NationStates Jolt Archive

Kay, so here I am again asking for computer help.

This is an odd issue. I was having some sort of weird problem with everything running in fits and starts (audio files would skip, the mouse cursor would skip around, anything loaded would skip, ect) and so, thinking it might be a memory problem, I decided to run a boot-up memory test, only I'd forgotten which of my unmarked CDs the test was on.

So I popped one into my drive to check it, and--very oddly--nothing appeared in the file manager. The drive was still detected, but it wouldn't read anything. (No conflicts were shown in the device manager and according to the BIOS it was detected normally.)

I shut everything down and fiddled just a wee bit with the wires, thinking it was either a power issue or a slightly slipped connection(I had installed a new power supply a couple weeks ago, after all.) Shock and awe, when I booted the computer into BIOS once I did that, it had disappeared, and it's not detected by Windows either. (Though it IS getting power just fine--it opens up normally and everything.)

I obviously did something wrong. What should I do to fix this?

I obviously did something wrong. What should I do to fix this?

Buy a Mac.

Buy a Mac.

Yeah cause we all know MAC's dont use ram or DVD drives :rolleyes:

Yeah cause we all know MAC's dont use ram or DVD drives :rolleyes:

Sure they do. Ones that function with no hassle right from bootup.

Kay, so here I am again asking for computer help.

This is an odd issue. I was having some sort of weird problem with everything running in fits and starts (audio files would skip, the mouse cursor would skip around, anything loaded would skip, ect) and so, thinking it might be a memory problem, I decided to run a boot-up memory test, only I'd forgotten which of my unmarked CDs the test was on.

So I popped one into my drive to check it, and--very oddly--nothing appeared in the file manager. The drive was still detected, but it wouldn't read anything. (No conflicts were shown in the device manager and according to the BIOS it was detected normally.)

I shut everything down and fiddled just a wee bit with the wires, thinking it was either a power issue or a slightly slipped connection(I had installed a new power supply a couple weeks ago, after all.) Shock and awe, when I booted the computer into BIOS once I did that, it had disappeared, and it's not detected by Windows either. (Though it IS getting power just fine--it opens up normally and everything.)

I obviously did something wrong. What should I do to fix this?
Personally sounds like a bad drive or channel I would grab one from another computer and test both if I were to do it

Buy a Mac.

Sorry, it appears that the OP was looking for an operating system that actually INFORMED you of problems. When macs go bad, you don't get a screen full of console output, as in Linux, or even a BSOD. You get:
a) an unhelpful error message that says, essentially, "It's broke".
b) a low-level reboot with nothing at all in the "logs" (if you can find them).
c) "Oh, my god! Something's broken! Buy a new Mac!"

Personally sounds like a bad drive or channel I would grab one from another computer and test both if I were to do it

That might not be doable--I doubt my mom would much like me taking a drive out of one of the other computers--but I'll have to see in the morning on that one.

In the meantime, any other suggestions?

Nothing helpful. I'll contribute something silly and unhelpful later. *nod*

That might not be doable--I doubt my mom would much like me taking a drive out of one of the other computers--but I'll have to see in the morning on that one.

In the meantime, any other suggestions?

thats the best advice on how to isolate a problem. swap the dvd drives. and see what doesn't work where.

Sure they do. Ones that function with no hassle right from bootup.

Like the vast majority of PCs before the user starts tinkering with them?

Or are macs immune from the user trying to fix faults that develop themselves and ending up making the problem worse?

In my experience DVD RW drives don't actually last as long as CD drives used to. I am on my second in a couple of years.

thats the best advice on how to isolate a problem. swap the dvd drives. and see what doesn't work where.

Well, I coaxed my mom into letting me swap drives. Both drives were detected--and performed--flawlessly in both computers, and once put back my drive function properly again.

I dunno what was wrong. I must have knocked the wire just a hint loose when I installed the new PSU and then didn't reconnect it properly when I looked at it last night.

As for those suggesting Macs: I'd rather have my PC, thank you. I built my machine from the bottom up, parts wise, and I'm not about to give it up just because it had a hiccup or two.

Sure they do. Ones that function with no hassle right from bootup.

Oh, drives that never go bad...


Sorry - we have Macs here at the office for the people doing desktop publishing and video editing of tutorials - and they die all the time, just like PCs.

Or are macs immune from the user trying to fix faults that develop themselves and ending up making the problem worse?
They are immune because Apple doesn't want you changing hardware on the Mac.

Well, I coaxed my mom into letting me swap drives. Both drives were detected--and performed--flawlessly in both computers, and once put back my drive function properly again.
Yeah, you probably borked the connection between the motherboard and drive. Maybe not in secure enough.

You know, as I was opening this, I was wondering, I wonder if we'll get to the end of the first page before the Apple fanboys turn up with their ridiculous collective superiority complex. I should have known better than to doubt.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314060/EN-US/ ?

Sure they do. Ones that function with no hassle right from bootup.

Really? I have seen them fail from time to time as well

In my experience DVD RW drives don't actually last as long as CD drives used to. I am on my second in a couple of years.

Ehhh I have not really seen a difference either on the 10 or so drives I am running at home or the 500 mixed lot that we have in the data center here at work

They all seem to fail at some point ...

Well, I coaxed my mom into letting me swap drives. Both drives were detected--and performed--flawlessly in both computers, and once put back my drive function properly again.

I dunno what was wrong. I must have knocked the wire just a hint loose when I installed the new PSU and then didn't reconnect it properly when I looked at it last night.

As for those suggesting Macs: I'd rather have my PC, thank you. I built my machine from the bottom up, parts wise, and I'm not about to give it up just because it had a hiccup or two.
Glad to hear that this resolved it :) could be failing connecters on the ribbon (if IDE) probably would not hurt if you see this again to find an extra one they are pretty easy to come by (Hell pay for shipping i have like 5 you can have)

Oh, drives that never go bad...


Sorry - we have Macs here at the office for the people doing desktop publishing and video editing of tutorials - and they die all the time, just like PCs.

One would figure
Hell they use standard parts for the most part

If I remember right Liteon drives with Micron/Crucial ram ... I run both in at least one machine :) maybe they will last forever too

Ehhh I have not really seen a difference either on the 10 or so drives I am running at home or the 500 mixed lot that we have in the data center here at work

They all seem to fail at some point ...

I must just have been unlucky with dvd burners.