Hardware

Ask something
Discussion Locked

No CD's Drives in My Computer

0 helpful
31 replies

by alquinones 1 view

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
In Win2k SP3 "MyComputer" no CDROM are showing. I can boot from any of the two CDROM on the PC, I can see them on the BIOS page but Win2k will not. Reloading is not an option. In Device Manager the two CDROM are showing error code 19. I've testedthe CDROMs on a different machine and they work fine. What am I to do?

31 replies

by alquinones

I've tried uninstalling, rebooting and Win2k (attempt) to install the CDROM and reboot. However when the reboot is done, no CDROM in My Computer.

by dmiles

Go to the Microsoft web site and try to download the latest ATAPI file for W2K,this may help

Also check the controllers and see if you have any conflicts

by alquinones

The service packs are the only only download are I've tried reinstalling sp3. Problem still there.

by thechas

1. From device manager, remove all 3 IDE controllers. Primary, secondary and master.
Re-boot, Windows should find the new hardware and install the correct drivers.

2. Download and install the IDE buss-master drivers for the chipset on your motherboard.
Make sure that you get the W2K file.

Chas

by alquinones

Removed both IDE channels. Win2k redetected both channels, rebooted various times. Installed Intels IDE Accel drivers, rebooted, no CDROMS in MY Computer.

by csmith

The only fix to this problem, I have found, is to put both CDROMs on the secondary controller.
I don't know what the bug is, but I have seen it.
The way you configure the CDROMs on the secondary IDE is also important, depending on if you are usinga regular IDE cable or an Enhanced IDE cable. (The Master,Slave, Cable Select problem.)
Regards, Chris

by csmith

I assume from your comment (in the singular) that you tried to install only one CDROM at a time.
Was the other PC Win2K or Win98SE? Same MB?
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

On the same PC using only the HD, both IDE channel work fine. The CDROM on another PC using Win98 work fine. Code 19 error references the registry as something that cannot be read.

by csmith

From what I understand.
The CDROMS are on the secondary channel.
They will boot the PC.
Putting the HD on the secondary IDE will boot the PC.
Therefore the secondary IDE channel is definitely working.
The secondary cable is good.
The CDROMS work in a Win98 PC.
The CDROMs are good.
Therefore it is a Win2K problem.
After you have removed them from Device Manager, shut down,
and disconnected the CDROMS
booted on the HD, shut down,
install one CDROM on the secondary channel,
can Win2K recognize one CDROM on the following boot up?
If it can not, the problem has to be in the CDROM driver.
(This assumes that both CDROMs are from the same manufacturer.)
This problem is much more common with CDR installations under Win2K.
A CDROMdriver problem that prevents Win2K from reading a CDROM is not common,
but it seems like it is time to check the CDROM manufacturers' website.
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

Win2k will recognize the CDROM(s) and install them and reboot.
On both IDE channels. However nothing shows in My Computer and Device Manager shows a "!" next to both CDROM (Sony CDRW and a Toshiba DVD) with a msg "Error Code 19" Cannot read the registry infomation for this device.

by csmith

You have a SONY CDRW and a Toshiba DVD installed
CDR problems and DVD problems are very different from CDROM problems.
These are not CDROMS for troubleshooting purposes.
Where are the CDROMs in this system?
But now, the explanation.
That Win2K will boot and install on the CDRW and not recognize the CDRW later, is a common device driver problem.
Win98 is much more compatable with most device drivers.
That's why the CDR works with Win98.
The solution is to find an updated driver that works with Win2K.
Although this is actually a Microsoft problem, you have to use the CDR & DVD manufacturer updates to work around it.
We have had to put the CDRs in Win98 clients for many customers, and transfer the information over the LAN, because we could not find a reliable driver for Win2K.
This problem is not just with SONY.
IF you can not find an updated driver for your model of SONY CDRW, I would suggest the same solution.
I am assuming the Win2K PC is a server.
I would install a CDROM in the Win2K PC, to reload from the backups.
You should be able to get the Toshiba DVD to install, if it is on the secondary channel by itself. (Hard Drive installed on the first IDE Channel.)
By the way, I know you are getting the Code19 error.Once that is corrected, (By manually editing the registry.) you will usually get more, and different, error messages when the driver does not work.
Code 19 is only a symptom, it is not the problem.
The problem is in the device driver, not in the registry entry. The error message is misleading, and a lie by omission, but technically correct.
Have you checked the SONY and Toshiba websites for updates to the device drivers for your models?
This problem is common enough that it should also be under the FAQ section on both websites, and, by now, there should also be "work arounds" given for this problem in Win2K.
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

I agree a CDRW and CDROM are in fact two different types of devices however you failed to see that both devices uses the very same type of bus/channel, ATAPI. By the way I also agree that this is a device problem because I have see this type of behavior in printers. They will work OK for a year or so and then BINGO the user installs a new version of his favorite program and then his printer is gone. Reinstall the latest drivers and all wells. It looks like I may have to reload the system due to the latest drivers are not working and the registry is corrupted. You mentioned editing the registry but failed to mention where. I cannot corrected the error from coming up unless I know where to edit the registry or what to change in it. IfI knew where I might be able to repair the corruption and thereby the problem. Oh, this is not a server.
Thanks for your help

by csmith

You did not understand the answer.
The fact that these devices are IDE has nothing to do with the Device Driver problem. The IDE section is working fine.
This is not a hardware or IDE software problem.
The problem is in the other parts of the device driver.
Disassemble the device driver, and look at its components. (Components used to be called subroutines now, called functions.)
Regards, Chris

by csmith

You also did not understand my statement about the registry.
If you edit the registry until all of the error messages are eliminated, then the CDR still does not work. Been there done that!
This is not a registry problem.
The registry errors are only a symptom.
Do you know what the difference is between a symptom and a problem?
The problem is the device driver, not the registry. Do not edit the registry. That is a waste of time.
Do you know what a lie by omission is?
That is the problem with the code 19 error message.
Are you so new to PCs, that you have not learned how misleading many of the error messages from Microsoft products are?
I don't think so.
Chris

by alquinones

Very good. Now I understand. Driver not registry. Symptoms, not problems. When you go to a doctor, what is the first thing he ask? What is your problem? Then you explain the symptons. Then he tells you what's wrong. The system is telling us what wrong, a corrupted registry. This maybe incorrect but it is the only other thing left. I tried updated drivers and that didn't help. By the way I forgot to mention that this very same machine was running and doing fine unitl the customer failed to wait for the CD that he was burning to eject. And I do agree that error msgs can be misleading at times.
Have a great winter.

by csmith

The information that the devices were working in the past, would have saved a lot of time.
I assumed this was a new install, because most of the time, that's when this problem shows up.
In this case the device drivers are OK because they worked inthe past, and you have reloaded them.

When the problem is caused by a early eject, usually, the buffer (or buffer control) in the CDR writing program has become corrupt. (The buffer in this case is sort of like the spool in a print progam, only it is there to prevent data under runs.)
If it is not the buffer, then next the sequence control is corrupt. (Can be either the main routine, or the log.)
Is the client using Roxio, Nero Burning, other?
The problem here is, that I have not disassembled all of these programs to see how they work.
You are going to have to find out which CD Burning software is being used, and check the website.
It may be faster to reload the burning software, and hope that fixes the corruption.
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

This was/is a new install and like I said everything was perfect and with Roxio 5.3 installed the burner was working great. I uninstalled/reinstalled with no luck. A friend mention that the system may have a virus which is causing the drivers not to load. I wonder... The client has McAfee but I may need a removal tool just for this very special virus. All I need to do now is find out what virus, if any, and load the tool.

by csmith

If this is a new, not yet known, virus, then no removal tool will work.
In this situation, (Which I have been in.) I ended up replacing the hard drive and reloading.
I set the infected drive aside, and was able to clean it, 3 months later.
Unfortunatly, the virus writers are one step ahead of the Antivirus software, so this is a legitemate possibility. I agree , it's worth a try.
Was this a Music CD that was being burned?
The record companies are uploading some really nasty viruses into the free music sites.
Have had several instances of this in PCs of customers.
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

The CD that was being burn contain no music just JPEG's.
I won't know until I find out more about what type of virus, etc.

Thanks Again, you've been keeping me on my toes.

by csmith

Can you scan the jpegs using a clean PC and several Antivirus programs.
Sometime we run Norton, McAfee, and Trend to look for Viruses. A single program is not 100% sure.
Regards, Chris

by alquinones

This was one of the first things we tried, that is to see if we can even read the CD. The client has 12 hours of work on this CD and guess what, the CD is not readable. I told him to hold on to the CD. We may be able to repair with Roxio repair util. And you are 100% correct about the virus software, we have Norton and Mcafee in our office.

by csmith

On viruses:
We just got a PC in that terminates all of the running applications every hour on the hour.
(When the time is xx:00:00 all applications vanish, and the Windows desktop appears.)
Of course it checks clean on the Antivirus scans, but itshould not be too hard to find, because it has to have a hook in the time routine.

On the problem you are facing:
This is probably time to sell the client on a tape backup, or other backup hardware.
Restore from tape is a wonderful thing in a situation like this.
Did you try the new hard drive method.
By the way, this problem is not a new install problem.
Once you got the PC up and running, the new install is over.
That the client caused the problem later (Although pretty quickly.) makes the problem, a problem occurring in an installed computer.

That this occurred in a PC not used for pirating, surprises me.
This makes me think, that if you do not find a virus, check again for a weird software/hardware conflict.
When I say weird , I mean, even check, the mode of the parallel port. (Disable ECP for example.)
That is , in other words, Check Everything Very Carefully.
I am very interested in how this turns out.

Regards, Chris

by alquinones

This has been NOTHING BUT A WAR but I felt that I should let those out there who helped to know that I have solved my problem. For those who are interested in the answer go to MS Knowledge Base Article # 270008

Thanks to everyone.

by csmith

Thanks for the info.
Glad to hear you got it fixed.
I knew about the MediaPlayer - Roxio conflict, but I did not know about the solution of removing the filters by editing the registry.
Nice knowledge to have.
Will make it easier, next time I see this problem.
Glad to hear it was not a Virus.
Again, thanks.
Regards, Chris

by csmith

You forgot to close this question.

Last comments:
Please put more background information in the next question. (It leads to more intelligent answers, with fewer assumptions.)
The less information, the harder it is to troubleshoot.

The last time I saw this problem was in March 2002
It was a device driver problem preventing an initial install on a new custom built PC. Customer never saw the problem.
So, if you see this problem during a build, it may not be the filters.
I am surprised at the Dec 2002 update in the KB.

The filters are buffers.
Do not disable the buffers on a PC that is slower than 500MHz, use Win98SE instead of Win2K or WinXP.
When we wrote CDs with a 486, 2Meg of buffer was necessary to prevent underruns. An underrun produces a defective CD.

I am still confused as to how this problem happened.
This particular problem, with the filters, only occurs after Roxio is uninstalled. (According to Microsoft.)
Did the client try to uninstall Roxio and not tell you? Is Microsoft wrong about this?

Best of luck on recovering the data on the CD.

Regards, Chris

This discussion is closed to new replies.