• Welcome to TechPowerUp Forums, Guest! Please check out our forum guidelines for info related to our community.

[solved] Why are my internal DVD writers not recognized on SATA 2

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
My computer with Motherboard Gigabyte B85M-D3H has developed a strange problem. I can't get any DVD writers to be recognized through my SATA cables at all. In fact my old Samsung SH-244 started grinding during a write at one time and I thought it was dead. No it's not, apparently, as I connected it via a SATA USB adapter cable and it works fine through USB. Likewise, the other drives I tested are recognized through USB. But if I connect them to SATA on the motherboard none are recognized.

For a long time I had an old IDE drive running through an internal adapter card but as it was slowing everything down too much I decided to remove it. I wonder if maybe it has interfered with the SATA connections somehow. It almost seems as though three of my SATA ports have been switched off, but I can't remember doing this, at least not intentionally.

I am sure it must be something simple but I have few computer skills when it comes to hardware and driver issues. I am hoping somebody on this forum may be able to shed some light on this problem.
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
12,159 (5.74/day)
Location
Midlands, UK
System Name Nebulon B
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard MSi PRO B650M-A WiFi
Cooling be quiet! Dark Rock 4
Memory 2x 24 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-4800
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB
Storage 2 TB Corsair MP600 GS, 2 TB Corsair MP600 R2
Display(s) Dell S3422DWG, 7" Waveshare touchscreen
Case Kolink Citadel Mesh black
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z333 2.1 speakers, AKG Y50 headphones
Power Supply Seasonic Prime GX-750
Mouse Logitech MX Master 2S
Keyboard Logitech G413 SE
Software Windows 10 Pro
The ports might be switched off in the BIOS. Or maybe your SATA ports are configured to run with the old IDE protocol when the drive needs AHCI, or vice versa.
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
The ports might be switched off in the BIOS. Or maybe your SATA ports are configured to run with the old IDE protocol when the drive needs AHCI, or vice versa.
You must be correct as I looked in BIOS and noticed that the "Hot plug" settings were all disabled on every port except on my hard drive. I enabled them and re-booted and my dvd drives were instantly recognized, and they seem to be working.

The ports might be switched off in the BIOS. Or maybe your SATA ports are configured to run with the old IDE protocol when the drive needs AHCI, or vice versa.
I checked the settings again and all seems fine. That doesn't really explain why my old DVD was grinding and unable to read any disc, but now it is working again. I wonder if something went amiss when it hit a bad sector writing to a DVD and the computer reacted by shutting down all of the ports except the hard drive? That is really the only thing that makes sense because I never manually switched them off. Or maybe they disable by default if there is no longer a connection to a working device? Whatever the case, it is now all working, thank you.
 
Joined
Jan 14, 2019
Messages
12,159 (5.74/day)
Location
Midlands, UK
System Name Nebulon B
Processor AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard MSi PRO B650M-A WiFi
Cooling be quiet! Dark Rock 4
Memory 2x 24 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR5-4800
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT 12 GB
Storage 2 TB Corsair MP600 GS, 2 TB Corsair MP600 R2
Display(s) Dell S3422DWG, 7" Waveshare touchscreen
Case Kolink Citadel Mesh black
Audio Device(s) Logitech Z333 2.1 speakers, AKG Y50 headphones
Power Supply Seasonic Prime GX-750
Mouse Logitech MX Master 2S
Keyboard Logitech G413 SE
Software Windows 10 Pro
You must be correct as I looked in BIOS and noticed that the "Hot plug" settings were all disabled on every port except on my hard drive. I enabled them and re-booted and my dvd drives were instantly recognized, and they seem to be working.
"Hot plug" usually just means that you can unplug the drive on the go without risking damage, but I'm glad it solved your problem. :)
 

FreedomEclipse

~Technological Technocrat~
Joined
Apr 20, 2007
Messages
23,984 (3.74/day)
Location
London,UK
System Name DarnGosh Edition
Processor AMD 7800X3D
Motherboard MSI X670E GAMING PLUS
Cooling Thermalright AM5 Contact Frame + Phantom Spirit 120SE
Memory G.Skill Trident Z5 NEO DDR5 6000 CL32-38-38-96
Video Card(s) Asus Dual Radeon™ RX 6700 XT OC Edition
Storage WD SN770 1TB (Boot)| 2x 2TB WD SN770 (Gaming)| 2x 2TB Crucial BX500| 2x 3TB Toshiba DT01ACA300
Display(s) LG GP850-B
Case Corsair 760T (White) {1xCorsair ML120 Pro|5xML140 Pro}
Audio Device(s) Yamaha RX-V573|Speakers: JBL Control One|Auna 300-CN|Wharfedale Diamond SW150
Power Supply Seasonic Focus GX-850 80+ GOLD
Mouse Logitech G502 X
Keyboard Duckyshine Dead LED(s) III
Software Windows 11 Home
Benchmark Scores ლ(ಠ益ಠ)ლ
Not saying anything but it could be a sign that your motherboard is telling you it's time for it to go given its age.

I would keep an eye on anything strange going on with system as far as general stability goes.

Everything has a limited lifespan and 2014 was a long time ago.
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
Not saying anything but it could be a sign that your motherboard is telling you it's time for it to go given its age.

I would keep an eye on anything strange going on with system as far as general stability goes.

Everything has a limited lifespan and 2014 was a long time ago.
Haven't noticed anything else going on. The PC was only assembled about 5 years ago from a new, sealed box. The HDMI video has occasionally dropped out since day one and the problem could never be traced. Apart from that I have noticed settings being inexplicably changed every time there is a major Windows update, so I generally blame intrusive software updates rather than anything hardware. At least they often seem to be the culprit when it comes to settings suddenly being switched on or off.
 

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
Messages
41,823 (6.61/day)
Location
Republic of Texas (True Patriot)
System Name PCGOD
Processor AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory 16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s) NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s) Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software Windows 7 Pro 64
Haven't noticed anything else going on. The PC was only assembled about 5 years ago from a new, sealed box. The HDMI video has occasionally dropped out since day one and the problem could never be traced. Apart from that I have noticed settings being inexplicably changed every time there is a major Windows update, so I generally blame intrusive software updates rather than anything hardware. At least they often seem to be the culprit when it comes to settings suddenly being switched on or off.
The hdmi should have been an indication to send it back
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
The hdmi should have been an indication to send it back
Digressing widely from my original question, but I personally think the secondhand AMD Radeon graphics card has been to blame. Really the problem is so occasional that it has never bothered me and 5 years on I'm not going to worry about it now.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 10, 2024
Messages
48 (0.59/day)
Location
Brazil
I checked the settings again and all seems fine. That doesn't really explain why my old DVD was grinding and unable to read any disc, but now it is working again. I wonder if something went amiss when it hit a bad sector writing to a DVD and the computer reacted by shutting down all of the ports except the hard drive?
The CD/DVD driver is to rotate and read the track containing all the tracks, even if there is no SATA connection. SATA connection problems do not cause optical drive problems.
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
The CD/DVD driver is to rotate and read the track containing all the tracks, even if there is no SATA connection. SATA connection problems do not cause optical drive problems.
I cant really explain it. My old Samsung writer was just grinding and unable to read every disc I put in it. Now it is working fine again. I can only think it was an alignment or focus issue that has resolved itself. I guess even a blob of dust could cause it?
 
Joined
Aug 10, 2024
Messages
48 (0.59/day)
Location
Brazil
I cant really explain it. My old Samsung writer was just grinding and unable to read every disc I put in it. Now it is working fine again. I can only think it was an alignment or focus issue that has resolved itself. I guess even a blob of dust could cause it?
No, your CD/DVD was trying to read and Sata reported a connection error
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
No, your CD/DVD was trying to read and Sata reported a connection error
Umm, sorry but that makes no sense, because as soon as I plugged in the DVD writer through a USB adapter it could read and write again. And while the SATA was disabled without me knowing it I tried other DVD drives and none of them made any sound at all. If I put a CD or DVD in the trays the light would come on for a second or two and then go off. No grinding noise. And now that the SATA connection is enabled once more that same drive that had been grinding now works just as perfectly through that connection as it did through the USB port. Also SATA never reported any connection error, so I don't understand what you mean by "reported". So the only logical conclusion anyone can make is that there were two separate issues going on at the same time. One was a DVD writer unable to read, probably due to some issue with it, and the other was SATA being disabled for some reason. "SATA connection problems do not cause optical drive problems." Of course they do if the SATA port is disabled, but they will not cause a drive to have difficulty reading or writing. That is an issue to do with the drive, just as I've been saying. Could a mod please mark this thread as SOLVED and close the thread.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Aug 10, 2024
Messages
48 (0.59/day)
Location
Brazil
Umm, sorry but that makes no sense, because as soon as I plugged in the DVD writer through a USB adapter it could read and write again.

Which indicates that the drive's SATA connection was OK
. One was a DVD writer unable to read, probably due to some issue with it, and the other was SATA being disabled for some reason. "SATA connection problems do not cause optical drive problems." Of course they do if the SATA port is disabled, but they will not cause a drive to have difficulty reading or writing.
The terminals and connection oxidized over time and stopped communicating, I believe this is your dilemma, as it was working before and you hadn't changed the Bios. When you removed the cable to try other connections, started communicating again. You must use WD40 at the terminals!
 

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
Messages
41,823 (6.61/day)
Location
Republic of Texas (True Patriot)
System Name PCGOD
Processor AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory 16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s) NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s) Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software Windows 7 Pro 64
Which indicates that the drive's SATA connection was OK

The terminals and connection oxidized over time and stopped communicating, I believe this is your dilemma, as it was working before and you hadn't changed the Bios. When you removed the cable to try other connections, started communicating again. You must use WD40 at the terminals!
Um not any wd40, it must be electronic grade contact cleaner, then light di- electric grease
 

IanM

New Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2024
Messages
8 (0.11/day)
Which indicates that the drive's SATA connection was OK

The terminals and connection oxidized over time and stopped communicating, I believe this is your dilemma, as it was working before and you hadn't changed the Bios. When you removed the cable to try other connections, started communicating again. You must use WD40 at the terminals!
Yes, very dusty/dirty environment where this computer is located so obviously the problem was oxidation plus dust/gunk. I will buy some cleaner!

Um not any wd40, it must be electronic grade contact cleaner, then light di- electric grease
Is Isopropyl alcohol okay to use?
 

eidairaman1

The Exiled Airman
Joined
Jul 2, 2007
Messages
41,823 (6.61/day)
Location
Republic of Texas (True Patriot)
System Name PCGOD
Processor AMD FX 8350@ 5.0GHz
Motherboard Asus TUF 990FX Sabertooth R2 2901 Bios
Cooling Scythe Ashura, 2×BitFenix 230mm Spectre Pro LED (Blue,Green), 2x BitFenix 140mm Spectre Pro LED
Memory 16 GB Gskill Ripjaws X 2133 (2400 OC, 10-10-12-20-20, 1T, 1.65V)
Video Card(s) AMD Radeon 290 Sapphire Vapor-X
Storage Samsung 840 Pro 256GB, WD Velociraptor 1TB
Display(s) NEC Multisync LCD 1700V (Display Port Adapter)
Case AeroCool Xpredator Evil Blue Edition
Audio Device(s) Creative Labs Sound Blaster ZxR
Power Supply Seasonic 1250 XM2 Series (XP3)
Mouse Roccat Kone XTD
Keyboard Roccat Ryos MK Pro
Software Windows 7 Pro 64
Is Isopropyl alcohol okay to use?
Make sure not plugged in, and need to ensure it is dried out totally if you use 70%
 
Top