when i start windows i always get a message appearing saying: "your new hardwear is installed but might not work properly untill you reboot" this message is to do with the secondary IDE channel driver. i have a CD-RW drive on my secondary IDE channel and after this message appears the drive is not displayed in my computer. i have checked the cables and connections and when bootin the compert it says that my secondary ide channel is present. ive tryed alot to sort it out, please help. regards

It sounds like your CDRW drive might have died.

Try this before having a funeral for that drive. Go to> system Then>device manager Then> open the ata/ide channels selection Then select> the second ide channel Then> right click the channel Then select> check for hardware changes close up all the open windows and see if that lets you access the drive If not it still may not be the drive. Check under the device drivers and see if there is a conflict. If it says it's working properly then guess you need to replace it. HOWEVER do not throw it away, it just might be a fixable problem. enjoy the new one and send the other in to be serviced.

I have the same problem. Tonight my Lite-On CD-RW and Plextor DVD-RW onnthe sceondary channel disappeared fom view. Not able to access them in the device manager (XP Pro) or update drivers.