Optical drive disappears from motherboard

[g-man.357]

So I have been having a problem for a while now, and I can't seem to find a fix for it. When I leave my PC on for a few hours, my optical drive will disappear. Restarting doesn't help because the motherboard won't see it either. I need to shut the computer down, sometimes only for a few minutes, but sometimes I need to leave it off for a few hours.

1) I have already replaced the DVD-Rom with a BD recorder. The problem persists with different hardware.

2) It doesn't seem to be software related. Same problem with or without Nero, Daemon Tools, etc. I've even gone through three clean Windows installations, including setting up a RAID.

3) I tried the Marvell controller, and the JMicron controller in the BIOS, but it doesn't seem to matter what settings I use.

4) I flashed the BIOS to the latest, but I was having the problems with the original version as well

The motherboard even stopped seeing the drive while I was installing Windows once. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Gurus.

[IcE]

Make sure you're not trying to run the drive under AHCI mode, it causes that among other problems. Most motherboards let you run the first four ports as AHCI and the last two as IDE, try doing that (and obviously connect the drive to one of the last two ports).

[airbud7]

Change sata ports

[thatguy91]

I would say it has something to do with the way the board handles optical drives and power saving. Are you using a Molex adaptor cable for the optical drive, or using a proper SATA power cable from your power supply?

Also, have you tried using a different SATA data cable? Beyond that, all I can recommend is changing the port as suggested. Often a bios update may not help because the third party controllers have their own firmware, which exists as modules in the bios files. In most cases these aren't updated unless specifically states as such in the bios update logs. I wouldn't recommend you mod the bios (although it's not difficult to do), simply because you don't want to do anything wrong! and you want to use the correct new ROM's.

Anyways, look into the power supply cables to the drive (PSU direct instead of Molex), and try changing the SATA port and SATA data cable.

[g-man.357]

Okay, so I am not running AHCI, I have tried several ports, and I am plugged directly into the power supply (no molex). It quit on me tonight about 12 minutes into a Blu Ray so I don't think power saving is the problem.

I don't even know what kind of power saving settings affect it.

[IcE]

Did you try a different PSU connector? The cable/plug may be defective.

[thatguy91]

Have you tried running AHCI? (bit of a nuisance to set up if you installed Windows without it enabled).

[Basquedude]

Originally Posted by IcE

Make sure you're not trying to run the drive under AHCI mode, it causes that among other problems. Most motherboards let you run the first four ports as AHCI and the last two as IDE, try doing that (and obviously connect the drive to one of the last two ports).

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

[g-man.357]

So I have 2 Marvell ports, which I was using, but they were the first to give me the problems, so now they are disabled and unplugged.

I have 6 JMB plugs, the first 2 of which have my 600Gb Raptors in RAID, number 3 has a WD 1Tb and number 4 has a Seagate 1Tb. Number 5 is my Blu Ray, and number 6 is empty.

Originally Posted by IcE

... Most motherboards let you run the first four ports as AHCI and the last two as IDE, try doing that (and obviously connect the drive to one of the last two ports).

The only settings I can find for the different ports is a hot swap menu. I have tried hot swap enabled and disabled with the same results.

[Basquedude]

Originally Posted by g-man.357

So I have 2 Marvell ports, which I was using, but they were the first to give me the problems, so now they are disabled and unplugged.

I have 6 JMB plugs, the first 2 of which have my 600Gb Raptors in RAID, number 3 has a WD 1Tb and number 4 has a Seagate 1Tb. Number 5 is my Blu Ray, and number 6 is empty.



The only settings I can find for the different ports is a hot swap menu. I have tried hot swap enabled and disabled with the same results.

Check your mobo manual to see which of the SATA ports are AHCI only

[g-man.357]

Okay, so I moved the drive back to the Marvell port a few days ago and it's running fine so far. My only concern is that I've done this before, and after about a week, it will probably stop working. We'll see what happens.

Thanks for all your help guys.

[g-man.357]

Well, the drive has disappeared again. It was fine last night, but when I woke up this morning it was gone. I just can't think of any reason for this. Does anyone else have this problem, or is it unique to me?

[-Tj-]

Originally Posted by g-man.357

Well, the drive has disappeared again. It was fine last night, but when I woke up this morning it was gone. I just can't think of any reason for this. Does anyone else have this problem, or is it unique to me?

Here you go, i was going to suggest windows7 manager build in repair option, but this looks the same.

Run Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd...problems/en-us

[alanm]

Also try a different sata cable. Faulty cable/connectors would be high on my suspect list.

[g-man.357]

Originally Posted by -Tj-

Here you go, i was going to suggest windows7 manager build in repair option, but this looks the same.

Run Fixit
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982116

http://support.microsoft.com/mats/cd...problems/en-us

This doesn't work because the drive completely disappears. I don't get error messages, it's not in device manager, it's not in the BIOS. I tried fixit last week and it doesn't find anything wrong.

I've already tried 2 different sata cables, but I will see if I have another one.

[IcE]

Everything is pointing to a motherboard problem at this point. Try a newer/older BIOS version. If absolutely nothing else works (and you already tried another PSU), it's RMA time for the board. There's some sort of pass through interruption with sustained drive access.

[-Tj-]

Originally Posted by g-man.357

This doesn't work because the drive completely disappears. I don't get error messages, it's not in device manager, it's not in the BIOS. I tried fixit last week and it doesn't find anything wrong.

I've already tried 2 different sata cables, but I will see if I have another one.

Well yes that fixit should fix this as well..


I had the same problem once, but i ran this



and never had a issue since.

[g-man.357]

But I don't have a ! In device manager. Windows doesn't see a problem.

Does windows have the capability to make the motherboard stop seeing a drive?

[-Tj-]

Originally Posted by g-man.357

But I don't have a ! In device manager. Windows doesn't see a problem.

Does windows have the capability to make the motherboard stop seeing a drive?

Dont be so anal about it, i didnt have a! either it just disappeared when i put in dvd or try to burn dvd- it wouldn't start and wasn't visible anywhere. That option fixed it after restart.

btw that program is 15day trial, but its fully working.

[g-man.357]

Ha ha - anal.

When the drive disappeared, I switched from the first marvel port to the second and its working again, though probably only for a week.

I downloaded that 15 day trial last night and I'll give it a try next time.

[-Tj-]

Originally Posted by g-man.357

Ha ha - anal.

When the drive disappeared, I switched from the first marvel port to the second and its working again, though probably only for a week.

I downloaded that 15 day trial last night and I'll give it a try next time.

hehe


Yes I would have doubts too, I had this bug 2 times. One time it was lose sata connector (and power connector) at back of DVD burner, second time it just disappeared out of nowhere. When I ran that windows7manager fix it fixed it for good. Hopefully it works for you too

[g-man.357]

Even though the drive is showing up, I went ahead and ran the fix anyway. We'll see if it stays.