Hi bama350z,

The problem could be with the hardware or software of the computer.

Check if the computer works in Safe mode with networking. Restart the computer and tap F8 at Dell logo. Select Safe mode with networking.

Also, run diagnostics on the computer. Restart the computer. Tap F12 and Select Diagnostics. Let the diagnostics complete.

Please watch this Video to run diagnostics: http://dell.to/1dMViiD

Let me know the status.

Moving this thread to the Alienware Owners Club Forum.
 
Bev.

Hi bama350z, this is an unusual problem, I will escalated to our engineering department and will get back to you soon.

Verify drive works with real store bought music CD and Video DVD (and BD if capable).

If it does, look closely as AutoPlay settings. Could be app being invoked. "Blank media" set to "Do Nothing" might be good.

As for booting, remove opticals from boot sequence.

I have removed the optical drives from the boot sequence, completely disabled auto run to the point of creating a registry entry, and nothing has helped.  Regular media such as a movie, music CD, or software work fine, it's just blank media.  About ten seconds after insertion the system locks up and has to be hard rebooted.  Also, it still locks up booting into windows with a blank disc in the drive.  There is a setting in the BIOS for the DMA mode for the drives that is currently set to AUTO.  I don't know if that could affect anything.  I am starting to lean toward it being some driver that I have updated since things worked fine for a week or so and over that time I have updated the drivers along the way.  Nothing shows an issue or conflict in device manager but I still believe it is a possibility although I have no idea how to track it down.

Strange. See my thread on clean install.

Area51 uses all 6 Intel SATA channels for HDD bays. Opticals use other controller and therefore a different driver.

So, what driver should I be using for the optical drives and how can I verify that I am using that ?  I'm not sure since I am not seeing any conflicts or errors.

Hi bama350z,

Please provide Device Instance ID of the Optical.

To find the Device Instance ID of the Optical Drive in Device Manager:

1. Press and hold the Windows Key and then press the R key on the keyboard to launch Run Dialog Box.
2. Type “devmgmt.msc” and hit “Enter”.
3. Expand “DVD/CD-ROM drives” and check if the Optical Drive is listed here. If the Optical Drive is not listed here, expand the “Unknown Device” and check.
4. Double click the listed Optical Drive.
5. Click the “Details” tab.
6. Select Device Instance Path or Device Instance Id (whichever is available for your version of Windows) from the drop down box.

Make a note of the Device Instance Path or Device Instance ID and add this in your reply. I will find the right drivers and provide it.

I have two optical drives:

IDE\CDROMPLDS_DVDRWBD_DH-12E3S___________________MD11____\6&123B7A75&0&0.1.0

IDE\CDROMPLDS_DVD+-RW_DH-24ABS___________________AD11____\6&123B7A75&0&0.0.0

And I am guessing that this is the controller for them:

PCI\VEN_197B&DEV_2363&SUBSYS_02F81028&REV_10\4&1142D9C6&0&00E3

I think the other controller is for the 6 hard drives.

I purchased a copy of Win 8 to dual boot a while back and decided to install it and see what happens.  It booted to the media, installed Win 8 as a dual boot, but when I get into Win 8 same thing happens.  The computer locks up after inserting blank media.

And I am guessing that this is the controller for them:   PCI\VEN_197B&DEV_2363&SUBSYS_02F81028&REV_10\4&1142D9C6&0&00E3   I think the other controller is for the 6 hard drives.

Blank media in either drive hoses up either OS.  The problem seems to be caused by only blank media.

Hi bama350z,

I request you to provide me the Device Instance ID of both the optical drivers, so that I can help you in updating the drivers for the same.

Awaiting your response!

Are you referring to the information I provided a few responses up?

Hi bama350z,

Yes, IDs for both the optical drivers.