System freeze after closing CD tray

Hi, i have assembled a new system recently as described below in signature.
I have set it up to dual boot WindowsXP Professional and PCLinuxOS .93

On WindowsXP:
I notice random, and not reproducible, system freeze after closing the CD tray with some disk in it. There will be some activity and hard disk access as indicated by the hard disk activity LED, and suddenly everything is frozen! No response to Esc/Alt-F4/Ctrl-Alt-Del/Mouse movements anything. CD is ejected on pressing the eject button on the drive bezel. Screen remains frozen - all activity indicators eg. the "file copy progress animation" stop dead on the screen. Only recovery option is REBOOT button on the case or the power socket pull out

On PCLinuxOS:
Reproducible, similar freeze on trying to access webcam via XCam or XSane application that comes with PCLinuxOS. Now here there has never been problem accessing the CD Drive. Only the webcam is the problem. But the mode of entering freeze is same. Again rescue is only through reboot. Here however it happens everytime the said action is undertaken.

I thought of RAM, did Memtest from the LiveCD and everything looks clean.

Any ideas....

-SS.

 

not surprising

this is weird, try totally disconnecting the CD drive that appears to be causing the problem - hows the system now - also try attaching another CD that you know works without a problem (preferably a drive of the same type (CD, CDr, CD-RW DVD, DVDr, DVD-RW, DVD+-RW, DVD-RAM))

 

Totally disconnect??? Should i remove the IDE data cable from its motherboard connection.. is that what you mean? As i said the problem is only when loading a CD. Oh but i can check the webcam thing on Linux (do not look related to me though)

I dont have a spare drive nor can i afford to buy one... just to test. And i dont have any tech savy friends with computers around here...

Problems... problems.... do they ever end. They say around here
"When trouble comes, it is never alone." How true!!!
-SS.

 

well try changing your ide cable. wat psu are u using and how long has it een since this problem occured. it is very likely to be the cd-rom, psu or ide cable.

 

good point, but yeah, disconnect the IDE cable from the mobo (presuming the HDD is alone on IDE0)

 

My HDD is SATA. Only DVD Writer is on IDE.
Everything is brand new... say 10 days or so.
Will try that and see.

But i will not see any difference because the problem is only when loading CD :doh: ??????

-SS.

 

WELL then change the ide cable, wat r ur psu specs?

 

I know only that it is a stock PSU that came with the ATX cabinet i bought. It is rated at 400W. Cabinet is from Zebronics. Is all i know. Will pick up more details if they are there when i open the box tomorrow. (Sunday - relatively a free day for me!)
-SS.

 

more than likely to be psu or cd rom really. jus change the cable to get it out of the way and den u have two suspects left

 

Ok. Will get back. Thanks.
-SS.

 

Changed the IDE cable for CD-ROM.
Changed the RAM from existing slot to another.

Reboot.

NO USE :-( everything is as bad as it was.

Still randomly hangs on CD load. And surely hangs while running XCam in PCLinuxOS.

Looks like i will have to contact ASUS...
-SS.

 

does it randomly mess up when loading the cd rom or not. i bring it to a cd-rom of psu problem. have u gt your psu specs.

 

Oh! I forgot to write down the PSU specs. Will open up and tell 'morrow.

But how can we explain a similar freeze on trying to access a USB webcam on Linux?
-SS.

 

Sorry, could not get to open the box.
But disabled AutoRun from the registry in WindowsXP and now it is symptom free in Windows.
Probably then it could have been a driver/installation issue.?

Working on the webcam freeze in Linux. May be it is a question of getting the proper driver?!!!

Working on it. Will report back with the progress..
-SS.

 

Your CD drivers could be corrupted..

 

Went to LiteOn homepage to look for the driver. Result = Microsoft Standard Driver!!!
So cant download an update/non-corrupt driver too.
Any idea how to check if the "Standard Microsoft Driver" is corrupt?
Thanks,
-SS.

 

give me the make and model number of your cd ! Is it just a cd ? Or cd/rw ?

 

It is a DVD Writer from LiteOn corporation.
LiteOn SOHW 1633s.
-SS.

 

Check here:Download LiteOn SOHW-1633S BS0Y Driver for Windows 95/98/9X/ME/NT/2000/2K/XP/2003 - SoftpediaDownload LiteOn SOHW-1633S BS0Y Driver for Windows 95/98/9X/ME/NT/2000/2K/XP/2003 - Softpedia

 

If it freeze next time then have a look in your Event Viewer(RightClick MyComputer > Manage > Event) as well....Under Applications and System events, if you see some errors then copy paste here...(Just the latest ones)...That might help in figuring out the disease...