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    Help with optical drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by voidshado, Aug 20, 2007.

  1. voidshado

    voidshado Notebook Enthusiast

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    I have a HL-DT-ST GSA-T20L DVDRAM drive. When I copy files from the dvd/cd the transfers would be sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

    Also, Ive checked the drivers via xp's device manager, its dated 7/1/2001. Do I have an outdated driver?
    If so, where can I find it. (google is not being kind today when searching )

    I was told by FusiveResonance that it might have something to do with DMA and PIO modes.

    any help is appreciated, thanks
     
    voidshado, Aug 20, 2007
    #1
  2. Dean Wessel

    Dean Wessel Notebook Enthusiast

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    Just a few things, desktop or laptop? and what make and model of computer is it. If its a laptop try checking under the bios settings for cd drive speed. This by default is most likely low to normal speed, try changing it to high if you have that option. Also depending on how old the computer is that you are using check the site of the company who made the computer. They should have a more recent driver.
     
    Dean Wessel, Aug 20, 2007
    #2
  3. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    What current transfer mode does Device Manager show for your optical drive (it is normally on IDE channel 1). Is it PIO or UDMA 2?

    If it is UDMA 2, then uninstall the channel and allow Windows to redetect it. This should fix the transfer speed.

    Windows automatically     puts the channel into PIO mode if there are a lot of read errors which can happen if the disc is difficult to read.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Aug 20, 2007
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