Optical drive issue - cant turn off, always on


  1. lister
    Posts : 259
    Windows 7 Panasonic CF F9 (used to have CF F8)
       New #1

    Optical drive issue - cant turn off, always on


    Hi my optical drive has an on off switch.

    If I try to switch it off I get this message:

    "..Problem ejecting standard dual channel PCI IDE controller" and then advises that I need to close the program that is using the PCI controller.

    If I right click in the systems tray - safely remove hardware - there is an option to eject the "standard dual channel PCI IDE controller"

    If I do eject that, will it mean that when I re-boot the optical drive will no longer be recognized by windows? THought id ask before trying it.

    The reason why I would like to turn it off is because it is hardly used and I am sure that it just drains the battery. Thanks
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  3. jote
    Posts : 21
    windows 7 home premium
       New #2

    Hi there, you cant disable and ide controller
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  4. Mike Connor
    Posts : 2,039
    Several, including Windows 7 x64 Ultimate
       New #3

    If that is the only PCI IDEcontrolled device on your machine, and you don't use it, then you can disable it. However, if you have other IDE devices like internal hard drives or similar on that interface, they will also be disabled, and if one of those is a system drive, your machine will not boot until it is re-enabled. If you disable the optical drive then it will not work until it is re-enabled.

    Usually, the system will not allow you to disable essential drives. You can however do this in the BIOS.

    As a rule these things don't use much power when not actually operating, and are best left alone.

    Regards....Mike Connor
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  6. Shootist
    Posts : 578
    Windows 7 Pro x64
       New #4

    lister said:
    Hi my optical drive has an on off switch.

    If I try to switch it off I get this message:

    "..Problem ejecting standard dual channel PCI IDE controller" and then advises that I need to close the program that is using the PCI controller.

    If I right click in the systems tray - safely remove hardware - there is an option to eject the "standard dual channel PCI IDE controller"

    If I do eject that, will it mean that when I re-boot the optical drive will no longer be recognized by windows? THought id ask before trying it.

    The reason why I would like to turn it off is because it is hardly used and I am sure that it just drains the battery. Thanks
    Never heard of any optical drive in a computer, notebook or desktop, that had a On Off switch.
    Curious what make and model notebook you have and what is the make of the optical drive.
    Also I have never heard of a optical drive used in a computer, any type, that spins all the time.
    As long as there is no disc in the drive it shouldn't use any power.
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