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Step 6: CD-ROM Drive

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Building Your PC November 2000 • Vol.8 Issue 11 Page(s) 98-99 in print issue	Add To My Personal Library
Step 6: CD-ROM Drive

There are many things to consider when choosing a CD-ROM drive for your computer. You may want the fastest CD-ROM you can get, if you are interested in gaming and know that you will be accessing the CD drive on-the-fly. If you are only using the CD to install software, you may be more concerned with getting an adequate drive for the lowest price. You may choose to use a CD-RW drive so that you can burn your own CDs for backups or even a DVD drive so that you can watch movies on your computer. These drives can also be used with normal CDs for installing software or running programs. (For more information on choosing a drive, see CD-ROM, CD-RW & DVD-ROM Drives.)

Whichever kind of drive you select, the hardware installation will be the same. However, each device will have its own drivers that must be installed, and some drives, like DVD drives, need other software in order to function. In any case, you will want to be sure that your hardware configuration (memory, processor speed, Windows version, etc.) will allow you to use the device you've selected.

This article assumes you are installing an internal CD drive, as external drives don't need to be physically installed.

Configuring Your Drive. In most cases, your CD-ROM device will attach to your motherboard using IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) cables, which are the same cables used to power hard drives. Most motherboards allow two IDE cables to attach, and each IDE cable can accommodate two different devices. Two devices attached to one IDE cable are designated master and slave.

In order to get the devices to work properly, you must configure them to either a master or slave setting. If you are only running one device on a cable, you should default to the master setting.

To do this, you'll need to set the jumper pins on the back of your device. Each device will use a different configuration, and you will have to check the configuration in your technical manual. (Some drives will have a diagram of the different configurations right there on the drive, but not all do.) Usually the configuration settings involve putting the jumper over one or more pins in the set of pins provided.

The jumpers are not hard to handle or move; you can usually pick them off with your fingers or with a set of needle-nose pliers or tweezers. Pull the jumpers up and then slide them over the correct pin or pins as required by your particular CD-ROM device.

Once you have configured the jumpers, it does not matter which of the two connectors on the IDE you attach your CD-ROM drive with. The master/slave settings are determined by the jumper settings, not by the cable.

The red stripe on the IDE cable should connect to Pin 1 (usually the bottom left pin). Check your device manual and motherboard manual if you are uncertain which pin on the slot is Pin 1. Make sure the other end of your IDE cable is firmly connected to the motherboard and that one of the four-pin cables from the power supply is firmly attached to the CD-ROM power slot. These cables are generally designed so that they can only fit into the power slot in one direction.

Left: Install the CD-ROM, CD-RW, or DVD-ROM drive into one of the computer case's 5.5-inch drive bays.

Right: Drive Connections

SCSI (Small Computer System Interface; pronounced "skuzzy") connectors work a bit differently. These connectors run using a card separate from your motherboard. They also use a different type of cable than IDE drives do. SCSI connections work very fast and are quite expensive. SCSI devices attach to the SCSI card in a "chain," with each device connected to the next one. The devices are identified by numbers in the chain, and the last device in the chain must be "capped" or ended, usually with a plug that covers the SCSI outlet, but sometimes with a jumper pin.

Make sure your SCSI devices all have unique numbers assigned and that your SCSI chain is capped. For more information on configuring your SCSI adapter, consult your technical manual or call your manufacturer.

Attaching Your Drive. Once you have the cable connected securely, attach your CD-ROM drive to one of the bays in the frame of your computer. CD-ROM devices will usually fit into a 5.5-inch bay, and they must be accessible through the front panel of your PC. Remove the cover on the PC bay by pushing it out gently. You may need to connect the drive to brackets or rails which then slide into the bay, or you may screw the device into the bay directly. Consult the manual for your computer case to be sure which method you should use.

Tighten the screws securely, as the frame acts as a ground circuit for the CD-ROM drive. Make sure the drive has been attached right side up and that the face is level and flush with the front panel of your PC.

BIOS Setup Menu. As with any drive, you will need to configure your motherboard BIOS to ensure the drive is correctly configured. Turn the computer on and enter the Setup menu by pressing whichever set of keys the boot screen tells you to use (usually DELETE, F1, or some other key set). Your manual should also say which keys will take you to the Setup Menu.

Find the section of the Setup menu that lists devices and check that the IDE configuration has your hard drive and CD-ROM drive (or drives) listed correctly as either the first or second IDE slot, and either as master or slave. If you are using a SCSI device, you will only see the adapter card listed in your BIOS, as the card itself handles all the devices in the SCSI chain. You'll also want to check your Boot Options and make sure that you have set the Boot order as you wish (usually A: drive first, then C:, but some people boot from a CD or SCSI drive).

Save any changes you've made to your system Setup and exit. The system will continue to reboot.

Installing Device Drivers. As Windows opens, you will probably see a message that says "New Hardware Found." This means that Windows has located your new drive and needs to install the drivers that will let Windows operate the device. Windows may have some drivers for your drive already, or you may have drivers supplied by your manufacturer. Follow the menu options in the Windows device manager screen to install the drivers in either case.

To use drivers you have on hand, choose Have Disk and direct Windows to the drive where your selected drivers can be found. You may need to reinsert your Windows CD in order to complete the installation.

If all goes well, Windows will find the correct files and will then reboot your machine. Once you have rebooted, your CD-ROM should be working normally. Test this by opening Windows Explorer or the File Manager and looking for your CD-ROM drive. You may wish to check the Web site of your CD-ROM manufacturer for updated drivers or for patches that fix bugs in the original drivers.

by Jennifer Powell

Upgrading A CD-ROM Drive

Difficulty: Intermediate

There are many options available for upgrading your CD-ROM. The most common upgrade is simply to a faster version of an ordinary CD-ROM drive. If you are still using a 2X or 4X CD-ROM, you will find that an upgrade to a 24X or 32X drive will noticeably increase the speed of CD access (the numbers shown refer to the speed of the drive access; higher numbers are faster). However, the difference between a 24X drive and a 32X drive will scarcely be noticeable, so keep that in mind when selecting your upgrade.

You may also wish to upgrade your CD-ROM for increased functionality as well as speed. You can now buy and install CD-RW devices (which can write CDs as well as read them), or DVD drives (which can play multimedia DVD disks such as movies). While these devices can run ordinary CDs, they have other functions, as well. They are also a bit trickier to install properly. A CD-RW, for example, will need to be installed in Windows as two separate devices�one that reads and one that writes�even though it is physically only one drive.

A DVD drive will need special viewing software in order to play movies, and in some cases, will need special configurations, as well. Consult the technical manuals or talk with your manufacturer for details on how to install and configure your specific device.

In any case, make sure that the device you choose is compatible with your motherboard, that you have enough memory to run the device, and that your processor speed can handle the requirements of the drive.

Troubleshooting Your CD-ROM Drive

Make sure you guard against static electricity any time you open your computer. Use a static wristguard or keep one hand on the power supply. Never open your computer in a carpeted area.

Know which type of device you are installing (IDE or SCSI) and have the technical information on the device available. If your device is an IDE device, make sure you have the jumper set correctly to either "master" or "slave." If it is a SCSI device, make sure it is assigned a unique number on your SCSI circuit and that the final device in the SCSI chain is "capped."
Make sure all connectors are firmly attached and that the cable is not broken or frayed. Make sure the pins are aligned correctly and that the power supply cable is attached.
Check your BIOS (Basic Input/Output System) setup menu to be sure the device is enabled and that the motherboard is viewing the device correctly.
Check that you have the correct drivers and make sure they are the most current drivers for your device. Contact the manufacturer for driver information and patches.
If your CD-ROM drive fails to operate after Windows installs the drivers, you may have a driver conflict. Windows will try to guide you in resolving the conflict.

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