Trouble installing second CD-RW

Question

I have a 4600 Dell dimen. computer. I bought from Dell a second CD-RW and installed, even though the instruction were pathetic and I'm a computer idiot. The device has power, but the pin cable could not be installed into the correct slot. That was actually for a floppy device insert. What do I do? Is there some converter I can buy? I ended up putting the cable what I think is the hard drive slot, but the system will not recognize the new drive. Do I need to uninstall/re-install a program?

resante5000 · Answer

If you put the new cdrw drive on the same cable as your hard drive, check the jumpers on the back of the drives near where the cables plug in. A set of metal pins that has a little plastic piece over some of them. Check your hard drive to be sure but chances are it is set to 'master' or 'cable select (cs)'..if so set your cdrw to 'slave' or cs. Message Edited by resante5000 on 12-29-2004 10:39 AM

Predator · Answer

Hi Fone,

Dell ships their systems using the Cable Select Feature so do check the jumper setting as Resante stated. Aslo consider clicking on the CD/RW link in my post and scroll to section 4, there you will find tips on installation as well as link to your systems User Guide, review the Section on Adding & Removing Part.

Seasons Greetings!

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I neverliked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do
and the eyesight to tell the difference.

CD/RW Link

Message Edited by Predator on 12-29-2004 11:41 AM

fone · Answer

Okay. I took the drive out and fixed the pin settings to slave, but even though the CD-RW drive has power and even though I tried to get the computer to recognize the new hardware and even though I took out the book and did almost every thing it said, it still won't recognize the drive. The one thing I didn't do that the manuel suggested was to install Roxio Easy CD creator Basic software. This I didn't find in my original set of disks for the computer or for that matter anywhere on my computer for the first drive, instead I found Sonic RecordNow! which I did uninstall and reinstall.

What should I try next?

Predator · Answer

Hi Fone,

So my understanding, the Sony is set as Master (MS or MA) and the CD/RW is Slave (SL).

At the CD/RW link in my post, scroll to section 11, article 2, Clear the NVRAM.
If this does not work, change the jumpers to Cable Select, disconnect the CD/RW and try the new Sony on the "End" connection of the IDE cable. See if the system will detect the drive and if it works.

Happy New Year!

God, grant me the senility to forget the people I never liked anyway,
the good fortune to run into the ones I do and the eyesight to tell the
difference.

CD/RW Link

fone · Answer

Well, since I last wrote, I've checked the drive - it works; I checked the cables, they're fine; I check the connections, no problem there. I talked to a guy at Best Buy at length (about my computer issue). He basically said to try the same things you guys did. Where is the 'my post'? The settings I'm sure of. Dell sets the settings to cable select, evidently. I 'fessed up that I'm computer illerate, so the my post, which doesn't seem to be anywhere on my computer, I might find where? Please hurry. I have only about 36 hours before a meddling 5-y old comes back!

Storage, Drives & Media

Trouble installing second CD-RW

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