Continuing Optical Drive Saga
Posted: Sat Aug 05, 2017 2:46 pm
I prefer Linux distros like Mint, but if you live in the "real" world maintaining a couple of Windows systems
is a necessity.
Several months ago I posted about a Pioneer CD/DVD burner that suddenly vanished from Windows. There
must be millions of articles, blogs, and posts about this problem. Microsoft has many KB articles about
disappearing optical drives.
The solution (or workaround) was very simple. Fill an unoccupied expansion slot on the motherboard with an
inexpensive SATA controller card. I switched the data cable from a port on the motherboard to the controller
card. The optical drive immediately reappeared in Windows.
Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. The controller card has apparently caused a new problem.
To avoid confusion, here are the facts listed under Before and After:
Before SATA Controller Card
1. Optical drive not available anywhere in Windows.
2. Optical drive listed normally in the BIOS setup.
3. Listed as Pioneer on the Boot Menu.
4. Select Pioneer on the Boot Menu and all bootable discs spin-up and load.
After Installing SATA Controller Card
1. Optical drive restored everywhere in Windows.
2. Optical drive listed normally in the BIOS setup.
3. Listed as Pioneer on the Boot Menu.
4. Select Pioneer on the Boot Menu and nothing happens! Bootable discs do not spin-up.
The operation was a success, but the patient died. All CD's and DVD's spin-up normally inside the Windows
system. Adding the controller card completely cured the Windows problem. For reasons I cannot explain,
bootable discs no longer spin-up when selected from Boot Menu before Windows starts.
Does anyone know why this is happening?
is a necessity.
Several months ago I posted about a Pioneer CD/DVD burner that suddenly vanished from Windows. There
must be millions of articles, blogs, and posts about this problem. Microsoft has many KB articles about
disappearing optical drives.
The solution (or workaround) was very simple. Fill an unoccupied expansion slot on the motherboard with an
inexpensive SATA controller card. I switched the data cable from a port on the motherboard to the controller
card. The optical drive immediately reappeared in Windows.
Unfortunately, that's not the end of the story. The controller card has apparently caused a new problem.
To avoid confusion, here are the facts listed under Before and After:
Before SATA Controller Card
1. Optical drive not available anywhere in Windows.
2. Optical drive listed normally in the BIOS setup.
3. Listed as Pioneer on the Boot Menu.
4. Select Pioneer on the Boot Menu and all bootable discs spin-up and load.
After Installing SATA Controller Card
1. Optical drive restored everywhere in Windows.
2. Optical drive listed normally in the BIOS setup.
3. Listed as Pioneer on the Boot Menu.
4. Select Pioneer on the Boot Menu and nothing happens! Bootable discs do not spin-up.
The operation was a success, but the patient died. All CD's and DVD's spin-up normally inside the Windows
system. Adding the controller card completely cured the Windows problem. For reasons I cannot explain,
bootable discs no longer spin-up when selected from Boot Menu before Windows starts.
Does anyone know why this is happening?