DVD Burner plays only in Pio Mode. What's wrong?

[WishMaker]

My computer details are current. Trying to setup a new system and newbie at that too.

For some reason the Burner is recognized correctly in the Device Manager as Pioneer DVD-RW Dvr-104, but it will not play any cd or dvd in ultra dma mode.

It WILL play in Pio mode ONLY. WinXp automatically puts it in Ultra DMA mode 2, but it won't play anything in that mode. You have to put it in PIO mode for anything to play.

HD is primary master
DVD-r is Secondary master (took the cd-rw off for the moment)
(Raid Controller on Motherboard is currently turned off)

Suggestions? Cables? Jumper's Motherboard, Settings. I could go on, but I'm sure I've already pushed you past your limit.

PS I'm just relaying. My roomate is trying to put this system together and is looking for any suggestions.

[D_Knife]

Whoops sorry wrong question asked there.
I had asked if you installed the latest Intel drivers - but that board looks like it uses SIS drivers

ok - have you installed the latest SIS IDE drivers????

[WishMaker]

Quite alright. Had to go look up the chipset. Updated that in my computer details.

Looking for latest SiS Driver's now.

Really appreciate the questions. Helps to know more about what I have. OR don't have

[D_Knife]

Cool stuff - let us know if it makes any difference

[FOO]

The A03 for sure and probably the A04
has a bug. Will not work in DMA mode.
I got this direct from Pioneer.

[WishMaker]

K_Knive,

I did find a SiS update, but the details were so skimpy I want to check it out further before I flash (correct usage?). I'm really paranoid, as I've heard some horror stories about flashing and not being able to undo the damage later.

Foo,

I just read on the Pioneer site that the 104 should use the PIO mode if the DMA mode won't work. Well, it seems this may be the case, though I'm not done researching yet.

I got this CenDyne (repackaged Pioneer) quite awhile back and never got around to updating the firmware. I downloaded the utility at Pioneer, which lets you see what firmware is currently on there (and other info) and the current firmware is version 1.20. I guess I'm lucky I haven't burned anything in it yet. I know there is no over heating issue if you use the 2x media, but I'm one for bargains. I buy alot of unbranded "who-knows-what-speed" cdr's in my CD burner on the computer I'm on right now. (no coaster's after 100's of music cd's)

Oh! One more question... (and you thought this was going to be a novellete?)

If I am stuck using PIO mode, what exactly does this mean? I don't mind if I have to burn at slow speeds, but I don't know about ripping or anything for that matter. Will I still be able to?

If you look up at my computer specs, do you think my machine can compensate? I'm already compromised, as the Asus model Motherboard i have turns out to be somewhat of a dud. The motherboard bios was flashed with a 1004 version, which I understand makes it more stable, but slows down the speed. I could have saved some money and bought 2100 ram, because I can't use the motherboards full potential.

This was a barebones purchase, but I ordered it with processor, ram, graphics card, case, fans, WinXp, which I am having difficulty getting used to, and was put together at the online computer place to the tune of $833.00. I don't even have a capture card. The old one I was going to use to experiment with won't work with Win2000 or X). I was going to go straight out and purchase a Canopus 100, but will have to buy an inexpensive capture card until I can build up my gold pieces again.

Okay, I'm done. I guess I'm just venting at being unable to get this thing up and running. (I'm on my other machine w/the ever reliable win98se)

[thayne]

You dont need to flash your bios, just update the drivers, specificly the IDE drivers, but they should all be in one package

[D_Knife]

DMA is Direct Memory Access
basically the device manages it's own data to and from RAM
this free's your CPU up from having to manage this "manually"
PIO - Programmed I/O is CPU managed as I mentioned above.

DMA is usually considered better because your not "wasting" CPU cycles on hand-holding a data transfer however not sure what you can do if Pioneer is limited in this manner as mentioned by FOO

And as thayne mentioned - it's just updating drivers - create an XP rollback point before you update them that's all (rollback under the driver details look around for it - deep in the driver tab)

[FOO]

Pio mode will not bother you at all
The drive will not read or write fast enough
to make DMA an advantage.
You should have a cheap DVD rom for ripping anyway

[WishMaker]

Thanks, Knife, Foo, and Thayne

I guess I won't worry about the PIO mode.

I will take the suggestion and buy an inexpensive DVD-Rom, though.

I have alot to go look up and explore (rollback etc) Most of this stuff is too new for me to grasp at once. I got nearly phobic about computer's since my first 486 and that was because I'd have to call the computer tech to my home everytime I tried experimenting, somtimes ending in disasterous crashes. I still whisper bios and don't even think registry.

I'm just going to have to get more adventureous and risk crashes if I'm going to do video editing, I guess.

Now, I have to find out why I hear a "tick" "tick" sound when I play music. I just started hearing it after disabling the onboard sound and installing SB Live! I don't know if it was always there and now the SB Live! made hearing it possible.