NEC 1300A and MSI Mega PC Help

[Craig1965]

Just purchased a MSI Mega PC I completed the bare bones system with a Maxtor 120gig HDD, 512 MD DDR Ram, P4 2.66GHz. NEC ND1300A DVDR. Win XP Pro and ensured machine was up to date with drivers etc. Purchased from CCL computers UK, Everything seemed to be running very smooth. Until I tried to copy a cd.

I'm having trouble with the NEC DVDRW drive and how it mounts / operates in the MSI Mega PC box. The eject button on the MSI Mega controls the DVDR hardware.

Using Nero to copy any cd (anything at all CD, DVD, not copy protected)

1. Nero copies the source disk to HDD no problem and the disk ejects
2. A message appears asking for blank media to be inserted (i've tried 3 different types of media)
3. I insert a blank disk and press the eject key (on the Mega PC case) to close the drive
4. The drive closes and the message just stays there on the screen, then the whole system crashes. Can't even end the Nero application or process with Task manager. XP will not shutdown.

5. Thinking the drive was to blame I removed it from the case but kept it attached to the system. I went through the copy process again. To my surprise the drive work perfectly.

6. I put the DVDRW back in the MSI case and the same problem 'crash' happened again.

7. I took the DVD writer (NEC ND1100A) from my other system and tried again putting it first inside the Mega PC and then with it outside. I got the same results.

Having tested this I can only assume something is wrong with the MSI Mega PC and how it operates the DVDR drive.

or is it the NEC machine design.

anyone else with the same issue ?

[Craig1965]

please help

[Dubber]

Sounds as you've assembled the PC yourself, did you ever do that sort of work B4?

Does the NEC read CDs and DVDs properly?

I'd start with jumpers and cables first, then check if the driver is installed ( if I'n not mistaken there is a driver for XP systems with the NEC 1300).

Take notes on what software you installed that would affect DVD reading or writing capabilities too.


Oh, I re-read your post as the sympthoms didn't make much sence and I think that the NEC's loading tray is getting somehow jammed or you used too long of the screws mounting the drive inside the PC or something like that.

[Craig1965]

Thanks for the suggestions. I forgot to mention in my 1st post that the NEC drive does work if I record to it directly from the hard disk. It's only when i copy a cd or dvd didk to disk that the machine crashes with nero sitting on the 'please insert blank media' screen.

I have built many systems in the past - but never one of these small bare bones ones. NEC is on Secondary Master, i have tried cable select no diference, and also tried turning the dma off as suggested on other support area's. driver is deffinately installed. All i have on the system is XP Pro, Nero and Office.

[Dubber]

Hmm, can be just a software glitch. Did you update Nero? They have free updates for most versions on website.

[Craig1965]

I thought the same. I was running nero 5 updated to 5.5. After reading the help on the NEC site I uninstalled nero totally and downloaded the new demo 6 version as the NEC site suggested - no Joy same problem.

I'm suspecting over heating but not sure. Thinking maybe after reading the disk the drive gets very hot and then can't register the blank disk I've inserted. Why XP can't end the program or processes is beyond me.

[gmatov]

Craig,

It sounds more like a grounding ( earthing ) problem. In the case, it doesn't work. Hung outside the case, still connected, it works.

Whether it grounds ( earths ) thru the screws that hold it in the bay, or not, I think you should take it back to the vendor.

And, re-reading, that the other device does the same, mayhap you should take either the board or the box back, instead.

[Craig1965]

Thanks gmatov, But the drive does function in the case, it's the problem after nero asks for the blank media. Do you think that is an earth problem ?

[simonko]

Try a differnt buring app. like RecordNow Max 4.5 or Alcohol 120%.

If this problem still happens with both of those mentioned, then Its time to do a complete full reinstall of XP, update the whole shabam! Then reinstall the lastest to date burning software. And try again.

I personally think its Nero.... Everyone hates being a beta tester with all of Nero's updates ugh....

[khaymen]

Sounds like I am having a similar if not the exact same one as you are.

If you put a cdr or a dvd in your drive, will windows explorer see either one?

On my machine, I can detect a DVD, but when I put a CDR in, it wont see a disk in there at all.

It started when I tried to backup an audio cd and failed in Nero6.
Since, I have updated my firmware to the latest on NEC's site, and it still wont work.

Let me know if you figure anything out. I'll do the same.

[Craig1965]

I've sent the entire system back to CCL as they have to test it. As the NEC works perfectly outside of the MSI Mega PC or indeed in any other standard tower case, I can only assume it's theMega PC that's at fault. The way the ejection system works or the drive over heating when in the Mega PC chasis