RAMASST By Enabling CD Recording Function You Can Not Write to DVD-RAM Do You Still Want To Enable This Seting Yes No
RAMASST-ByEnablingCDRecordingFunctionYouCanNotWritetoDVD-RAMDoYouStillWantToEnableThisSetingYesNo
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 11 Jun 05 12:04
Here's what's happening. I have a Toshiba Satellite laptop with a DVD multi drive on board. A few weeks back, the DVD started misbehaving. It would periodically get I/O errors when attempting to open CD's or DVD's. This seem to worsen as time went on until finally it rarely read anything. From Winders explorer I can always still see the 'D:' drive, but rarely can I put a disk in it and be able to read it.
After cleannig the drive but with no better results, I decided to buy a replacement. It arrrived yesterday and now I'm really confused. The replacement is an exact match for the model number, it's a perfect physical fit, but....
When the new one is in the computer it does get power because the drawer opens and when I insert a disk it spins up for a few seconds. But there is no 'D:' drive from explorer. I can't find it with 'install new hardware; dialogs. It's just not there.
OK, so I put the old one back for some experiments. Now I see a 'D:' drive and I have have a works-on-occasion-DVD-drive' (Same old symptom, same old drive). I've then put the new one back in, and I've been very careful to insure that it's properly seated in the connection coupling but I get the same results. I can't make my windows XP see it.
One last experiment - I tried to boot from the new drive but when I select the CD/DVD from the boot menu the computer instantly drops to the harddisk boot sector. No spin up of the drive or delay of a few seconds.
So, now I'm down to the end of my tale and my request for help. I want to know....
Am I dealing with a DOA drive? Or have I missed some process to let my toshiba know that I've put in a new drive (same model, but new hardware). I don't want to return the drive to the vendor without first making sure that the drive is indeed faulty.
Thanks for your thoughful opinions into this matter.
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micker377 (TechnicalUser) 11 Jun 05 20:02
Do you have the Toshiba drivers for the CD/DVD? If you don't have them, download from Toshiba before you start. If so, remove the drive. Boot into safe mode - Device Manager, and delete ALL drivers that apply to your CD/DVD drive. Reboot to clear the registry. Shut down, put the drive back in, and boot. If the drive isn't recognized, re-install the Toshiba drivers.
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 12 Jun 05 14:38
Thank you, Miker377, for the suggestions, they are ALMOST working. By experimenting with many different settings I'm seeing some strange stuff. Here's a summary and the step-by-step of what I've done:
Boot in safe mode. Old drive in.
Go to device manager, uninstall Matsita DVD drive.
Go to uninstall software, uninstall DVD drive software.
Pull out old drive while the system is live.
Restart in safe mode.
Install DVD software (from a copy on the hard drive that I made from the Toshiba recovery disk).
Plug in new drive while live - two times.
The second time, the system sees the drive and auto-installs it.
The new drive now works. Can see it from device manager and from Add new hardware.
RESTART computer (instead of power down) in safe mode again.
The new drive is still there, works as it should.
RESTART again, normal mode.
The new drive is still there. Looking good...
Power down the computer. Boot up again.
The drive is not there. Device manager doesn't see it, add new hardware doesn't see it.
I've repeated this process MANY times, with the same results each time. In summary, it appears that I can get the drive installed and that installation will live across a system restart, but not through a power down.
Anybody have any helpful suggestions? What can I do to make this drive work across power cycles of the laptop?
Again, thanks for reading down to this point, and any thoughtful recommendations.
garebo (Vendor) 12 Jun 05 15:08
Any possibility of a bios setting causing this problem?
Sounds like a possibility that the bios isnt holding the information so when you warm boot its ok but when you cold boot its not ok. Maybe check your motherboard battery and make sure its at 3 volts or very close to 3 volts.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 12 Jun 05 18:31
Perhaps this is a bios problem, but I'm a bit lost when it comes to locating the motherboard battery on a Toshiba Satellite laptop. Anybody have some clues about where to start with that? I've been digging around on the web and the owners manuals for some hints, but to no avail. Is there a seperate motherboard battery, or does it rely on the primary laptop battery (which I know to be good)?
Thanks again.
garebo (Vendor) 12 Jun 05 18:45
Sorry, i wouldnt want to give you the wrong answer.
Someone with more experience with laptops will come up with the right answer.
But I cant see the motherboard relying on the primary laptop battery as they are known to go bad in usually a few years. Most laptops over about 6 yrs old may work fine but the battery wont hold much of a charge any more, unless its been replaced. I could be way out in left field here, this is just a guess on my part.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
micker377 (TechnicalUser) 14 Jun 05 3:15
On my Gateway, the "BIOS" battery is a yellow "two round (quarter size) cells" in a plastic sealing cover, like a cordless phone battery (plug in). Mine is located under the keyboard. Go on E-Bay and search for your BIOS battery, under your model number. At least you can see what it looks like, and maybe find out where it is!
dietaryconsultant (TechnicalUser) 15 Jun 05 10:27
Tim,
May I ask if you have resolved this issue? I am having a similar problem. I have a brand new tosiba satellite A75 and from the day I turned it on I have been experiencing problems with the mulitfunction drive. I can't figure it out but it is definetly a setting issue.
Like you my drive is missing from my computer and whether it is there or not changes upon start up. I used to get a message that said something about enabling the CD ROM which would then disable the DVD (sorry I can't be more exact.) I would click to keep the current settings for the CD and it worked well. Now I no longer get the message and have cannot see the drive again.
Do you have something called RAMASST? For me it is located in my startup.
I just pasted this from the web. The process CD Burning of Windows XP disabling tool for DVD MULTI Drive or Disable native CD recording on the DVD MULTI Drive belongs to the software RAMAsst Application by Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd ( www.panasonic.co.jp/global). I only starting exploring this today and if I get anywhere I forward the information. I know how frustrating this is!
Lisa
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 15 Jun 05 20:37
Hello DietaryConsultant,
No, I haven't yet resolved this but I think that my current issue is different from the one that you've seen. (I also used to get the same scary warning messages). If I'm not mistaken, then DVD multi-drive has two 'modes' (for lack of a better term). When it's in cd-write mode (as opposed to DVD write mode), the computer will ask if I want to change it back at start-up. If you leave it in DVD write mode it wont ask. But, unlike you, I never had a problem of the drive disappearing until I installed the new one. Perhaps our two problems are related.
Yes, I do have RAMASst in my startup. Right now, I'm away from the new drive for a couple of days, so I can't put it in and mess around with RAMASst to see if it makes any difference.
Here's the small progress that I made. I called the Toshiba tech support line and the technition suggested some tricks that might change the BIOS. He suggested to remove the laptop battery, remove the power cable and hold the power button down for 45 seconds. Then, plug the computer in again and restart it but press F2 to get to the bios editing dialog. (Actully, he suggested ESC but that doesn't do anything where F2 does.). From the BIOS editor, select the option the load the default or resets. These all sounded like good suggestions but alas, it didn't solve the problem. The new multi-drive still isn't seen at start up. Bummer. I may have to pay Toshiba the $35 they want for more advanced tech support/hand holding and try some more tricks. Any other suggestions, techies of the world?
Aussie2 (TechnicalUser) 16 Jun 05 9:23
Tim
Are there any jumpers on the back of the drive
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 16 Jun 05 21:09
Nope, no jumpers.
As I say, the computer can see the new drive if I install it after staring the system with the old, unreliable drive. It'll stay known to the system for as long as I don't do a power cycle. I agree with earlier assessments, this sounds like a bios problem, but I can't seem to get the bios to recognize the drive after a power on.
garebo (Vendor) 17 Jun 05 18:03
I think i already mentioned that you should check the motherboard battery.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
TimMcStink (TechnicalUser) 17 Jun 05 21:36
Indeed you did, Garebo, and I thank you for the advice. I'm still trying exactly how to expose the motherboard battery, so I can't yet report on the success of it.
garebo (Vendor) 17 Jun 05 22:16
Sorry about that, just didnt want you to forget as i think it might be the problem solver.
Good advice + great people = tek-tips
http://hardware.mcse.ms/message243039.html Re: RAMASST.Ink disabled error message? Try going to Start/Run and putting in "msconfig" and then tapping the OK button. This will bring up the System Configuration Utility, where you can go to the Startup tab and look in the listings to make sure there is a check mark in the RAMASST box. In fact, based on the fact a "friend" seemed to help you into the problems, you may just use the Enable All button at the bottom, Apply and then OK and restart your system. -- Chris H. Microsoft Windows MVP/Tablet PC Tablet Creations - http://nicecreations.us/Associate Expert Expert Zone - www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone
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