Computer, Hardware, or, Software?

[agent222]

I just installed a LiteOn SOHC-5236 DVD-ROM/CD-RW Combo drive on my computer as a companion to the Memorex Dual x-1, 4x DVDR/RW +/- burner I already have. After it was installed, I tried first playing a moview through it. On the third try the "region configuration" came up, so I could finally get a DVD to play, which it did slugglishly, stopping, and, starting. I then tried to copy a DVD, using Nero Ultra 6 Recode,as updated,(with AnyDVD,) I tried the "burn at once" option which would not work. I then tried to make a copy using CloneDVD2,but for a less than two hour movie, it wanted to take 6 hours, to just read the DVD, and, create the files for copying. I then went back to Nero Recode, it took 3-4 hours for the entire process, but failed to copy the DVD.
I've noticed that my computer is runing slugglishly of late, just done a repair of XP Home, done a defrag, and, scan disc. Can anyone suggest where the problem is, and, what can be done to solve the problems?

[SLK001]

Since you've asked the question about your hardware, why don't you take the time to fill out your computer details so we can take a look?

[kurtisdraven]

Try rebooting the PC, often starting with a clean slate can be the best solution, as a slow PC can have 1001 causes. If your PC could handle burning before and can't now, a reboot should sort it. If one drive can burn and the other can't, then perhaps the drive is faulty, or is set to slave? Having 2 CD/DVD drives on the same IDE isn't bad, provided you only use one drive at any one time, but never connect the burner to the same IDE as your HDD.

[agent222]

Kurtisdraven:

What I have is one DVD Burner, which I think is set as master, and, one DVD-ROM CDRW Combo drive, which I believe is set as slave, (1 DVD writer, 1 combo DVD player-CD writer.) I will have to have it checked to see if either, or, both devices are connected to the same IDE as the Hard Drive. A reboot might help as well, as you suggest.

[redwudz]

The first thing I would check is what mode the drives are in. With all that problem reading discs, the OS may have reset them to PIO mode instead of DMA. That will cause a major slowdown.

[agent222]

How would I check that, and, if this has happened how would I reset them to DMA?

[redwudz]

To check DMA/PIO mode within Windows:

Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.

From there, right click on one of the channels and choose 'Properties>Advanced Settings'. All drives should be DMA mode. The 'Current Transfer Mode' for Hard drives is usually DMA 4-6 and DVD burners DMA 2-4, DVD ROMs usually DMA 2. If you see any in PIO mode, that can slow things down.

Changing them back may be easy or complicated. First see if you can change them in that window. If not, I usually uninstall the channel and let the OS reinstall it. This will usually take a reboot.

From there, if no luck, get back to us.

[jimmalenko]

Right-click on my computer (either on your desktop or in the Start Menu).

Go to hardware tab > Device Manager.

Expand IDE ATA / ATAPI controllers, and you should have a Primary IDE Controller and a Secondary IDE Controller.

Select one, right click on it and go to properties. Then go to Advanced Settings tab and this will tell you what mode your devices are in.


To reset them, go back to where it lists both your Primary and Secondary, right click on one and go to uninstall. Repeat for the 2nd one. Reboot your PC, and it will autodetect everything again. You'll probably get asked to reboot again after this.

[agent222]

Jimmalenko-
to go along with the sterotype-g'day, mate.
This morning followed your last suggestion on the secondary-DVD/CD-combo drive.
It seemed to help. Tried afterwards to make a "back up" of a 90 min. DVD. Nero ReCode took about 45 min, to "read" then "copy" the files from the disc. Last time I tried to do something like this, the reading, and, copying files part of the process wanted to take hours. I haven't tried the "disc at once" option since my first try with the added secondary drive, hopefully with the method set to DMA it will work now. But with a 16x read only drive, should Nero take as long as it did to "read," and, "copy" a disc's files?