Optical Drives not Working on Dell Dimension 4800

I moved from a Dimension 3000 to a 4800 and none of the optical drives are acknowledging, even when I move the two optical drives (a CD-RW and DVD ROM from the 3000 to the 4800.  All seemed to communicate with the 3000.  Any suggestions?

travelerkgd

Assuming that you are using the Dimension 4600 motherboard and not the 3000 MoBo.

Are the two optical drives recognized in the system setup [BIOS]?

If they are not recognized, try setting the BIOS to defaults, by removing the battery for 20 seconds, then reinstalling it, to see if this makes a difference.

Also, try installing a new three connector IDE ribbon cable, I've that issues with using the old Dell IDE cables on the 4600 systems in the past.

Were the optical drives 'Jumpers' set to 'cable Select' [CS] and the 'Master' connected to the end of the IDE cable and the 'Slave' connected to the middle connector?

Bev.

You are right - it is the 4600.

Hello Bev:

Thank you!  I popped out the battery and went through the BIOS.  The drives are now seen and Windows 7 performed some updates and even installed a DVD-ROM update or driver.

But when I but in a movie DVD or software DVD, the light for the drive comes on but there is no other activity.  Any thoughts?  Also, how can the case be closed properly?  Seems a bit fussy.

travelerkgd

Great to hear the issue is resolved, by setting the BIOS to defaults.

Regards to the DVD issue, you probably need to install media player software, similar to the following:

http://download.cnet.com/CyberLink-PowerDVD/3000-13632_4-10352449.html

http://www.softworld.com/windows/video-software/video-players/realplayer/?pid=301&d1=5058&gclid=CLeQ4t77rL4CFQET7AodZ1MABw

Bev.

travelerkgd

Forgot the procedures for closing the closing the case.

Check out the following Dimension 4600 Owners Manual, for them:

  ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-4600_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

Bev.

Hello Bev:

Thanks for all the info.  The issue I seem to be having with both of the optical drives is no type of disc is recognized - data, software, music, or video - nothing.  Anything else that can be done? 

Thanks,

Kenneth Davis

travelerkgd

Try the following fix, to see if this makes a difference:

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd_dvd_drive_problems/en-us

Also, could be a hardware issue, try running Dell Diagnostics on the drives.

Bev.

I checked again - the CD-RW responds but the DVD-ROM does not.  I assume the DVD-ROM may be dead.Easy enough to replace.

travelerkgd

If the DVD-ROM drive is several years old, that is highly possible, thank you for the heads up.

Bev.