I fitted a new Pioneer DVR-115D to my PC as master on secondary IDE channel. I also have a Pioneer DVR-A06 as slave on the same channel. With this setup, I can write to various single layer media (CD-R(W), DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW) with the 115D but only partially read the media. By partially I mean I can see the folders and files but not open or copy them. However, I can read all the files written with the 115D using the A06 drive, so it obviously isn't a writing issue. If I disconnect the A06 drive and only use the 115D in the master position, it works and I can read the files I have written with it. Am using XP SP2. IDE cabling is only 40 wire - would an 80 wire cable solve the problem ? Someone also suggested it could be a power supply issue - Have a 550w PSU running 2 HDD and 2 Pioneer DVRs.

Grateful for any suggestions.

Hello DeeBee, welcome to PCHF.

All valid points, the cable was my first thought, however it depends on the motherboard. It's always a good idea to use the cable supplied with the motherboard (if custom built). The cable you currently have could also be faulty.

Power supply is also another possibility and you will experience all kinds of wierd and wonderful symptoms when the PC is starved of power (not just with your cd-rom), or using a poor quality power supply. I don't particularly think this is the case with a 550w power supply, you would need an awful lot of powerful hardware in that PC. You can use a power supply calculator to get an idea of your PC requirements: eXtreme Power Supply Calculator v2.5 (click goLite).

I have now moved a very small step closer to getting the 115D drive working. I have now put the slower A06 drive as master on the secondary channel and the 115D as slave on the channel. Both drives now read OK. However, only the A06 will play pre-recorded DVDs (films) OK. The 115D plays them with "jumping" sound and video i.e. as if the data transfer is not fast enough. Also the 115D will not read discs it has written to. I know the writing is OK because I can the 115D written discs and read them on the A06. Strange one this !

Did you try using a different and/or 80pin ribbon after Dee? Also, can you confirm that the 115D doesn't skip when the drive is connected alone?

I can confirm there is no skipping or jumping playing a pre-recorded DVD (i.e. a film) when the 115D is the only optical drive (connected on channel 2 as master). Have yet to try an 80 wire ribbon cable. Will do so at weekend and let you know.

80 wire cable appears to have fixed the problem. Current setup is 115D in master position on IDE 2, A06 in slave on IDE 2. Can write and read OK to/from 115D. Pre-recorded DVDs no longer jump/"stuttter" on sound or video using 115D.

Thanks for your interest and valuable contributions.

DeeBee.

Marked as Fixed

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