixed). However, it'll cost $50+ to ship it and I'll be missing my computer for 3-4 weeks, so I'd rather not do that unless I have to. Usually there's a something like configuration(?) rom that can be refreshed by: power down, change jumper(s) on the motherboard; power up and then down, and then re-jumper(s). Ask Gateway tech support about this or they may have the info on their Web site. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
smh wrote:
Usually there's a something like configuration(?) rom that can be refreshed by: power down, change jumper(s) on the motherboard; power up and then down, and then re-jumper(s). Ask Gateway tech support about this or they may have the info on their Web site. I'm not sure what this configuration ROM is. The only thing I see on the Gateway web site's info on my motherboard is a mention of a BIOS Mode Jumper. One setting is Normal Operations, one setting is for clearing the password, and the third setting is for "recovering the BIOS configuration". The (terse) description of this last setting indicates that the BIOS compares the processor version and the microcode version stored in the BIOS. It then reports if the two match." I'm not sure that buys me anything. I'll see if the Gateway Tech Support peope can tell me more about this next time I talk to them. Mike |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
In fact I have seen this problem, and it is idicitive of a Drive
failure. You will need to replace the drive shortly. Stear clear of gateway service, just replace the drive yourself, new drives even good ones can be bought for $40-50. Save the shipping fees and do the work yourself. As you have been told the warranty work is not exactly free. Live and learn. Ed Mike Holder wrote in message ... I've started having a problem with my NEC NR-7700A CD-RW drive on my 2+ year old Gateway machine. If I do a power up (cold reboot), the activity LED on the drive blinks constantly, the BIOS (American Megatrends) doesn't recognize the drive properly, and consequently, Windows XP (or Linux) won't recognize the drive exists. If I do a restart (warm boot), the BIOS recognizes the CD-RW drive properly and consequently the drive can be used from WinXP (or Linux). I fiddled with the BIOS setup so it displays info on the various IDE devices (including 2 hard drives). When the failure occurs (cold reboot), the drive is identified as "2.0 NEC CDROM DRIVE: IDE". When it works (warm reboot), the drive is identified as "1.23 _NEC NR-7700A", which apparently makes WinXP (and Linux) happy. (The 1.23 seems to correspond to the firmware verion on the drive.) Anybody seen anything like this before? This appears to be to be a problem with the CD-RW drive, but could conceivably be something with the motherboard (or even the IDE cable, I suppose). This machine is still under warranty, but in talking to the Gateway tech support folks, they aren't sure whether it's the drive or the motherboard, so they want me to ship the tower to their service center in Texas to be diagnosed (and presumably fixed). However, it'll cost $50+ to ship it and I'll be missing my computer for 3-4 weeks, so I'd rather not do that unless I have to. Thanks in advance. Mike Holder |
#10
|
|||
|
|||
Ed wrote:
In fact I have seen this problem, and it is idicitive of a Drive failure. You will need to replace the drive shortly. Stear clear of gateway service, just replace the drive yourself, new drives even good ones can be bought for $40-50. Save the shipping fees and do the work yourself. Even cheaper. I bought one of these a few weeks ago. I've been very happy, and it even came with Nero. http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/Produc...uctCode=333209 |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
Problem LG CD0RW 8520B Drive | Lynn Q | General | 2 | May 3rd 04 10:18 PM |
Help needed: problem installing XP on new system | GJ | General | 26 | March 1st 04 10:04 PM |
Problem with External Hard Drive | Flake | General | 5 | February 17th 04 06:14 PM |
Mysterious Hard Drive Problem | Bill Anderson | General | 4 | January 18th 04 03:43 AM |
strange problem with hard drive | James | General | 3 | January 1st 04 03:17 PM |