Tom Mayer wrote: >I recently installed a new CDRW drive in an XP Home SP2(fully updated) >machine. I now have the 'C' HD as 'master' and a DVD drive as 'slave' on >the primary IDE. And I have a 'D' HD as 'master' and the new CDRW drive as >'slave' on the secondary IDE. All are set for 'cable selection'. It may be the system doesn't like the set up. You indicate you have a hard drive and a CD or DVD on the same channel. You further state if you disconnect one, "My Computer" and "Windows Explorer" will recognize them. There are times that some Motherboards and BIOS's have a difficult time deciphering the hardware in place. A couple of things I would try are, put the hard drives on one IDE and the CD and DVD on the other. I never mix the two. So far my experience has been good. I would start by attaching the primary drive and open the BIOS to see if it's there. The shunt removed or in the master position as the case may be according to the drive manufactures specifications. In turn, I would do the same for the other drive. In suit do the same thing with the CD and DVD. On this note you will have to select which is going to be the primary drive of choice. In my system I have my CD first and my CDR second. As you go through these drills set the jumpers to cable select first. If there is a conflict then set them to primary and secondary respectively. In the BIOS you may want to change the setting for plug and play to no plug and play. This way the BIOS will set the hardware rather than the Operating system which is the way I have been doing it for years. This doesn't necessarily mean it is the right way to do it. I have experienced a minimal about of problems doing it this way. If what you wrote about the other machine is correct, is it the same manufacturers motherboard and CMOS? Is it an older board? I have found that what may work on one may not work on the other and so forth. Sincerely, Frank Suszka netTek Computers [log in to unmask] The NOSPIN Group has added a new feature on our website, web based bulletinboard for questions and answers: Visit our sister website at http://nospin.com