[Mafia2020]

I've installed Windows XP SP2 Fresh after I had some other hardware problems. Everything seemed to work fine until I managed to get into Windows. The OS refuses to read ANY dvd/cd that I put inside. If instead, I boot to Safe-Mode, the DVD-RW works fine. Of course I tried to switch the DVD-RW with another one but the results were the same.

My system specs are:

Motherboard: ASUS P5LD2 (with latest Bios 1503)
CPU: P4 EE 3.73 Ghz
HDD 40 GB Maxtor Eide (Master)
Pioneer DVD-RW 110D (Slave)
HDD 250 GB Maxtor (SATA)
RAM 2x 1024 Vitesta 533 Mhz
VGA Nvidia 7900 GT

My guess is that it's a software/windows problem since NO DVD-RW or DVD-Rom works unless I am in safe-mode. I've spent almost 48 hours googling for a solution but with no luck. For instance some guys were suggesting to regedit something related to an uninstall of burning software (but since I'm on a clean install it doesn't apply); or others were suggesting to "uninstall" the dvd and let windows recognize it after a reboot (tried but didn't solve it), others again suggested to install Chipset's drivers of my MoBo (did it but didn't work), or to upgrade the Bios to the latest version (did that too, but nothing changed). Also I did all the hardware suggestions I found (like try another cable, invert cables, mount units one by one etc... but still everything work everywhere BUT in windows normal-mode)

Something that was strange though is that I installed Windows from CD flawleslly:/

I am pretty much lost but I am so close to the solution, I can feel it.

Any one can enlighten me?

Regards.

 

[ozrom1e]

Welcome to TSG....

Try this first. Find the driver disk for the computer and install all of the special drivers for the motherboard like the chipset drivers, pci buss drivers etc and then reboot the computer and you should be ok. If you can not find the drivers on a CD-ROM try the manufacturers of either the motherboard or the manufacturer of the computers web site.

 

[Mafia2020]

others again suggested to install Chipset's drivers of my MoBo (did it but didn't work)

I did that already prior to open this post (I had to go thru the hassle of putting the drivers on a USB Key first, then copied and installed chipset, PCI bus etc...), and it didn't help

Also just in case, I checked the firmware of my DVD-RW and it's the latest available.

 

[ozrom1e]

Well If the drive works fine in Safe Mode then I would try to find the other piece of hardware that is conflicting with the drive and fix the conflict, more than likely an IRQ conflict I would check in device manager and see what and where the conflict is open.

 

[Mafia2020]

Where do I see eventual conflicts in device manager? All that it tells me is that "The device is working properly"...

 

[Rich-M]

Try a different ide cable.

 

[ozrom1e]

Are you using an 80-wire cable for the primary cable to the hard drive and burner drive?

 

[Mafia2020]

I tried 3 different cables with no luck, and any possible combo with cables (grey on DVD-RW and black to HDD and viceversa)...

 

[Rich-M]

Have you tried using the hard drive controller with hdd as master and dvd-rw as slave(switch controller) ...it almost has to be a motherboard issue with new OS now.

 

[Mafia2020]

Yes, I did try that as well, still, with no luck.

 

[Rich-M]

Why not try to duplicate the experience of safe mode and take everything out of startup (Run, msconfig,ok,startup) and reboot and then see. I would uninstall antivirus program, antispyware program...what I do in a case like this is make an image file with Acronis and then start uninstalling everything, continually trying the dvd. No need to uninstall Ms Office but any driver programs first,then utilities, then if no luck finally every program until you hit it. I once found Filemaker did not work if Paperport was installed that way.
What player do you have installed for playing dvd's? If you are trying to use media Player only I hope you have downloaded codec for that purpose.

 

[Mafia2020]

I am on a clean install, there's nothing much more than the default stuff installed, also, the problem is that the DVD-RW doesn't read ANY MEDIA not just specifically DVDs :/

As for the selective startup, I tried that already, if I disable everything still nothing changes and it doesn't work.

The only way I have to read media is to get to safe mode..