New DVD Writer showing as A Drive

feival

I have just bnough a new NED ND4550A DVD Writer and installed it into my Dell Dimension 8400 PC which has Windows XP as OS. The DVD writer is in addition to my CD ROM. When installing it I went into the BIOS set-up as advised by Dell into the maintenance section and seletected the load defaults option. I notice that after exiting the BIOS set-up the message displayed was the following:

"Floppy disk seek failure. Performing auto IDE config. Device 0: Disk Drive Device 4: CD ROM Device"

When XP starts a message form the system tray says it has picked up the NEC drive but although it hashas been picked up it is being treated as if it is an A drive and asking me to insert a floppy disk! What do I do!!Please HELP ME!!!

Also, I have downloaded a driver update for it v1.07.but I dont uunderstand the instructions. The readme file says I need to do the following. Can someone trtanslate it into non-techie language for me?

Pls note following instructions for update procedure:

Connect drive to secondary IDE channel as Master

Disconnect all slave hardware from IDE secondary Master

Use standard UDMA-2 IDE cable

Update in Windows "Safe Mode"

Under Windows 2000 & XP login as administrator

Update without DMA mode, under Windows XP & 2000 in the device manager - "IDE ATA/ ATAPI controllers", you can switch from DMA to PIO mode

Disconnect all external USB/ FireWire devices.

Deactivate virusscanners, active desktop programs and packetwriting agents

Do not turn off power during the updating process.

Chippy_Minton

feival wrote:

I have just bnough a new NED ND4550A DVD Writer and installed it into my Dell Dimension 8400 PC which has Windows XP as OS. The DVD writer is in addition to my CD ROM. When installing it I went into the BIOS set-up as advised by Dell into the maintenance section and seletected the load defaults option. I notice that after exiting the BIOS set-up the message displayed was the following:

"Floppy disk seek failure. Performing auto IDE config. Device 0: Disk Drive Device 4: CD ROM Device"

See the solution at http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kb/en/document?dn=1092073&l=en&langid=1&c=us&cs=&s=gen

For the DVD drive, did you configure it for cable select (CS) setting? There should be jumper pins on the back of the drive to set this.

The firmware upgrade can wait: fix the floppy disk message and make sure the DVD drive is working in Windows first. Also note that if you bought the DVD drive from Dell (OEM version), you should use the firmware from the Dell site, not from NEC.

feival

Chippy_Minton wrote:

For the DVD drive, did you configure it for cable select (CS) setting? There should be jumper pins on the back of the drive to set this.

Thanks. It is no longer showing as an A Drive! I still can't see it though even though it is visible through Nero Information option. I will try the jumper pins bit later when the kids aren't about - don't like to open it in their sight for obvious reasons. What do you mean by a jumper pin? Is it just a switch? I have used the spare plus that were inside the PC - small power cable that had a black rubber sheath on it and a spare connector on a thin wide ribbon type cable.

UPDATE: Thank you so much. I worked out what you mean and moved the jumper to the same position as that on my CD ROM. No idea what that means but it is now fully working. Thank you again. I was really panicking last night! Are you able to helpk oin the firmware upgrade now (please)!!??

Chippy_Minton

Okay, good

For the 1.07 firmware upgrade (note firmware, not driver - there is a difference), where did you get those instructions from?

Also, did you buy the DVD drive from Dell or not? See http://www.de.nec.de/faq_detail.php/id/1349/frage/655/lang/ENG for the reason why I'm asking:

Our firmware upgrades only works with ORIGINAL NEC drives and not with
the OEM versions from HP, DELL, Medion, Fujitsu Siemens, Gateway etc.
and also external USB / FireWire versions. If you got an OEM, pls. contact
your dealer or manufacturer of pc package ( also USB / FireWire version)
for service and support.

The main NEC support page for your drive is http://www.de.nec.de/faq.php/id/1349/lang/ENG.

feival

I bought a bulk version from Savacentre and not Dell. The instructions are from the readme file for the 1.07 firmware update from the NEC.de website

Firmware

It isn't that I am desperate to update now but when I need to in the future I know I still won't understand those instructions. Also a friend is about to give me a load of blank DVDs and I think they are the ones made compatible by the firmware update!

Just checked the Dell website. Glad I didn't get it there. Their prices are absolutely horrific! Their cheapest one starts at £98 and it is inferior to this one which cost me £35!!

Chippy_Minton

Those instructions seem a little odd. I've never heard of having to connect the drive to a specific IDE channel or disconnect cables before upgrading (flashing) the firmware.

I would post a question on one of the DVD forums, telling them what hardware you have and the fact that the DVD drive is configured as Cable Select (CS), and asking whether those instructions are correct and necessary.

E.g. here's a thread on the NEC ND4550A about flashing --> http://club.cdfreaks.com/showthread.php?t=162447

and check out the FAQ's and 'How to flash' guide on http://liggydee.cdfreaks.com/page/4550/

Toxteth_OGrady

LG also now give the same advice for flashing. I suspect it's a bit of minimising all possible chances of getting a bad flash. Bit like flashing bios from a ram drive rather than a floppy.

:cool:

TOG