Question:
e1705 cd-rom issues
Hello all,
I am having an issue with my cd-rom on my e1705 (I got the dvd 8x rw +/- upgrade). I did not yet have a dvd decoder and I was intrigued by the one offered by nvidia, since I have a 7900 GS, and it promised to provide the best picture out of the other decoders. However, after installation I tried to run a dvd and it was running slow and the audio was all hacked up. I hope that there is not an issue with my dvd drive and trying another decoder might solve the problem, but I do not understand why it did not work. Has anyone else with an e1705 had similar issues? Can anyone recommend what you use as a dvd decoder?
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
Are you plugged in? Running on battery often results in subpar performance. Check out VLC for a great all-around player.
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
On my laptop, I couldn't use some decoders. Personally i recommend using Cyberlink PowerDVD which you can request from Dell's tech support (they'll send it to you for free). If i tried to use anything else, my sound or video would be screwed up :-/
Don't worry, it doesn't hurt your DVD drive. The DVD decoder is just software that reads a DVD.
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
Thanks for the replies. My laptop is plugged in so that's not it but i appreciate the reccomendation on VLC. Thank you for the suggestion, Southern Girl, I think that is probably the best thing to do considering you were saying that you had problems with other decoders.
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
hmmm... I'm getting the same audio butchering and slow doen with vlc as i am with nvidia. Maybe the cyberlink program is the only one that will work with inspirons??
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
VLC normally works. Make sure to uninstall the nvidia drivers, and check to make sure that your laptop is set to DMA mode and not PIO.
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
Southern Girl how do you switch to the dma mode?
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
I actually think that there is a problem with my cd drive because when i have tried to run a movie with the nvidia decoder and vla it makes this really loud whirring noise that sounds like a jackhammer is going to work on my computer. Then when the movie plays you can hardly hear the butchered audio above the obnoxious noise the drive emits and it makes my computer stutter with trailed mouse movements. I don't think I should be having this problem with a dual core processor+7900 GS+1GB ram so I think that it is another issue, i.e. a defective cd drive. Is there a way that I can run an in-computer diagnostic to see if the cd-rom is working like it should be? Or am I going to be stuck duking it out with a Dell representative to get a new drive? Finally does this dvd burner from dell just plain suck and other people have the same problem?
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
1 Attachment(s)
I actually think that there is a problem with my cd drive because when i have tried to run a movie with the nvidia decoder and vla it makes this really loud whirring noise that sounds like a jackhammer is going to work on my computer. Then when the movie plays you can hardly hear the butchered audio above the obnoxious noise the drive emits and it makes my computer stutter with trailed mouse movements. I don't think I should be having this problem with a dual core processor+7900 GS+1GB ram so I think that it is another issue, i.e. a defective cd drive. Is there a way that I can run an in-computer diagnostic to see if the cd-rom is working like it should be? Or am I going to be stuck duking it out with a Dell representative to get a new drive? Finally does this dvd burner from dell just plain suck and other people have the same problem?
My NEC drive has been my best ever, you may have the Sony drive.
From the desktop, right click “My Computer”, now left click properties, then hardware tab, then device manager. You now see a list of items installed on your 1705.
You and Dell will checking items there;) DVD/CD drives option will give you the make and model of your drive.
Look down to the IDE ATA/ATPI controllers and look under Secondary IDE Channel.
Check attached picture for your settings that Southergirl mentioned. Set as the attached picture if not already.
Dell will ship you a new drive if they determine you have a hardware issue. It’s one screw and drive slides out, very easy.
A little patience will be required but Dell usually will try to do the right thing.
Answer:
Re: e1705 cd-rom issues
Hydra-
When I got to the advanced settings on the secondary ide channel properties, I saw that I have DMA if available checked but that the current transfer mode is PIO mode. Is there any way to correct this? Also will doing this eliminate the really loud vibrating sound my drive emits? I just used alcohol to get an image from a psx cd copied on my computer and it made the jackhammer noise the whole time! The screwy thing is that the drive will make the noise half of the time. Another reason why I believe it is defective is because I have been playing ps1 games off of cds on epsxe and 3 weeks ago, the cds were loading and working just fine except for occasionally making that jackhammer noise. But now, the darn thing won't even load the cds.