After a recent format, i got a new NEC DVD-RW ND-3550A
and after installing it i cant get it to my windows to register it as a DVD drive.
whenever i put a empty DVD or even a DVD with something burned on it it cant/wont read it... and when you open My Computer it shows up as a "CD Drive" isnt of a "DVD drive"
actually my old DVD drive that had still have on ther computer shows up as a CD drive as well
things i've checked:
Under Bio's it shows up as a NEC DVD-RW ND-3550A
and even under system config it shows up as NEC DVD-RW ND-3550A
other things i've tired was moving the jumper on the back of the drive.. when i got it it was on the very right *looking right at the back* i've tired the middle in which the computer wouldnt boot past the windows screen... and then the very left which was no different
It certainly is possible you got a lemon. However, try also going into Device Manager and looking at the device. If it's the only thing on your IDE cable and you have it plugged into the primary IDE it should show position 0(0). If it is and Windows says it's working properly then it's not likely to be an IDE issue, but check the Primary IDE (or Secondary, if appropriate) anyway to make sure it's working too. Uninstall the driver for the drive itself if necessary, reboot, and let Windows reinstall it.
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.
Just to add if you have a Dell computer you need to set the jumper to Cable Select, for some reason Dell only likes this setting. Also, make sure you have your Windows Drivers up to date by using SP2. As Dunker states sometimes uninstalling the drive in Device Mgr and letting Windows redetect will solve the problem.
it definately sounds like you didn't install the drive properly yet, than to say that the drive is defective. I also have seen my burner in MYCOMPUTER say it's a CDdrive when I put in a blank DVD..... but it burns the DVD! So I don't go by what MYCOMPUTER says! Have you tried burning a DVD with the drive yet? what programs are you using?
As IHoe states the drive will show it is a CD Drive when a DVD disk is inserted, this is a Windows thing and will be corrected in Vista. Have you tried burning with the drive, as my old NEC will do this to me, it is an external but same problem. After inserting a DVD and then burning it will revert to CD Drive but it burns just fine. Next time I reboot it will come back as a DVD Drive until I insert a disk again. If you are going to use this one as your main burner try going into the drive properties by right clicking and check enable CD burning on this drive, see if it makes a difference.
Thanks. Never heard of that XP bug and I've done countless installations, but it just goes to show you learn something new every day. Especially if you hang out on Afterdawn. ;)
-Do you believe you own your computer and shouldn't be told what you can run and do? Then say *NO* to Microsoft Vista!
-Since half the questions here involve media problems, here ya go: Only use Verbatim or Taiyo-Yuden discs (get your TYs from Rima.com, not Supermediastore or meritline). Forget the rest, no matter what "brand" they sell under. Always burn at 4x speed regardless of the speed rating of this discs or your drive. If you have burn problems with these then you have to update your drive's firmware. For double-layer discs, only use Verbatim DVD+R DL and burn them at 2.4x speed.