Hi, I have a Micron Laptop whose bios can only recognize a Samsung CD-ROM drive that it came with originally. I installed Win XP using the Samsun CD-ROM drive and then upgraded to a Samsund DVD-CDRW combo drivce. It worked fine. When I wnated to reinstall Win XP it didn't boot off the XP cd, the bios didn't recognize the DVD-CDRW drive. This problem happened before and I was able to install XP with the original Samsung CD-ROM drive, but I don't have that particluar CD- ROM drive anymore. I tried with two other CD-ROM drives that I have, but the same problem occurs. When the laptop powers up, the DVD- CDRW drive lights up and make some spinning sound but does not catch on and the screen says "remove disks or other media and press an

http://support.mpccorp.com/>See if there is a bios upgrade for your problem.I only recommend bios upgrade as a last resort to someone who is familiar with the process.Usually when you enter you notebook serial number at the site it will take you to all available downloads.First read what the upgrade fixes or adds support for in your case.If it does not mention cd rom,dvd,cdrw,ect..then don't even try it.They may have a simple support for you problem at the site.

Some systems are priority to their original software that is another thing to consider.Maybe it did not originally come with windows xp.Then perhaps you would need to install original software and do a windows xp upgrade with your xp disk.

I do have the latest bios. The bios seesm to recognize only the original Samsung CD-ROM. After I Install XP using the Samsung CD-ROM I can replace the CD-ROM with anything. Win XP recognizes any CD/DVD drive, even though the bios doesn't (The secondary master is shown as "none" during startuo in bios. Since the problem is at the bios level it cannot be an XP issue. In fact I was trying to install XP in a blank Hard Drive. So I don't see how XP can be an issue here as someone suggested. My gut feeling is that it may be a master slave configuration problem, and maybe only the original Samsung CD-ROM drive is configured correctly for this bios. I am not sure though. And I have no idea how to configure master slave configuartions for laptop drives. Thanks

Did you check for an option in the BIOS to enable the Secondary controller?

The bios does not have an option to "enable" secondary "controller". All it has is an option to set teh secondary master to "auto/CD-ROM/IDE Removable/Atapi Removable.." I set it to all possible values. Nothing worked, it automatically resets to "None" and does not see the Cd-ROM (at least not let me boot off the CD in it, although I see the light on the drive light up). Still at a loss.

Then you appear to have accidentally jarred something loose memory maybe,you have a bad ide ribbon cable,or weak powersupply,or cpu.I have not found anywhere in searching where you laptop would not be compatable with the new hardware.Sorry, Best of Luck photon.Hope someone else has the fix fou you.