Installing 2 USB DVD burners
 

I have a SONY DRU 700A and a Memorex 3202-3298 burner. Both are USB.

I cannot get them to reliably work at the same time. Using a time-consuming process (uninstall both, reboot, install one, reboot, install the other) they sometimes both work. But even then the Memorex will 'disappear' spontaneously, and almost always after a reboot.

Neither burner came with a driver, so they are both using the default Microsoft driver.

I am running Windows XP, Service Pack 3.

Any suggestions gratefully received.

Nitram

Two things come to mind.

First off. The use of USB devices is based on the ability to supply power to them. To properly supply power is to have each connected usb device supply their own power supply. If not then a drain upon your computer power supply is an issue that will cause imminent failure. The sony you noted is an internal drive...so you must have it inserted in a USB external case of some sort. Is it self powered?

Are you using a hub...then try to use the ports on the computer itself and see if it has the same issues.

Also the difference in using a laptop with a minimum power ability over the use of a desktop with a full power supply will make a big difference in what you are trying to achieve.

While you mentioned the XP and SP3 you failed to mention if the USB connection is USB 1.1 or 2.0 which will also cause an issue when dealing with a coupled high end components trying to work at the same time.

I would reccomend that you update the USB driver in your system and see if that makes a difference.

Xp has always had an issue with too many installed drives not being reccognised or failing....this is due to the assigning drive letters to the drives.
A work around is to re-assign drive letters to installed hardware drives....I assign my optical drives letters from the back of the alphebet...x,y,z, and this allows new connections to occupy the lower assignments.

Many thanks for your quick response.

Both the burners are external and have thier own power supplies and use USB 2.0.

I tried plugging them both directly into the computer, but the result is the same.

I have renamed the optical drives as you suggested (although I haven't been able to re-install the Memorex).

The operating system was re-built from scratch about a month ago so I assume I have the most recent USB drivers. What source would you recommend for looking for more recent USB drivers?

BTW, each works just fine if it the only one!

Thanks again,

Nitram

Work at same time? Do you mean to burn different things at the same time? or just be able to install and have ready to run when needed?

I just wanted them both available for burning and to make copies, I have not tried burning with both at the same time. Not sure my CPU would handle that.

Since my last post I have re-installed them both and they have been behaving. So perhaps assigning new drive letters was the solution.

Thanks again for you help.

Nitram