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CDRW directory problems

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by mike.wagoner

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I'm running a Pentium II - 400 w/64 megs of RAM, windows 98SE, on a network. I recently installed a Sony 8/4/32 CDRW in the machine, it already had a 52x CD ROM in it. I configured it correctly as the slave with the CD ROM as the master, everything works fine - EXCEPT -

When I put a CD (one with something already written on it) in the CDRW, it reads the CD disk just fine. If I take that CD out and put another CD in (blank or with something written on it), the CDRW continues to show the contents of the first CD. I can double click on the drive, no difference, it still shows the contents of that first CD. The only way to get around it is to reboot the machine. What is going on? How do I fix it?

10 replies

by pschuvie

This is a Windows things that can drive you batty trying to find where the fault is.

There is a setting for the CDRW device, Auto Insert notification that tends to monitor the door or insert point of the drive and when it has been opened/ejected creates signal of "change" read new and the contents are then "normally" refreshed. Also, most CDRW's have a light flashing showing that it is monitoring the change of disks.

Well many people don't think this is good, and want to turn the light off, thus disable the auto insert.

Also there are all those CDs that startup install programs upon insertion, again disable auto insert eliminates that hassle.

Two final elements. On some CDs no auto insert file is added, mostly homemade ones, without a specific setting on the burning program.

And the last crazy thing is that some CD makers actually Tell you to turn this off as part of the installation process. TEAC is one. Now I suppose maybe they figure there is something in the atapiide interface that is supposed to be connected to the door but I have tested it and just like yours it does not work.

by pschuvie

concluding - and the FIX

So how do you "fix" this situation.
1. if you don't mind the blinking light, and control auto installs then go to start>settings> control panel>system>device manager> CD>specific drive>properties and reset the auto insert to be checked. Fully reboot the system for it to set in place. Note -you might have to redo it as I have seen it not "take" the first time.

2. Or you can "refresh" your view either by highlight the drive and right click and select refresh or by going to View at top and select refresh. I know annoyance but it works. Double click fails since there is no action that says anything changed.

If none of these work then you may have to look at opening the box and checking for firm ideconnection or replacing the cable with a known good one. The cable can be at fault especially if it shows a wear or really deep crease. Not often but it does happen.

Hope this has been of help.

by mike.wagoner

Yup, this was the solution. I hated it, I hate auto-notification - I'd rather do it on my own, thanks anyway Bill. However this did take care of the problem. thanks

by msillers

I've heard of problems having multiple CD Rom drives on the same IDE bus. I suggest splitting the drives up and making one a slave to the hard drive on the first bus. If you have a second hard drive, make that a master on the second bus so you can slave the second CD drive on that bus. This will preserve your drive letters and should fix the directory problem you're having.

by proactivemale

I had the same thing happen with an floppy drive. All I did was replace the drive and everthing worked fine. This is probably not your case but it worked for me. Did you try swapping the CD-ROMS? See if the same thing happens with this setup.

by grujic

Just a little appendage

...I've heard of problems having multiple CD Rom drives on the same IDE bus. I suggest splitting the drives up and making one a slave to the hard drive on the first bus. If you have a second hard drive, make that a masteron the second bus so you can slave the second CD drive on that bus. This will preserve your drive letters and should fix the directory problem you're having...

Make CDRW as a Master on secondary bus!!!

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