Ricoh MP7200A CDRW Install problem

[Funkeeboy]

Hi,
I've been trying to install a Ricoh MP7200A CDRW as slave to my Creative Labs DVD Encore DXR3 6X and I've hit a snag. During boot up I received an blue screen error from Windows ME that I am trying to install a child device which my current drivers do not support and the system is now halted. I unplugged the CDRW and rebooted into Windows ME and checked System properties which said that my Secondary IDE Channel is desabled until new drivers are installed. I checked for a solutions and decided to install the VIA 4-in-1 drivers.
I then tried to boot up with both CDRW & DVD plugged and and the system hangs on 'Checking for IDE Drives'. I tried running just the CDRW as Master and this works fine as long as the DVD is not connected in which case neither drive works.
My system is:

ABIT KA7 MB
Athlon 950mhz CPU
128MB PC-133 SDRAM
Fujitsu 20GB HDD (Primary Master)
GE Force 2 GTS GFX Card
SB Live! 1024 SND Card
Windows ME
Creative Labs DXR3 Encore 6X DVD

Anybody have any ideas?

[rosswald]

Have you tried putting the CDRW on the other IDE bus? It has been my experience that CD-Roms and CDRW drives don't function very well when connected on the same bus. When I copied CD's it caused a lot of buffer underruns. I have a lot of coasters lying around. Good Luck.

[gerrygrit]

Been there and done that too roswald.Also lost both CD-ROM & CDRW
at same time.Had to send the CDRW back.....thanks for warranties.

[Funkeeboy]

Hi, thanks for the reply.

I connected the CDRW as slave to the HDD and all that happened was the HDD is not recognised and only the RICOH is seen, so the computer fails boot up. The DVD in any case is not recognised. I tried just returning the system to how it was before I tried the install of the CDRW, the DVD powers up but is not picked up by the BIOS. As far as I know, the CDRW is working fine, the DVD has gone a bit funny (not sure why this has happened). Could this be a problem with the IDE connector on the M/Board? Or just the cable?

[rosswald]

It could be the cable. The other option is to in the bios just let the master hard drive be detected and set the other IDE devices to none. Windows should auto detect the CD-ROM and CDR. Even if they don't show up in the post screen. I have an Abit BE6-II mobo and thats how mine is setup. If neither of these work than you might have either a bad drive or bad mobo. Good Luck

[Funkeeboy]

Hello,

Thanks for the advice. As it turns out I took a complete leap in the dark (hmmm not sure that's right) and connected the drives on the secondary IDE channel in a different order. The DVD was connected as master to the connector part-way down the cable and the CDRW as slave connected to the connector at the end of the cable. I'm not sure if this is how it's supposed to be connected or if due to my tinkering already this is the way it's intended to be.
Anyway, everything is now hunkydory with both recognised in BIOS and Win ME.
Cheers!