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Strange problem !?!?

B

Bharat

Member
Hi everyone

I am completely new to O/C.

I've just received my P4S533 with Samsung 512MB PC2700, and 36" rounded IDE ATA/133 cables yesterday (ordered from GoogleGear), and completed all the installation bits with Windows XP Professional without any problems.

At the 1st boot, it went straight into BIOS and asked me to specify the CPU speed, options being 1600 and 2133 (which surprised me a bit !), but I decided to go for 2133 and see how it runs.

Installed pretty much everything using the XP drivers itself and downloads/updates from MS Windows Update. Did not use the ASUS CD at all.

Ran Prime95 Torture test for almost 10 hours, no problems. CPU idle speed without anything was 32C and with Prime95 tests was 43C, so I think that looks OK.

Now, the strange problem I am facing is that I am trying to write a CD using Nero 5.5.7.8 on my HP 9900Ci CD/RW (which is a CDR-DVD Combo), but it keeps telling me that there is a problem with the Media and media type required is CD-RW where as media is currently CDR.

I find that VERY strange, as nothing has changed as far as the software (Nero) or the drive or OS. What has changed is the cable, and the motherboard (with the drivers).

My suspicion seems to be the drivers, as I can read CDs fine in the drive, so I am ruling out the cable.

Can some one please guide me here, as I am a bit lost...
 
Hi!

I was wondering if you did the CD-RW update from Microsoft?

And why didnt you install the software from the Asus CD? I install mine right away after a fresh Windows install, and I mean the INF drivers and Intel Application Accelerator.

To be honest, your main problem is with Nero I think. Did you also install other CD writing software? I can recall that Adaptec software causes problems if Nero is installed next to it.
 
Your new IDE cables are too long. The longest that IDE cables are rated for reliably is 18" I don't know why they sell them any largesr since they don't work properly. Put your old ones back on.
 
Well, strange that you should mention that !

Although I was not sure of the cable, I just shut the PC down, changed the cable with another 36" one, and the problem seems to have gone away.

I did suspect another software I installed (BlindWrite), but that seems to be fine as well now. REALLY strange, I've not known IDE cables to behave like this, where it makes the device misbehave. The CDRs I use are either plain, unbranded or just branded, but no label, high quality 80 min ones. Since I work in a software house, we use these all the time, and believe me, these ones have been excellent !

The other thing I am planning to try now, as suggested by "IntelInsideIdiotOutside", is to install the software from the CD. I didn't bother as I thought since I've done all the updates from MS WindowsUpdate (which included an IDE update), it should be fine.

Strange one, I'll try that cable in my 2nd PC and see if it misbehaves.

Thanks for all the help guys, I'll be back soon, as once this system settles down, I'll try to start overclocking it 😉
 
Even though switching one 32" for another 32" seems to have resolved the problem for you IDE cables aren't meant to be any longer than 18" If you continue to use these overly long cables you may see slower performance and currupted data. Of course, it's also possible that it might work for you. Considering what you've already seen, though, I wouldn't risk it.
 
18 inches is the longest cable allowed for in ide specs
24 or 36 (didn't even know anyone was crazy enough to use one double the max specified length) cables are out of spec and may lead to problems
unless you have an absolutely massive case that mandates out of spec cables switch to 18" cables all around
and definitely don't use out of spec cables on hdds, as the higher the transfer rate the more interference is a problem (the reason ata 66/100/133 switched to an 80 wire cable, the extra 40 are all grounds to allow for the higher transfer rate)
 
Yes, i have noticed that performance is not what I would like to have, so I am planning to change them soonish, and get (PROBABLY !) Bronze or Silver 45cm (which is roughly 18" I think) cables.

Thanks again for the tips...
 
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