Ok so someone flicked the voltage switch at the back of a friends desktop PC, i have replaced the PSU which was fried to hell and a now the computer turns on and works fine except for two small problems, one the I keep getting a laod of bios beeps and two the DVD drive isn't recognised, i'm sure i've connected all of the leads up correctly because I marked all of the ones on the old PSU, does anyone have any ideas on what the problem is?

Try connecting a different drive. If that doesn't work, I would have to say that the MOBO is FUBAR.

Can you look up the BIOS Error Beep codes?

I don't think the motherboard has had it because windows starts normally, I'm not sure what the motherbard is i'll have to go have a look around before I can figure out what the beeps mean.

Well you got 3 basic things you can look at as the problem... Either the OS, MOBO or DVD is causing the problem.

Start with switching out the DVD and put it in a functional PC... Then look into trying to do a repair on the OS, worse case is the MOBO.

If it's beeping and still starting up into windows I would suspest it's a heat warning / fan failure feature built into your motherboard. The power supply could of spiked and blown up a lot of things including fans. You might need to clean the cpu and put new thermal paste on it.

easy, plug another deivce into the ide channel... if it is dectected then we know that your dvd rom is bad

It may sound easy...but as laptop people we don't have any spare devices, and no-one else will lend us anything, which is a pain.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux It may sound easy...but as laptop people we don't have any spare devices, and no-one else will lend us anything, which is a pain.

easy take the hdd that is plugged in channel 1 and move it to channel 2 boot your system and go into bios... if the ide channel is working you will see your ide hdd in the second channel

Thrill Kill, Laptops dont have the same type of IDE has desktops, the HDD one is pins and the Optical drive one is usually a ribbon, at least thats how its been on the 3 laptops ive taken apart...

Doesn't he mean take the HDD out of the PC we're working on and plug it into the cable that is currently connecting the problem DVD drive to the mobo?

Excellent idea, at least then we'll be able to see if its the DVD drive or a fualt on the MB. Cheers for the advice mate will get back to you if it doesn't work.

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux Doesn't he mean take the HDD out of the PC we're working on and plug it into the cable that is currently connecting the problem DVD drive to the mobo?

i would use the same cord as the hdd is using, so that way you know you are using a good cord....

Quote: Originally Posted by Dreyco Thrill Kill, Laptops dont have the same type of IDE has desktops, the HDD one is pins and the Optical drive one is usually a ribbon, at least thats how its been on the 3 laptops ive taken apart...

yes i know that. but he is working on a freinds PC..


on a side note, his freind is very very lucky that anything works.... switching the voltage over to 220 and only putting 110v in typicaly fries most things....

OH YEAH! We just found out exactly why the drive wasn't working....

Just in my room, working on yet more advert designs, when Scouse (the owner of said faulty PC) comes downstairs asking about iTunes. Suddenly some of her friends rush downstairs yelling that they think her PC is on fire. I rush upstairs and hit the power switch at the wall. Me and Reza crack the case, and have a good hard sniff. Guess what the smell is coming from.....the faulty DVD drive....

We open it up, and yes, there are some nice scorch marks and a lovely burning smell . Problem solved. It wasn't working because it was broken, and it was just as well she wasn't out, because we might have had a nasty fire....





Thanks for your help guys, looks like a new CD drive is in order.....

We also sorted the random Bios beeps at startup. It seems the CD drive was the source of those.

glad to hear you found the issue.....!

Yeah was just a shame we had to fry a DVD drive and stink out a room to do it, still its all fun and games.

You can't beat some good Hits 'n' Shiggles.

True and the vegetarian bacon mad eit all worth while!

*Edit* can you make my avatar smaller please!

Quote: Originally Posted by reflux

I think it's been a while since I've used stock anything... but...is that... a flat gray IDE ribbon cable??

hehe.

While you're ordering things, get some rounded IDE's Your airflow will thank you.