DVD drive issue: cannot boot from it; solution or make a multi-CD inst

[Happy-Dude]

Heya guys!!

I'm having a small issue right now::

--nLite (http://www.nliteos.com/) DVD .iso making is just fine. However, I can't see to get my PC to boot from the drive. Any kind of disk (live cds, boot cds, windows install cds) will not boot from that drive. CDs on the CD drive will boot just fine.

My PC specs::

Dell Dimension 4400 with A06 BIOS revision

DVD drive with the issue: LG GH22NP20 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827136144 )

P4 @ 2.8 GHz, 2GB, nVidia 7800GS

Now, I've did some Googling and found that others have similar problems to mine. http://forum.lgsoftwareinnovations.com/sho...ead.php?t=24980 -- I will double check whether or not I have an 80-pin cable.

My BIOS recognizes the drive (albeit, in a weird name-- I can copy it down under request), and it is set as the "secondary master." My secondary slave is the CD Drive.

Boot order is as follows:

ATAPI (or something like that- I can double check) CD Drive --(DVD drive as first, CD drive as second)

Hard Disks

Removable Devices -- floppy

Changing or F12-ing select does nothing.

I've tried booting from CDs, like Ubuntu's Live CDs-- however, the DVD drive won't go through. Only when I put it in the CD drive will anything boot and start up from it.

Any suggestions? I will double check everything for my Drives from your suggestions. If what I do does not work, what other options can I fall back to?

How can I fix this?

If I can't what other options are there? Can you walk me through all the steps in making a multi-disk install or even a possible USB?

What are your recommendations?

THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH !! I look forward to your responses.

[Also posted on Dell Forums and MSFN forums for optimal and diverse feedback.

http://www.msfn.org/board/index.php?showtopic=128523

http://en.community.dell.com/forums/p/1925.../19407870.aspx#]

Edited January 12, 2009 by Happy-Dude

[ccl0]

what makes you believe its a software issue?

have you tried playing other dvds?

[johnhc]

Happy-Dude, how did you burn the DVD? Are you using nLite? If so, please attach (not paste) your Last Session.ini. Make sure to always start with a fresh copy of your CD files/folders, do all your work in one nLite session and integrate only one SP. I have used nLite to write DVDs (DVD+RW) with no problem. What speed did you write the DVD? You should try a much lower speed, if you have not. Can you load a CD/DVD into the drive and see the data on it? If not, perhaps the drive is bad. Call LG technical support and ask them. Enjoy, John.

[Kurt_Aust]

Have you tried pulling the power plug out of the back of the CD drive?

Just wondering if the BIOS is only checking one optical drive for a bootable disk.

[Ponch]

Have you tried pulling the power plug out of the back of the CD drive?

I suggest this as well. Or double check jumper settings. Maybe one drive is set as slave the othter one as cable select but on the mid end of the cable and so there might be a twist. Strange the slave boots but not the master.

[Happy-Dude]

.ISO file is made via nLite OR ImgBurn (mostly ImgBurn).

This is not a software issue-- more like an issue with my drive (should this post be moved?)

The drive is recognized by the BIOS, and works just fine in actual OS tasks. However, it just doesn't boot anything up (CDs nor DVDs).

So I think this is a hardware issue-- (the drive isn't booting ANY disc, which the CD drive will). Should this thread be moved to the right spot?

Call LG technical support and ask them. Enjoy, John.

I should do that. Thanks -- I'll look up their tech support number.