Windows 7 not consistently recognizing optical drives and external HD

afwm1985

New member
Local time
1:09 PM
Messages
2
Okay I have been having this problem for the past two months or so where my BIOS and/or Windows 7 is only sporadically recognizing my two optical drives and my external HD. I can't seem to find a fix!

First, here are my specs:

OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU: AMD Athlon II X3 445
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-770T-USB3
RAM: 8GB (4 x 2GB) ADATA DDR3 1333 (PC3 10666) Model AD3U1333B2G9-DRH
Video Card: Palit GeForce GT 240 512MB GDDR5 Model NE5T2400FHD51
HD: Western Digital Caviar Blue 500GB Model WD5000AAKS
External HD: Seagate Expansion External Drive 1TB USB 2.0 Model ST310005EXA101-RK
Optical Drive #1: Lite-On iHES208 Internal Blu-ray Reader & DVD/CD Writer
Optical Drive #2: Lite-On iHBS112 Internal Blu-ray Writer
PS: Corsair Enthusiast Series CMPSU-650TX 650W

First, the external HD. When I boot, the detecting storage devices screen will always detect my internal HD, but it only detects the Seagate about 10% of the time. So, for instance, when I try to boot Ubuntu from the Seagate, most of the time it hasn't been detected as a boot option. However, once I get into Windows, I can always access the Seagate. I am fairly certain the issue is not with the Seagate because my laptop always recognizes it. I also tried extending the time for detecting storage devices in the BIOS, thinking maybe it just needed more time to get picked up, but that had no effect. Not sure if this is a BIOS or Windows issue.

Now, the optical drives. My computer now almost never detects the iHES208, and usually does detect the iHBS112. However, for some reason if I try to boot a ISO from the iHBS112 it just boots Windows. Also, when I try to burn it doesn't work. I bring up CDBurnerXP and it has both drives in the drop-down, but no matter which drive I select CDBurnerXP says I need to insert a blank disc even though there is one in it. Tried it with both drives. But if I put a install disc for some program into the iHBS112, for instance, it will read/install whatever's on the disc just fine.

When I first built the computer back in January, it recognized everything just fine. I'm not sure what set off the problems. Any thoughts!? Even just on how to figure out what the problem is?
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64Intel Core i7-2600K16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRLATI Radeon HD 6870
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Something I threw together
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600K
Motherboard
Asus P8P67
Memory
16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRL
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 6870
Sound Card
ATI Radeon HDMI / Realtek ALC892
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x 22" standard monitors / LG32LC56v TV to watch films
Screen Resolution
1920 x1080
Hard Drives
2 x OCZ Vertex2 111.79GB
3 x Samsung103SJ
1 x Samsung103UJ
1 x WD3200BEVT
1 x Hitachi5K320-160
PSU
Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W
Case
Antec 300
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and 5 120mm Case fans
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
Mouse
Hama M3110 / Logitech M305
Internet Speed
16000
Other Info
I have also used Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu Linux
And all other Windows from 95 to date except ME
Thanks for the response. I've tried both those though. Updated my BIOS and ran the Microsoft fix it for not detecting devices...
 

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64

My Computer My Computer

At a glance

Windows 7 Ultimate x64Intel Core i7-2600K16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRLATI Radeon HD 6870
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Something I threw together
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600K
Motherboard
Asus P8P67
Memory
16 GB G Skill F3-10666 CL9D-4GBRL
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 6870
Sound Card
ATI Radeon HDMI / Realtek ALC892
Monitor(s) Displays
2 x 22" standard monitors / LG32LC56v TV to watch films
Screen Resolution
1920 x1080
Hard Drives
2 x OCZ Vertex2 111.79GB
3 x Samsung103SJ
1 x Samsung103UJ
1 x WD3200BEVT
1 x Hitachi5K320-160
PSU
Thermaltake Toughpower Cable Management 750W
Case
Antec 300
Cooling
Noctua NH-U12P SE2 and 5 120mm Case fans
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000
Mouse
Hama M3110 / Logitech M305
Internet Speed
16000
Other Info
I have also used Fedora, Suse, Ubuntu Linux
And all other Windows from 95 to date except ME
Back
Top