Slim dvd drive problems. JAE 50pin to IDE at fault?

2k1Toaster · 03-31-2006, 01:30 AM

Hello. I would like to start by saying that even though I am pretty new to CarPC's, I have been building desktops for quite some time, so I have a pretty good understanding of stuff.
Here's the problem. I have a Pioneer Slim DVD Burner model DVR-K06 with a JAE 50pin to 40pin IDE adaptor attached. First when I plugged in the DVD drive to my motherboard (M10000), with a fresh HD so no OS, it said there was a DISK BOOT FAILURE, INSERT BOOTABLE MEDIA & PRESS ENTER. Normal when no OS, but I had set it to boot from CDROM first, then HD-0. I did of course have a legit copy of XP SP2 in there. After fidgeting for a while, I still had no luck. I changed IDE cables, I put the HD on a seperate channel, changed all the BIOS options and nothing. It is relevent to note that when it was POSTing, I saw both my HD and the DVD drive listed under IDE devices every time without fail.
I have many spare drives so I attached a 5.25" DVD drive and loaded XP with no problems what so ever. I thought since XP was there, there might be some drivers to make it better. So I attached the slim drive again, and it still showed up in POST, but not in XP. Still couldn't boot. Also couldn't boot using a Knoppix Live CD either. I also made sure that the Drive was readable in every IDE channel and Slave/Master position so I think I have ruled out the mobo. Also used the cables interchangeably, and used a few extra brand new ones to double check too. So the cable is rules out. The Power Supply works fine and I definately had everything plugged in right. So then I thought maybe my adaptor was broken but I didn't think of any way to test it at that time. I had a USB enclosure for a HDD, but it works I guess. For grins and giggles I decided to go Drive --> JAE to IDE --> IDE to USB --> Motherboard. Then XP recognized the drive so whoopee I thought. I put in a disc and it spun and showed the folder. There was only 1 file of no size as an audio track named "Track 1". The discs size under properties was 0mb and had 0mb free. Very odd indeed. This was a Nero 7 disc (Legit). I tried the XP disc I used to load the OS, same thing. Everything did this. I tried an audio CD and nothing. So the last thing I did was open up my laptop, and grab that drive to rule out drive malfunctioning. It did not work with the M10000 in the IDE channels, but same thing with USB enclosure. Duplicate readings. Then I tried the new DVR-K06 in my laptop and instantly recognized, and could read and burn discs.
So to sum up:
New Mobo, channels working
New cabling, cables are fine
New Drive, drive is flawless
USB ports are fine, tried multiple ports
Adaptor, I don't know?

I don't know about the adapter, because it recognizes the drive during POST. It also made the drive show up in XP. I have absolutley no idea. There aren't any jumpers on the adapter so I ordered one that had master/slave jumpers to try and rule that out. I am at a complete loss. Any help is appreciated. If you have had the same or similar problems, or know how to help please do!!!

Sry for the long post, but I am really at a loss.

DaveB · 03-31-2006, 01:41 AM

2k1,

I ran into the same issues. I googled and read that the Pioneer K06 is sometimes shipped where it is set from the factory as a slave drive with no means to change that. Whereas, some of them were set as masters. It depended on the date of manufacture.

I dug into the above further, but never solved the problems I was having. I tried every configuraton imaginable. Finally, I summed it up to a bad drive even though I had just bought it brand new. One of the reasons I suspected the drive was because it would spit out the CD sometimes right after I turned on the power for the PC. There should never be a reason why the drive would spit out the CD that early in a boot process. The drive was just very flakey.

I returned it and bought a Panasonic slot-load slim drive from the MP3car store. I never had any issues with it and it worked perfect.

I read a lot of horror stories about the pioneer drive. Which is to bad because the specs on it made it sound like a better drive than the panasonic.

2k1Toaster · 03-31-2006, 01:47 AM

Wow. That was a fast response!! Thank you. I'll try some google-ing on that. I would really like to use this drive because it is soooo nice. If I have to I guess I'll RMA it. I haven't had any of the CD spitting out stuff. If I must, then back to Newegg it goes.
I would still like to hear from other people regarding this issue before I make any decisions, but thankyou for your quick and informative reply DaveB. Oh, and DaveB, when you say that you had the same issues, did you have the audio track problem too?

DaveB · 03-31-2006, 02:04 AM

Most of the time I couldn't get the drive to show up in Windows at all. A few times it did show up, but when I double-clicked and wanted to browse the CD it would read and read but never bring up the contents of the CD/DVD.

I tried installing different drivers for the drive. I tried different cables.

Nothing worked.

There was some stuff on google about a way that you could jump a couple of pins on the IDE connector and force the drive to master. I tried that too.

I exhausted everything that I could try and finally sent it back. Unfortunately, I bought it from pagecomputers.com and they have absolutely the worst customer service on the planet. Its almost impossible to have a dialogue with the company.

I've been very happy with the panasonic. No problems at all. It installed and worked the very first time. The only glitch I had was that I had bought an external enclosure and these Mini-ATX motherboards will freeze right after post if you have a USB DVD drive installed. I swapped to a firewire cable and that solved that problem.

2k1Toaster · 03-31-2006, 02:14 AM

Ok thanks. I got it from Newegg.com, and they are pretty good at returns but they take 15% away from me! What model Pioneer did you use by the way? Was it the Panasonic UJ-845-B? Also where did you get your adapter? If I can just replicate what you did, that would be easier I guess and save me some headaches in the end. Other comments are welcome to.

Sidenote: I have never really posted on a forum before, and I must say this is great. Within a half hour, 2 replies and a possible answer to a problem that has consumed hours. I think I'm going to do this more often if I have a unique perplexing problem!

DaveB · 03-31-2006, 02:27 AM

2k1,

Newegg has always been really great to work with. Yes, that's the Panasonic that I bought. Here is a link to it.

This is the enclosure which supports either USB or firewire and allows external power to the enclosure.

2k1Toaster · 03-31-2006, 03:22 AM

Thankyou much

ElKeeed · 03-31-2006, 06:08 AM

Since you tried it and it worked in your laptop it pretty much confirms the most likely possibility which is that the enclosure adapter is at fault. It could well be that it isnt providing enough power or just that it is screwed.

Master/Slave is set on these drives in the firmware. Often you can download alternate firmware or a utility to switch between the two although generally its a good idea to put the cd drive on a seperate channel anyway.

2k1Toaster · 03-31-2006, 12:11 PM

But the adapter just runs straight through wires I believe. Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't JAE 50pin the same thing as IDE 40pin with 4 wires for power (in this case from the floppy connector) and .... 6 magical ones i guess. Well anyways, I didn't think there really is anything to go wrong on the adapter. Also what do you make of the showing up in POST, and when using the USB as well, it showed up, but wrong data? Maybe the wire traces are fused or broken somewhere on the adapter and I'll try a new one... Thanks.

hartigan · 04-02-2006, 12:54 PM

just curious, where'd you get the adapter??

I was looking to do the same thing you are, but for a dual slimline in my desktop. I'm definitely curious as to what solution you come up with. It sounds like no matter what, you're going to need to use the adapter (or a replacement)

Let me know, thanks.

-hartigan

Here is an adapter that definitely works with the UJ-845-B AND the DVR-K05. I would imagine the same one would work with the DVR-K06. Is this the one you picked up?

2k1Toaster · 04-02-2006, 11:36 PM

I got the adaptor from eBay, and I cant see any method of not using it. An external enclosure still uses an adaptor, and no motherboards other than laptops support those drives.
That is not the adaptor I have now. The adaptor is the one below.

I think that adaptor doesn't work even though I have no idea how something can go wrong with something like that. I purchased this one,

and it looks pretty close to the one in that link. I hope it works because this is driving me crazy and hindering my install!!! I'm anxious to get it in there!

hartigan · 04-03-2006, 08:31 AM

Thanks for the reply Toaster!!

I'm AMAZED that I found you. I saw your review in NewEgg and was like, "How the heck am I going to find that guy to ask the questions I'd like to ask."

How fortuitous that you found mp3car.com and posted. Out of the WHOLE Internet, somehow I connected with you.

Let me know how your install goes.

I'll be getting my stuff on Wednesday or Thursday and I'll keep you posted.

2k1Toaster · 04-03-2006, 05:39 PM

Wow this is a small world! Of all the applications for that DVD drive and all the websites and poeple, we found the same thread... That amazes me... Well I ordered the new one from PonterMouse guy on eBay, and Ill let you guys know how it goes. If it doesnt work, then I gues Ill just post back here!

hartigan · 04-10-2006, 06:59 PM

Don't know if you've made any progress, but I'm just writing to let you know about my success.

The JAE50 to IDE converter I mentioned above (Found Here) works great with the NEC ND-6750.

It was recognized by Windows and I've had no problems.

I know that's not the Pioneer you were checking out, but I thought I'd at least mention it as a "known to work" option.

Hope all is well with your project!! Good luck!!

-hartigan

2k1Toaster · 04-10-2006, 11:16 PM

Just got my adaptor off eBay, and it works. I guess there must have been something wrong with the other one, but it recognizes it, even as a bootable device, and works flawlessly. So another "known solution" is now the DVR-K06 and the adaptor sold by PointingMouse off of eBay. If anybody is going to order from PointingMouse, they ship from HongKong even though there base is in the U.S. Also no tracking number because shipped via Hong Kong Post and the numbers don't translate over (no way to track outside of China). Good luck and I hope this thread helps people with good solutions. If you have any other combo's that work, please mention them for he benefits of those looking to by a working pair!