CD/DVD can´t read media if not inserted before boot

  • Thread starter Thread starter Zapp
  • Start date Start date
Z

Zapp

Hi
I have spent lot of time trying to solv this issue. The machine has XP SP2
and all avaible updates from MS Update, including hardware.
I have tried different DVD/CD units. Same problem.
I have upgraded to latest firmware. Same problem.
I have uninstalled IDE-channels and let xp reinstall with P&P. Same problem.

Many times I thought I fixed it before I realize.. It works if I boot
computer with media incerted in DVD-unit. Then I can change media to
whatever. Works just fine.
The problem is when unit is empty at boot. Then it cant read any discs what
ever type of media is incerted (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD etc...)
The Icon for the unit is there but when you open it it shows no file. It
looks like when you open an empty disc, ready for burning, whatever the disc
contains.

Please help me with this.
 
did you try to use some restore point ?
take care of the date of the restore point you choose

hope this helps, Carlos.
 
Zapp said:
Hi
I have spent lot of time trying to solv this issue. The machine has XP SP2
and all avaible updates from MS Update, including hardware.
I have tried different DVD/CD units. Same problem.
I have upgraded to latest firmware. Same problem.
I have uninstalled IDE-channels and let xp reinstall with P&P. Same
problem.

Many times I thought I fixed it before I realize.. It works if I boot
computer with media incerted in DVD-unit. Then I can change media to
whatever. Works just fine.
The problem is when unit is empty at boot. Then it cant read any discs
what
ever type of media is incerted (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD etc...)
The Icon for the unit is there but when you open it it shows no file. It
looks like when you open an empty disc, ready for burning, whatever the
disc contains.

Please help me with this.
Click to expand...

I had a client with a machine like this. It had a bad motherboard. He
basically lived with the issue until he could replace the computer.

Malke
 
Zapp said:
Hi
I have spent lot of time trying to solv this issue. The machine has XP SP2
and all avaible updates from MS Update, including hardware.
I have tried different DVD/CD units. Same problem.
I have upgraded to latest firmware. Same problem.
I have uninstalled IDE-channels and let xp reinstall with P&P. Same problem.

Many times I thought I fixed it before I realize.. It works if I boot
computer with media incerted in DVD-unit. Then I can change media to
whatever. Works just fine.
The problem is when unit is empty at boot. Then it cant read any discs what
ever type of media is incerted (CD, CD-R, CD-RW, DVD etc...)
The Icon for the unit is there but when you open it it shows no file. It
looks like when you open an empty disc, ready for burning, whatever the disc
contains.

Please help me with this.
Click to expand...

Same happen when you boot into Windows' safe mode?
 
"> I had a client with a machine like this. It had a bad motherboard. He
basically lived with the issue until he could replace the computer."

but for cases like this, you must contact the mob manufacturer,
or see if they released a newest bios version,
but, this is on the case that the mob really has problems,
there are several tests to do before, like for example
to try to reinstall OS from zero.

Carlos.
 
The Mobo is changed early this summer. Its possible the problem started then.
I will dug into that. Is that a common issue on Mobos? That it works if
booted with CD otherwise not?
I never heard of anyone with this problem before, but it feels like a good
advise : )
I have no other clues.

The Mobo is: ASUS P5B-MX

Its not my computer but Im gonna check BIOS version, as soon as I get my
hands on it again.
 
No. But its never a problem reading a disc after another. There is no problem
with the autostart function either ...as long as I have booted the computer
with a disc in the DVD-unit.
If I dont have a disc in the player at boot, I cant access any type of disc.
Wether I try the autostart function or right-click for other start options.
It just shows me a blank map like its an empty CD-R. In properties the
filesystem says: RAW Guess its just means XP dont have a clue..
 
it happens that the cd unit is old and the mob is new, or mob new, cd old.
It is important for u to contact mobs manufacturers, meinly if both, cd and
mob
are "new".

Carlos
 
Another possibility is that some CD/DVD burning software or Virtual CD
software causes an interference. Blindwrite or such. Anything like that
installed?
 
xcal said:
"> I had a client with a machine like this. It had a bad motherboard. He
basically lived with the issue until he could replace the computer."

but for cases like this, you must contact the mob manufacturer,
or see if they released a newest bios version,
but, this is on the case that the mob really has problems,
there are several tests to do before, like for example
to try to reinstall OS from zero.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily.

Malke
 
No, I had same thought before.
I checked computer. No burning software. I also scanned for upper or lower
filters, if some old installation of burning software had left some. But
filter scanner didn´t find any.

I have checked at Asus for BIOS updates but nothing in BIOS update history
says anything about CD/DVD problems...

When I get my hands on that computer again Im gonna flash it anyway.
Im out of other clues.

How does XP initialize the unit? Can it be XP, that react different if Media
is incerted?
 
Zapp said:
yes
Click to expand...

Insert a bootable CD and reboot. Does the host let you boot from the
CD (with it already in the inserted tray when it gets done with the
POST)? You may have to kit a key at a prompt and the BIOS must be
configured to use the CD before the hard disk.
 
Ok, Im gonna look into it first thing tomorrow, morning (Sweden), Bob. Im
exausted now. (14 hour work 15 minute total break.. I have started doing
stupid things ; )

Thx for ur suggestion i hope that can be It. : )
 
Yes, I tried that before no problem boot CD. I also repaired XP installation
with XP CD booting from player.
But the problem is still there. No matter what DVD/CD player I have tried.
Have tried 3 different, thats work in other machines. Same issue.

As I said before: If I leave an disc in player at boot, I have no problem
reading discs after. But if I boot with empty player, it cant read anything.

For me it seems the question is: What during bootprocess react different if
disc is incerted when initializing player. Is it XP or Mob?
 
It seems that you have some related corrupted file
or registry entry that usual uninstalling reinstalling procedures
cant fix.

As it is an interesting problem, first I would report it to
Microsoft, I believe they shall be very interested
to help you, I believe this is a secure option.

Second, I saw posts that claim that its possible to reinstall
the CD/DVD unit first by removing registry entries,
and then going to the device manager,
deleting the devices and pressing
the button "Scan for Hardware Changes"

http://www.softwaretipsandtricks.com/forum/148309-post31.html

but look, its your option to follow this article, so please
dont blame me. Read carefully if it could help you.
I wonder the explanation of this method.

hope this helps, Carlos.
 
Zapp said:
Yes, I tried that before no problem boot CD. I also repaired XP
installation
with XP CD booting from player.
But the problem is still there. No matter what DVD/CD player I have tried.
Have tried 3 different, thats work in other machines. Same issue.

As I said before: If I leave an disc in player at boot, I have no problem
reading discs after. But if I boot with empty player, it cant read
anything.

For me it seems the question is: What during bootprocess react different
if
disc is incerted when initializing player. Is it XP or Mob?
Click to expand...

Here's a test to eliminate XP as a possibility. If you can get a Win98
boot floppy, boot with that, and from the menu select CD support.
As DOS is loading, note the letter assigned to the DVD drive.
Then, after DOS finishes loading, put in a CD and see if you can
read it. If you can't, it's definitely a hardware problem. If you can
read the disk, XP is somehow involved.
 
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