High CPU While using DVD Drive

Question

Hi Guys,

i'm having a problem with my DVD Drive in my Dell Inspiron 5160 laptop which i bought recently.
Let me just list down the laptop details -

P4 2.8 Ghz HT
1 GB RAM
NVIDIA 5200 Go (64 MB RAM)
60 GB Hard Disk
DVD +- RW Drive (SONY DW-D65A)
Windows XP SP2 (with latest patch applied)

Now problem which i started facing suddenly is that the whenever i read/write from dvd drive the cpu usage hits around 50%. Interestingly the windows task manager shows no process as taking high cpu
but the CPU history graph shows one CPU reaching it's peak.

While trying from Process Explorer (http://www.sysinternals.com/ntw2k/freeware/procexp.shtml) a process called "Hardware Interrrupts" shows as taking up 50% CPU usage.

Also while burning CDs/DVDs the process has become very slow. It used to take around 12 minutes earlier while it takes around 30/35 minutes now to burn a 4.3 GB DVD. Additionally the read buffer in nero fluctuates a lot. (i'm using nero 6)

I checked the DMA settings (through nero info tool) which tells me that DMA for this DVD drive is NOT enabled. I tried enabling the DMA but of no avail.

I have already tried uninstalling the dvd drive and installling it back again. Tried uninstalling/installing nero also - no use.

Any help will be greatly appreciated..

thanks.

theeta.

bacillus · Answer

you need to uninstall/delete the ide channel that your dvd drive is on in device manager then reboot.

theeta · Answer

Hey Hey, It worked man !! Thanks a lot.... bye theeta.

bacillus · Answer

iirc it should be the secondary ide channel. look under advanced settings. if you see device 0 is using udma5 then that channel is for your hdd so delete the other channel.

imtiaz_3 · Answer

i'm having the exact same problem with my dvd burner. sounds like this will work. i just don't know what ide channel my dvd burner is on. how do i figure this out. incase it helps, i'm on an inspiron 9100.

imtiaz_3 · Answer

wow, quick response. i uninstalled my secondary ide channel, tried burning a dvd image with nero, and the buffer reader was stable this time, but the dvd still came out bad....

after i uninstalled the ide channel, i rebooted as you said, and let the computer install the hardware automatically. however, it said it couldn't install the ide channel. it still listed my dvd drive as a cd drive instead, but nero still went with the burning as if it was a dvd drive. Not sure what this is about, but could that have something to do with it???

theeta · Answer

Bacillus i have DVD drive on primary channel; kinda strange to me too as i have always seen hard disk as the primary master drives.

Imtiaz i'll suggets u give the nero info tool a try. It will reliably extract all the relevant information for you.

Thomas MAJER · Answer

Ok, I posted a message in the bios section as I figured my high cpu issue may have something to do with the bios.  But, anyways.  In my case, my CPU speed is now a constant 2800 mhz after rendering and making a dvd using an external burner.  I have an 1150 Inspiron.   Anyone know how to get my cpu speed back to normal ie. speed based upon load?  My current average cpu temp is around 50 Celcius.   tia Message Edited by Thomas MAJER on 04-14-2005 02:18 AM

Storage, Drives & Media

High CPU While using DVD Drive

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