Computer and Software Support


Troubleshoot IDE CD-ROM drive issues 

For information on CD-ROM drives, click here

There is numerous issues that can occur with CD-ROM drives and it is impossible to cover all of them here. However the steps here can guide to to determine if the CD-ROM drive, cable or the motherboard is the cause of the issue.

There are numerous configurations that a computer can have. The steps to troubleshoot can vary due to this.

Read the Safety Procedures before doing this troubleshooter!

For instructions on installing and removing parts, click here

NOTE: During this troubleshooter, the drive will be called CD-ROM. CD-ROM replies to DVD as well as CD for this discussion.

The troubleshooter below is for systems that has two IDE ports and two IDE cables.

For information on determining if you have an IDE or a SATA hard drive, click here

To troubleshoot, follow these steps

  1. Remove drive from Device Manager by doing the following

    1. Go to Device Manager

    2. Highlight the CD-ROM drive

    3. Press the Delete Key

    4. Repeat steps A through C for any additional CD-ROM drives

    5. Turn off the computer (do not restart the computer but actually turn it off)

    6. Turn the computer on and see if the issue goes away

  2. Try the drives on the Primary connector on the IDE cable

  3. Try the drives on the Secondary connector on the IDE cable

  4. If you still cannot determine if the issue is with the cable or the drive, swap the cables with the hard drive. If the problem follows the cable than you know it is the cable.

  5. If the problem stays with the drives, swap ports on the motherboard. If the problem follows the device than the problem is not the motherboard port. If the problem stays with that port then you have a bad motherboard port.

If you have two drives and they both work fine independently on any connector but does not work when both are connected, then it is a compatibility issue between the two drives.