Big time optical drive problems...

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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
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I have these two optical drives:

DVD +/- RW: Samsung TS-H552B/WBCH
DVD ROM: Lite On 16X SOHD-167T

Yesterday for apparently no reason *both* drives quit functioning. I am trying to get some drivers reinstalled but the names are mangled and the utilities from Samsung and LiteOn throw errors because the names dont match. This is really screwy and i have run out of ideas on how to fix. Also, something else must have happened too because i cant get into the BIOS now. :|

Firmware error...
Manager...

EDIT: the device manager pic has my optical drives diabled which i did myself. They are detected and functional with CDs, not with DVDs. I disabled them because it was causing explorer to hang. Sorry for the confusion.
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
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If you can't get into the BIOS, sounds like it got corrupted. Clear it (use mobo manual instructions or pull the battery for 10-15 minutes then replace). That should clear the BIOS and maybe solve your problems.

Best way is to move the CLR jumper from one set of posts to the other and 15 seconds later back to original posts.

You can both pull battery and move the jumpers both ways, even better...

You might also consider trying to update the BIOS using update from the maker's web site.

Let us know...

Noel
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Yea, i know how to clear and reset the BIOS. My windows install is RAID, so its a pain in the ass (and it makes me very uncomfortable to fuck with my RAID drivers). Youre right though, i need to get into my BIOS. Any idea why my drive names are mangled though? Did you look at my links? Why would that happen?
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
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Originally posted by: MegaVovaN
Maybe a bad IDE or SATA cable on which drives are hooked up?
Click to expand...

Good thought - homercles337, like MegaVovaN suggests, try a different IDE/SATA cable. If it continues, could be a bad connector on the motherboard.

BTW, I did look at your links and they tell me something has been corrupted. Options: BIOS, registry, connections, motherboard.

Noel
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Yea, ok, i will check the cable(s) and the registry. Im pretty sure they are on the same cable, so thats encouraging. Some more detail though. I booted up once (monday morning, drives started acting up on sunday) and the drives were fine. I shut down to go to work and booted when i got home and they have never been the same. Also, when they do "work," in explorer, they are only seen as CD ROMs and wont read DVDs at all.
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
566
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homer,

I re-read your initial post, and maybe it will help to use System Restore to go back to Jan 13th (before this started) and see if putting a previously stable registry back on the computer will help.

If that doesn't work, it could still be any of the things we've mentioned. Cables can be intermittent, so can anything else, so I still suggest you check your BIOS, check out cables, then you'll need to start stripping things down to check out the mobo... If we get to that, I can offer some guidance if you'd like...

Noel
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Ugh, this is worse than i thought. I cracked the case and was unable to get power (no i dont have any case switches hooked up). :( I hooked up power to just my mobo with a spare PSU and got power, but that little thing doesnt have the juice to power my whole rig. I guess have to drop some coin on a new PSU tomorrow. Im writing this from my latitude d420. :( This is no good, no good at all. Could a faulty PSU cause these problems with my optical drives too? My optical drive names were "mangled" in the POST. Maybe i didnt mention that.

BTW, thanks for the suggestions Noel. A restore was the first thing i tried sunday night. Oh man, i hope my mobo isnt fucked too. I was about to clear my CMOS to see if i could get into the BIOS, now im just a sad, sad man.
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
566
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homer,

Sorry to hear so many problems... Yes, you mentioned the mangled names. I think a bad PSU could have caused your problems. When a PSU is going, it won't generate enough power to run everything and the DVD drives could have been a first indication of low voltage. I'm surprised it presented that way, though. A bad PSU frequently shows up by recycling off and on or just shutting down.

After your get your new PSU, let's hear how it goes. Good luck, Noel
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
You know it was very hot in my apartment for a few days before the failure (desk temps >85). Im sure this contributed, but why it happened when i cracked my case is a bit of a mystery. I hope BB or MicroCenter has a sale on PSUs tomorrow.

Edit: I should add that i have 5 internal disc drives (>1.5TB), two optical drives, x2 4400, 7900 GT OC, and a number of USB devices (6 or 7). My PSU is 550W with dual 12V rail.
 
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Jiggz

Diamond Member
Mar 10, 2001
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Sounds like you are on the right track on troubleshooting the PSU. In your Device Manager, it's obvious the optical drives and floppy drive are not present. Red "X" means either the device previously detected is not present or is disabled by the user. So to back off a little bit from the suspected PSU, if you can boot into the bios check if all the drives are detected. If you cannot even boot into bios, clear the bios first and try again. If the bios detects all the drives and yet are "X'ed" off still in Device Manager, check to make sure they are not disabled. If for some reasons, they are disabled, I would suspect something fishy like virus in the system. If the bios does not detect the drives, it could be a bad 12V or 5V rail in the PSU. Try another PSU or try a known working power connector by disconnecting a known working hdd except for the OS hdd. Goodluck.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Originally posted by: Jiggz
Sounds like you are on the right track on troubleshooting the PSU. In your Device Manager, it's obvious the optical drives and floppy drive are not present. Red "X" means either the device previously detected is not present or is disabled by the user. So to back off a little bit from the suspected PSU, if you can boot into the bios check if all the drives are detected. If you cannot even boot into bios, clear the bios first and try again. If the bios detects all the drives and yet are "X'ed" off still in Device Manager, check to make sure they are not disabled. If for some reasons, they are disabled, I would suspect something fishy like virus in the system. If the bios does not detect the drives, it could be a bad 12V or 5V rail in the PSU. Try another PSU or try a known working power connector by disconnecting a known working hdd except for the OS hdd. Goodluck.
Click to expand...

Jiggz thanks for the input. However, i should clarify. I manually disabled the drives because they were causing explorer to hang. Tonight i tried to clear the CMOS and get into the BIOS but i discovered that my PSU *must* have died (see my posts above when talking to Noel).

Here is where im at in diagnosing PSU is dead. I couldnt get into the BIOS before it was clear that it died, and now i dont have sufficient power to clear CMOS and get into the BIOS. The drive names were mangeled in the POST, indicating a BIOS problem but i cant even get back in the BIOS without a new PSU. Well, thats not entirely true, im sure my extra PSU could do a minimal power up. Nonetheless, my PSU is dead. Also, im a very clean windows user, i did a full, deep system scan and got nothing. Its not a virus, or anything related. Its definitely hardware. Again, just rereading your post. The BIOS detects the drives but "mangles" the names. See my pics. I would post pics of the POST, but i have already torn out the PSU. I do appreciate your comments though.
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
New power supply and no change to the optical drives. :( More later...

Edit: However, now i *can* get into the BIOS and the optical drive names are mangled. Resetting BIOS in 3...2...
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
566
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homer,

If it's just the fan on the north bridge, it could be replaced if there's a plug for the original... just remove it and see how it's powered. Here are some chipset fans at TigerDirect: http://www.tigerdirect.com/app...gory_slc.asp?CatId=498

Maybe someone could help better if we had your rig's specs and a little bit of history... I suspect this is an older rig and you have not been having problems with it. So now the opticals can't see what they are or won't operate, the PSU goes out and the mobo is suspect. Certainly the opticals have some problems, perhaps from the PSU or mobo.

Are you in the market to upgrade now or possibly even re-build? If the mobo is an older one and the on-board bridge fan is going (of course it could be replaced) but maybe a new motherboard is in order.

Give us an idea where you think you'd like to go. We can help you re-build this rig or recommend the way to go to get a new mobo under your CPU OR an entirely new system.

Noel
 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
This build is about 2.5 years old. In that time i have RMAed my mobo twice, this will be the third time. MSI is crap and now they want money to do the repairs (something about the details of the warranty). Between shipping and fees its going to be about $50. I wasnt prepared to build a new rig until sometime this summer. I have to move to a new apartment april 1st, so all my funds are currently tied up in first, last, deposit, moving, etc. I will look into replacing the northbridge cooler, but mostly i just want to get in and back up everything on my main drive which is RAID0. I think heat was a contributor. I was playing Witcher a lot and my apartment was about 85F (not in my control). I included my specs in a post about half-way through this thread.
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
566
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homer,

Sorry, I missed the specs earlier (or forgot :) )

Have you looked at cost for new mobo to replace? That could be best way to go. New mobo for maybe $75 or thereabouts. Here's an example for you (not MSI): http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16813131042 - maybe better $75 for a new one than $50 (or more with that fan) to repair the old one, eh? You could get new mobo now and then build a new system later on after you move... Of course if you can afford better, get a better one for the future and maybe still stick with AM2 socket so you can continue to use your X2 4200. Later maybe buy yourself a X2 6400 or Phenom or such. I think the Phenom which is AM2+ will run on AM2 socket, but would need to check that out...

Since you run so much on that machine, I would get a larger PSU. A really good oner is that Corsair HX620 modular. I have one and love it. Great cable set and use only the cables you need. This PSU is made by Seasonic. Here it is at ZipZoomFly for about $125 after MIR (free shipping, too): http://www.zipzoomfly.com/jsp/...&prodlist=pricegrabber You might even go to a 720-850 Watts for future proofing if you can afford the difference.

Comments? Noel

 
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homercles337

Diamond Member
Dec 29, 2004
6,340
3
71
Hey Noel,

Thanks for the comments. I definitely plan on getting a beefy PSU to use for my next build which was supposed to be this summer/early fall (however, i am getting a huge raise so that could be sooner). I really liked the HX, but im going to have to spend more if i want a "future proof" PSU. I got the Antec Trio 650W for $90 which i will need for this thing, but i also have the BFG on RMA (sending out tomorrow). THe mobo is also on RMA, but MSI is being assholes. Also, just to clarify, my X2 is a socket 939 not AM2. :eek: Sorry if that sounded misleading.

Ultimately, my problem is that i cant plan for a PSU without looking at what my next build will be. I will probably go with the HX and return the Antec since it will take time for the mobo RMA. Ugh, these things suck since the weakest link in the chain fails first, but weakens the others before doing so.
 
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NoelS

Senior member
Oct 5, 2007
566
0
0
homer,

Sorry, my memory fails me from time to time. I thought the X2 4400 was AM2... Did some CPUs fit in both 939 and AM2?

I think changing the Antec for the HX is a good idea, some Antec PSUs have been having problems of late. Also when you build your new system, may be time to move to Intel Core2 CPU and DDR2 for speedier performance. Not sure how you use your computer, but in any case, socket 939 is just about over and an upgrade to AM2 if you stay with AMD or socket 775 if you move to Intel would be a good idea...

Good luck with your current RMA/upgrades. Keep us advised. I'm interested to know whether the new PSU and repaired/new MSI will solve the optical drive problems.

Noel
 
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