CDROM and HDD wont work at the same time

Question

Ive got an Inspiron 8100 but when I have both the DVD-ROM and HDD in at the same time neither is detected.

If I take the DVD drive out I can boot it up fine, but as soon as I put it in, the BIOS reports no drives installed.

Is there any reason this would be happening, and is there a fix?

Cheers,
Tom

Ed C · Answer

The ROM drive is bad. They, the side CD drive and the HDD, share the primary IDE channel, IDE 0 (or 1 whichever you like to use), and because of this if one of those drives fail it stops the system from seeing the other or either. Replace the CD drive with whatever type drive you like, CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD/CD-RW, DVD-R-RW-DL-/+/ CD-RW and you should be fine. NO you do NOT have to buy the drive from Dell. Any SLIM line CD type drive will work in it. Although the face plate bezel won't match.

bootsector_ · Answer

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

I have an interesting situation.

I have a second motherboard here, where if I plug both the CD drive and the HDD in they both show up.

Im guessing its probably something wrong with the board itself :-(

Im going to try reflashing the bios. It probably wont do anything, but anything is worth a try.

edit: the second board has sustained some rather fatal injuries and doesnt turn on most of the time. at the moment its not turning on.

Thanks,
Tom

Message Edited by bootsector_ on 09-06-2005 01:29 AM

leduke30 · Answer

Have a look on Page 2 of F2 BIOS setup, check the boot order and see if the CD Drive has Arrowheads on both ends of the line entry. If it does not, it is disabled, and can affect the HDD also since they are both in the same IDE channel. To enable it, highlight it and press the Space bar.

bootsector_ · Answer

Unfortunately that didnt work :(

Thanks for the suggestion though.

editL it had only one arrow on the left hand side, not one on both sides - if that is of any use.

Message Edited by bootsector_ on 09-06-2005 08:48 PM

leduke30 · Answer

Sometimes one ,sometimes 2 arrowheads, but if there, that is not the problem cause, just a base that needs touching.  Try another CD Drive Message Edited by leduke30 on 09-06-2005 10:53 AM

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CDROM and HDD wont work at the same time

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