NEC SCSI cd rom

[mc2phat]

Wondered if anyone has any insight into the following...

I built a system today, Abit KT7A etc, Acer CD-RW, Adaptec 2940U SCSI controller, NEC SCSI CD ROM model 3010-A, Win2k Pro
Everything is IDE, 'cept the NEC CD ROM

The NEC read about 1 of 5 disks, didn't matter if they were copies or retail, audio or data. Took it back to the local shop where the guy bought it, swapped it for the same model with a manufacture date of May 2001, where the original was June 2000.

-When it does read a CD, it does it well- you can run/view/open/explore all files thereon
-When it doesn't read a CD, it doesn't hang, you just get the "Please insert CD" dialog
-I'm using bundled Winders cdrom.sys driver for the CD ROM; NEC's last driver update for any of its CD ROMS was in 1995
-I tried the bundled drivers w/w2k and the latest Adaptec drivers for the SCSI card. It works great either way. The card has the latest firmware version.
- Everything is addressed/terminated correctly; I tried all I could with addressing. I tried 4 different cables.
- I had him return the drive for a trade-in on a Plextor, assuming the NEC drives are weird.
Getting to the point, are these NEC's crap, and is that the problem, or might the SCSI adapter be bad? Could it be yet another VIA chipset nightmare? Or am I retarded? Everything in my mind points to the NEC drives sucking. If anyone has an answer, I'd appreciate it.

Thanks in advance,
-phfat

[Floppyman]

If you got the chance I'd try a different SCSI cdrom (not NEC) and try those same cd's. If they all work....it's the NEC cdrom.

[mc2phat]

Yeah Flopp, that's the plan right now. I was hoping someone would say, "Yeah, those NEC's suck. I have a huge pile of dead ones in my living room," and make it easy for me...i.e. I wouldn't have to sweat it until the new drive gets here. I also tried redbook.sys and storprol.dll along with cdrom.sys, to no avail.
Thanks for your reply!

[mc2phat]

Update: Received the Plextor & installed it. Naturally it reads all disks, no problem. Yet again Plextor prove their quality to be second to none in my eyes.

Thanks again for the replies Flopp!

-phfat