well i hv this problem that when ever i connect my dvd rom or secondary hard disk....i cant see it or use it with my windows XP...it just doesnt show up...but the strange thing is i can use these perfectly with my windows 98....wat cud be the problem?...if any one can plz help.....

Are you saying that XP and '98 are on the same computer or are you moving drives between two computers?

Are you using the same connector/channel on both drives?

Have you tried them on the Primary Channel?

Have you checked the connetion at the motherboard?

Is the Secondary channel detected in the Device Manager?

yes Xp and 98 are on the same computer'

i m using same connector/channel on both drives'

motherboard is fine'

secondary channel is ok too!

all in all when i m using those drives in win 98' ... they work fine but when i switch to win XP, they just disappear....thats my problem !

Try switching the DMA/PIO transfer mode.

Right click My Computer then click Manage then Device Manager

Click the + next to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers

Right click the line of the controller in question then click Properties and then Advanced Settings > Transfer Mode

This is probably set to DMA. Change it to PIO and see if the disk can be read then.

for which channel i have to change it?...and i cant find Advance settings and Transfer mode....