Problem Installing Lite-On LTR-52327S CD-RW Drive

[ipalindromei]

Hi there,

Well, I read the reviews and saw the nice rebates, so I caved in and bought a Lite On LTR-52327S CD-RW drive from Best Buy. Now I am having some problems getting the drive to function properly, none of which seem to be covered in the FAQ.

Sorry this is a rather long email, but I wanted to be clear and detailed about the probs I'm having. First, some basic info about my computer:

- Athlon Thunderbird 850 CPU
- Asus K7V mobo.
- 768 mb RAM
- 80 gig Seagate drive, 7200 RPM master on primary ide, 20 gig Western Digital slaved on same channel.
- Visiontek GeForce4 Ti 4400
- Iomega Zip 100 IDE internal - run as slave on secondary IDE with Lite On drive as master.
- Windows XP Home


A. The problems I've been having:
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1. The drive will not install the Nero Burning Rom software properly. I have tried installing in a number of ways - they all fail. Here's what I've tried:

a. Insert CD into tray, then wait for interface menu to pop up. I get an error message that reads "The application failed to initialize properly (0xc0000006). Click on OK to terminate the application."

b. Open Windows Explorer, go to CD-RW drive. Go to Nero\setup.exe and run setup. I get an error message that reads, "Only part of a ReadProcessMemory or WriteProcessMemory request was completed." Click "OK" and installation process terminates

c. Open Windows Explorer, go to CD-RW drive. GO to Nero\NeroExpress55\setup.exe. I get an error message tha reads," This installation package could not be opened. Contact the application vendor to verify that this is a valid Windows Installer package."


B. Other problems (probably related):
-----------------------------------------------

1. The drive can't play standard, store-bought audio CD's using Windows Media Player. The first track will play, but Windows Media Player claims subsequent tracks are unreadable, despite the fact that the disk is in perfect condition.

2. The drive can't rip WMA's using Windows Media Player. Same error message as in #1 - Windows Media Player says the tracks are unreadable.

3. Copying files from CD to hard drive results in I/O errors


C. Solutions I've tried (none of which have worked)
----------------------------------------------------------------

1. Flashing firmware to latest version.
2. Disabling antivirus & firewall software prior to software installation.
3. Changing mode from master to cable select and back.
4. Removing the zip drive (which is slaved to CD-RW drive on the secondary IDE channel).
5. Testing IDE cable by copying files to Zip drive - cable appears to be OK because I have no problems copying or moving files.
6. And finally, returning the drive to Best Buy for exchange. I thought the first drive was defective, but the 2nd drive is having the same problems. Maybe the whole batch is bad??


Anyway, I'm kinda at wits end here, and I'm really not too sure I can trust Lite On for good support, although I've emailed them. Any suggestions (other than buying a new drive)?


Thanks,

ipalindromei


P.s. Sorry for not using the tags. I tried to make things clear using some old-school formatting Personally, I think the tags are pain in the ass, and I wish Anandtech would upgrade to a simpler system.

 

[mechBgon]

Hi ipalindromei, did you check to ensure that the IDE controller that the drive's using has Ultra DMA enabled, in Windows Device Mangler? Expand the IDE controllers and hit the Advanced Settings tabs. If you see "PIO Only," change that to Ultra DMA and reboot. The Zip100 may force PIO-Only operation on itself but the burner is going to need UDMA to work right. Hope that gets you somewhere.

If the UDMA setting refuses to "stick" or cannot be enabled at all, "uninstall" the whole IDE controller and reboot, so Windows can rediscover it. Then go back and UDMA it again, and reboot, and check if it stuck.

 

[ipalindromei]

Thanks. I couldn't find the DMA options before....I think I was looking under the drive properties (a la windows 98, if I'm not mistaken)

I gave your suggestions a try. On the advanced tab, Device 0 was listed as "DMA if available" and the current mode is "Ultra DMA Mode 2"

So it looks like Ultra DMA is already working.

Device 1 was PIO Only.

I have since removed the Zip drive (which I believe was Device 1) . Device 1 now reads "Transfer mode: 'DMA if available'" and the current transfer mode is "Not Applicable" because I physically removed the drive.

I tried reinstalling the software, playing CD's, and so forth, but the problem still persists. It is identical to the problems I had previously.

Any more ideas?

Puzzled,
ipalindromei

 

[vailr]

What sometimes happens is: the system bios CMOS drive settings get "stuck" in erroneous setup information.
Try this: swap the IDE cables which connect to the motherboard.
Set the CDRW jumper to Slave.
Note: double and triple-check that the jumper is correctly positioned. Some drives are slightly differentfrom others in their pin positions.
System should still boot from the HD.
This will reset the bios drive identification process.
Check the CDRW for correct operation.
Then later: un-swap the IDE cables & then re-check for correct operation.
Finally, reconnect the Zip drive (jumpered as Master).
Good luck!

 

[SemperFi]

I was going to orginally say you can download the latest off of nero's website. After reading the rest of your post I changed my mind.

Anyhow you have a lot of good things to try from the previous answers. If all of that fails take the drive back. You may have gotten a bad one. It happens. At least I don't think it just happens to me.