Sony DRU500A trouble with XP in dually - Please Help

[arklab]

I’m hoping someone here has an idea for a solution to my problem.
I tried TWO (different – so it’s not a bad drive) Sony DRU500A’s in a Chaintech 7KDD Dual CPU mobo with two 1200MP CPU’s.

When Windows Me is loaded, everything works fine (except the second CPU, of course).

With Windows XP Pro, however, windows freezes at the ‘Splash Screen”.
In “safe mode” the drive is detected normally.
This is with latest BIOS, both XP Pro (original), SP1 and all upgrades, NTFS or FAT32 filesystems, and repeated clean re-installs.
It makes no difference what jumper setting is used (master, slave [when appropriate], or cable select – on IDE 1 or IDE 2.

Example:
Have a CD-RW on IDE1 master, a DVD-ROM on IDE1 slave.
All OK
Shut down and Place the DRU500A on IDE1 master. The System freezes at Splash Screen.
Shut down, and replace the DRU500A with, say a CD-ROM with identical jumper, and all is normal again.

It’s got both me and Sony Tech support stumped.

Any ideas?

[sqlb]

Why don't you try setting the CD & DVD drives to use cable select insetad of master/slave. Both my MSI & Soyo motherbards will not boot if I designate any drive Master or Slave but works fine with when CS is used. Make sure your cable is CS capable.

[edthesped]

I don't know about your rig but mine is as follows,

A7M266-d (2) 1800+ mp's
(2) WD 120 GB HD's on primary (set by cable select) (thanks Dell)
(1) Lite-on 48X12X48 on secondary master (set by cable select)
(1) Sony DRU-500A on secondary slave (set by cable select) (thanks Dell)

WinXP professional SP1

I have burned about 7 disks without problems, knocking hard on my desk right now.

At least with the above information you can rule out a 760MPX compatability issue. Also as sqlb stated you should try to set up your drives using cable select as it can eliminate alot of grief. It took me two days to figure that one out with my old Epox board.

[arklab]

It makes no difference what jumper setting is used (master, slave [when appropriate], or cable select – on IDE 1 or IDE 2.

It dodn't help!

[edthesped]

arklab, one more thought. What IDE drivers are you using? I had some issues with the Microsoft IDE drivers and my WD drives dropping into PIO mode. I installed AMD's IDE driver and the problem went away.

[arklab]

To tell the truth, I didn't check!
I though I'd loaded the AMD's, but can't swear to it.

I'll check.

[bfleming]

Just a thought, I read in a few different places that the DRU500A isnt a happy drive set to anything but "MASTER".

Multiple forums of people saying that they had problems getting it to recognize the drive etc...Once they switched to "MASTER" it worked...

CS or jumper should not make a difference, but position on the IDE channel can...

Hope that helps...

[spoken]

sorry do dig up a year old post but...

As arklab had happen, my computer won't boot with my dru-500a. I have a sony dru-500a and a chaintech 7kdd motherboard with two 1600mp's running windows xp pro. Has anyone found a solution for this or is this drive just not compatable with this board?

Thanks for any help, I've been stumped for almost a year now on this one.

[spoken]

No one has any idea why this would be happening...?

[Gazza]

Does the drive support Cable Select at all ?
Also have you tried updating the bios on your mobo ?
Updated XP to SP1 ?

[arklab]

GOOD GREEF
Talk about ghosts of Christmas past!
I thought this was dead and moldering in the grave.
Well, heck ... since somebody was nice enough to enquire... or in the same jam ...

Nope all was tried, without suscess.

The solution?

Simple - I got a VERY nice external enclousure and mounted the somewhat newer Sony DRU 510A in it.
It is of sturdy aluminium with an internal 50W powersupply and cooling fan.
It also has both USB 2.0 and Firewire conections, and came with both cables.

I've never looked back and never been sorry, although it cost about $110 more.
It's VERY portable and easy to use on all three of my PC's, even the Mac at school where my wife teaches!
And when the new 16X DVDs arive next year, I'll just pop it into the case and I'll be set again.

If you want to check it out, look here:
http://www.bestsonic.com/5usb20andfio.html

Dang! I just checked the link to make sure it still worked, and the price is down to $89!

Well, Good Luck