Dimension 8300 "CD-ROM device not installed"

A couple of points: the CDRW-ROM & DVD Player drives open and close under power (but Windows will not detect a CD), and the option in the Boot Sequence actually says 'CD-ROM device (not installed)'.

Dave.

Hi, Dave:

When the backup battery runs out, you usually lose all your BIOS settings. So my suggestion is to boot to the BIOS (F2) and configure your drives there.

I'm surprised you're not getting an "F1 to continue, F2 for system setup" message.

Many thanks ... I'm surprised you're not getting an "F1 to continue, F2 for system setup" message.

I am, actually (but should have mentioned).

Otherwise everything else seems OK, apart from a failure to detect the D: & E: drives (D: JLMS DVD-ROM XJ-HD166, and E: TSSTcorp CDRW/DVD TSH492B, replaced by Dell engineeer 7th March 2005).

Dave.

Dave:

Did you try my suggestion?

Yes - but unfortunately not successful (presumably because it was identical to my prior experience in not detecting either of the CD drives). I have also tried to run the Diagnostic CD, but that didn't work either :-(

Dave.

Have since run Dell Diagnostics via F12 at start-up and 'Boot to Utility Partition' > Hardware Diagnostics tests:

1) Express Test = "All tests passed"
2) Extended Test not tried
3) Custom Test (No CD device visible) but selected tests:
- Cable Detect Inputs = "All tests passed"
- BIOS Information = "All tests passed"
- I/O Information = "All tests passed"
4) Symptom Tree - No CD options visible

Dave.

This appears to be solved now: By disconnecting the 8300 mains power lead and removing the new system battery (CR 2032) for 30 mins, then returning the new battery and re-booting. The PC detected that the BIOS needed resetting (via F2), and after entering only the date, the default BIOS settings appeared to be automatically applied and the two CD drives were detected (D: & E:).

The only variation seems to be that the setup (F2) Drive Configuration was previously:

Primary Master - Drive OFF
Primary Slave - Drive OFF
Secondary Master Drive - CD-ROM Device
Secondary Slave Drive - CD-ROM Device

but is now:

Primary Master - CD-ROM Device
Primary Slave - CD-ROM Device
Secondary Master Drive - Drive OFF
Secondary Slave Drive - Drive OFF

The Secondary options are only AUTO/OFF, so they have been left as shown immediately above. The CD/DVD reading/writing seems to be OK in Windows.

Probable cause ? Shortly after the first installation of the new system battery a few days ago, I checked the drive cables and the one of the power connectors wasn't seated properly (as if opening the case too far had displaced the connector). This was pushed home and makes me wonder whether, initially, the suspect connection led the reset BIOS not to detect the D: & E: drives thereafter ?

Dave.

Hi, Dave:

Sounds like a clear case of "BIOS confusion". Something happened when you first installed the battery. Clearing this out allowed the BIOS to go back and set evverything correctly.

Anyway, alls well that ends well.