DVD rewritable drive causes computer to crash

[Ingemar]

I don't know the specifics, but my DVD drive causes my computer to crash. It had been working fine for the many months I've had it, but now the computer is definitely having some "emotional problems." We had the drive replaced (same model, brand) and it stopped having problems.... for four days. Now it is happening again.

Lest you think it is anything else, we isolated the problem as the DVD drive. The only reason you are seeing this post now is because I unplugged it. The BSOD says it may be a driver problem, but I can't know the device status if it's not plugged in--and if it's plugged in, I can't use the computer. Dilemma, I know. This also means I can't reinstall the OS if that will solve the problem.

[Arnobius]

Have you tried rolling back the driver?

[Ingemar]

I don't understand what that means. But if you mean disabling the drivers, my Dad has tried that and same result (crashes).

[Arnobius]

I don't understand what that means. But if you mean disabling the drivers, my Dad has tried that and same result (crashes).

Well, on WinXP, (presuming you have it), you can tell the computer to "roll back" or go to the previous driver for the DVD burner. It's used to defend against badly designed driver updates.

This may not be the problem you have, but it's what came to mind hearing your problem.

[Ingemar]

Is it possible to roll back a driver for a device that isn't even connected?

[Kaligraphic]

I'm guessing you've got your drives set up with your HD as primary master and your DVD drive as primary master? i.e. on different cables? Try setting your DVD drive as a slave and putting it on the same cable as your HD. Just in case it's really an issue with your secondary IDE controller.