Hi

My PC was fitted with Maxtor 4R060L0 and Samsung DVD-ROM SD-616T. Few months later I decided to replace the Maxtor with Emprex DVDRW 8x.

Only recently I had to reformat my PC which uses Windows XP. To my surprise when I launch Explorer, I can see DVD RW Drive (E) but when I insert a CD Rom, I am unable to view anything. When I insert a DVD, I am able to play it. I am unable to use the copying features etc..

Any thoughts??

Thank you

Is this drive listed in the Device Manager?

Start/Run/ devmgmt.msc

If so are there any yellow "!"'s by the drive?

Double click the drive & check its' status.

jephree

Thank you for your prompt reply

The drive is listed in the Device manager list as follows:

DVD/CD-ROM drives
DVDRW IDE1008
Samsung DVD-ROM SD-616T


There are no yellows against the drives above (there are yellows on "Other devices- USB Scanner") I plan to install the drivers for the scanner later (This shoul not matter)

Furthermore, the drive DVDRW IDE1008 can only read DVDs. It is unable to read CD ROMS and I can not copy on CDs. (I haven't tried copying on DVDs)

Please help

Kind regards

Just to clarify:

You have 2 optical drives:

1. Samsung DVD-ROM SD-616T

2. Emprex DVDRW 8x (which is showing as DVDRW IDE1008)

This is the closest thing I could find:
http://www.emprex.com/02_products_02.php?id=23

I am confused by your first post where you say:

" Few months later I decided to replace the Maxtor with Emprex DVDRW 8x."

The Maxtor being your hard drive?

2 other questions:

1. Are you sure that the disks that you are using are compatible?

2. What burning/playback software are you using?

jephree

The link demonstrates the exact model (I don't know how you managed to find it)

Yes I do apologise for misleading you. I got confused myself between the hard disk (maxtor) and DVD writer - You are right in your interpretation.

I have purchased a new pack of new CDs yesterday and I tried 4 of them. The DVD writer can'y read any CD ROM at all ( It is able however to read DVD ROMs)

For DVD playbak I use Power DVD
For burning I use Nero

In Windows EXplorer, I can see the two drives but unable to view folders/files of CDs when inserted in Emprex DVDRW 8x

I am sorry this is pain and I thank you for your patience

Kind regards

The only other thing I can offer at the moment is the manual:

http://www.emprex.com/var/manual/english_v1.1.pdf

Perhaps try to disconnect the Samsung to see if there is any change.

Are the jumpers set properly on these 2 drives?

Master/slave or Cable Select?

Hopefully someone else will wonder by with an idea. I need to be off to my real world till 2 morrow