External DVD stops the PC booting

**Tim Lake** · 04-25-2006, 05:05 AM

I had a problem that my PC would freeze right at the memory check stage (before it even starts booting the OS).
After several troubleshooting efforts I unplugged the DVD and immediately the machine unfroze and booted normally.

My question is, could this be caused by too much power being drawn from USB as I have several devices (GPS, wifi, bluetooth, keyboard, mouse) all drawing power from the USB ports and the DVD is doing so too.
If I power the DVD externally (direct from the car) will it solve the problem?

**madkad** · 04-25-2006, 05:26 AM

does it have a cd in and have you got the bios to check for the usb on load etc etc

**Tim Lake** · 04-25-2006, 05:46 AM

It had a DVD movie in which I took out but it still caused the issue. I haven't checked the BIOS setting but it was working for months and I haven't changed anything in the BIOS since then.

**Tim Lake** · 04-26-2006, 10:56 AM

bump

**ZtH01** · 04-26-2006, 11:14 AM

Originally Posted by Tim Lake

I had a problem that my PC would freeze right at the memory check stage (before it even starts booting the OS).
After several troubleshooting efforts I unplugged the DVD and immediately the machine unfroze and booted normally.

My question is, could this be caused by too much power being drawn from USB as I have several devices (GPS, wifi, bluetooth, keyboard, mouse) all drawing power from the USB ports and the DVD is doing so too.
If I power the DVD externally (direct from the car) will it solve the problem?

Most likely not. Mine did that randomly. Sometimes it was good for a week, sometimes it happened 5 times a day. Sometimes it would freeze at the BIOS, sometimes it would freeze at about half through resuming XP. I ended up putting a switch on the power line so I could cut power to the DVD without having to unplug it.

I had an external 2 amp 6v regulator for it too, and it still did it. It was rock solid once you got into Windows though...

I ended up getting sick of it, and switched to firewire. Haven't had a problem since. And i got to ditch the 6v regulator, as the firewire port powers it just fine. Luckily both my VIA board, and external enclosure had firewire ports, does yours?

-ZtH01

**Tim Lake** · 04-28-2006, 08:24 AM

Yes it does. Perhaps that's the way to go then. How can I find out if the DVD is compatible (I bought it off ebay and it was just taken out of a dud machine so not too much documentation!)

**WarDriver** · 04-28-2006, 08:34 AM

Originally Posted by Tim Lake

How can I find out if the DVD is compatible

It has more to do with your external case than the drive.The drive just has an IDE to usb/firewire adapter. So, if you do have firewire you should be fine.

**ZtH01** · 04-28-2006, 08:51 AM

If the enclosure has firewire, and your motherboard has firewire, use firewire. And get your cables from Ebay... Local places wanted like $35-40 for a 15' 6pin to 6pin. Got one off of Ebay for $8 out the door...

-ZtH01

**nameeri** · 04-28-2006, 06:46 PM

My external USB drives was also causing my system to hang during boot and waking from hibernation. i found out that it wasnt the USB, it was becuase the drive was mounted vertically. I have a slot loading slim dvd drive, and apparently it doesnt like being mounted vertically. After I unplugged it, it works fine.

**ZtH01** · 04-28-2006, 09:19 PM

Originally Posted by nameeri

My external USB drives was also causing my system to hang during boot and waking from hibernation. i found out that it wasnt the USB, it was becuase the drive was mounted vertically. I have a slot loading slim dvd drive, and apparently it doesnt like being mounted vertically. After I unplugged it, it works fine.

Wierd. So it works fine if it was horizontal? Mine's always been mounted horizontally, so I know that wasn't it.

-ZtH01