Problem with my hp dvd-writer

[ghozt]

Hello

I got a Hp dvd-writer 300c and it worked perfectly until I canceled an erase of a cd-rw. I restarted the computer becouse I couldn't get the disc out of the writer. After that I couldn't write cd just dvd's. I have tried to reinstall the writer and update its firmware but I still couldn't write any cd's just dvd's.
Is there a way to fix this?

Thanks in Advance!

[redwudz]

If you would fill out your computer profile, we would know what OS and what hardware you have.

But, assuming XP, go to Device Manager and delete the channel your burner is on. XP will reinstall the channel and that usually fixes the problem.

[ghozt]

Mayby this question is a kind of stupid but how do I delete a channel and where in the device manager are the right channel i shall delete?
Thanks for the awser!

By the way: Now I have filled out my computer profile.

[koinhelgo]

Search the forums for these kind of questions.
The following link explains in detail how to enable DMA mode in XP, but tells you where to go for the IDE Channels etc.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=7625
this link further down tells you how to uninstall IDE channel.
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6645
Regards

[redwudz]

Thanks for filling out your computer details. It helps. This is the method I use:

Control Panel > System > Hardware >Device Manager >IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers, then delete (Uninstall) the channel your DVD burner is on. Restart XP and it will reinstall the channel. You can also click the 'Scan for hardware changes', but I like the reboot.

This will let XP recognize the drive again and hopefully reset it so it works properly. DMA in 'Advanced' should be Ultra DMA mode 2 or better. Not PIO.

koinhelgo's urls are also good to give you a little more background and instructions.

If this fails to correct the problem, you could try updating the firmware on the drive, but that is a little more complex, depending on the drive.

[ghozt]

But how do i know my dvd writer is on that ide channel?? I don't want to uninstall my harddrive or something...

[redwudz]

Try Nero info tool. It will tell you what position your drives are and other useful information. http://www.afterdawn.com/software/cdr_software/cdr_tools/nero_info_tool.cfm

[koinhelgo]

Or try the BIOS
press DELETE key repeatedly on startup (or F2 key)
then go to STANDARD CMOS FEATURES, probably the first one.
Navigate using the arrow keys and select by pressing ENTER.
The Primary and Secondary channels will be listed there along with what is on them.

[ghozt]

So the onlything I (probably) need to to is delete (uninstall) the secondary ide channel and then restart windows??

[koinhelgo]

Hopefully that's all you will have to do. It won't do any harm in removing/deleting the secondary (as long as that is what your optical drives is on). So give it a go and see if it helps.