Greetings Mike and list--
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> I have a Dell Dimension XPS T450, Pentium III 450 Mhz, with 256 MB ram and
> Windows ME that won't pickup the CD-RW; an Acer 10x4x32.  This CD-RW drive is on
> the secondary IDE connector slave; in the master is DVD drive.  The BIOS will
> not let me selected a secondary slave device,

If this is the case, is the jumper on the correct pair of pins on the CD-RW (and the
DVD, for that matter)?  If so, and the BIOS doesn't see it, the drive MAY be toast.
It would be a good idea to re-check the jumpers on both devices on the secondary
IDE channel, and set them to the manufacturer's recommendations.

> the DVD is shown and Device
> Manager shows a yellow caution on the second IDE controller.  I cannot install
> the Dell IDE drivers as I have on access to either CD drive.

If this is supposed to read "no access to either CD drive", that would lead me to
suspect more strongly that the jumpers are not set correctly.  Often, drive makers
suggest setting the CD-RW device as a slave on the primary IDE channel to make
copying from the hard disk more efficient.  As for the DVD, it, too, should be set
to the manufacturer's recommendations for best performance.

Good luck and hope it's something simple like the above...

Paul A. Shippert
Library Media Specialist
Margaret Brent Middle School
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"and I'm hovering like a fly,
waiting for the windshield on the freeway." Genesis
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