Computer and Software Support


 CD-ROM Single IDE Troubleshooter

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

For information on determining if you have an IDE or a SATA hard drive, 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 only one  IDE port and one IDE cable.

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 have another computer that you can borrow an IDE cable from to test on this system try it to see if the problem goes away. If it does you know it is the cable.

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.