Page 1 of Installed DVD ReWriter in Compaq PC. Perfect picture, but no sound!

Help!
I`ve just purchased the top-selling DVD Re-Writer from Amazon. It came with no instructions whatsoever. However, using my Compaq`s upgrade manual I was able to install the unit in my PC, and when I switched on I got the Windows XP `new hardware found` pop-up.

Now when I try to play a dvd, whether in Media Player or Real Player, I don`t get any sound from the dvd. I`ve checked the volume on media and real player, and tested playing internet radio stations and they work fine, it just seems to be for dvds on my new rewriter that there is no sound.

I`ve looked in the Windows Control Panel for any way of configuring the dvd re-writer, but can find nothing.

The only information that`s got me thinking is that the Compaq upgrade manual said that new optical devices may come with a sound lead, which should be plugged in. The re-writer I received certainly did not come with any other leads, and I`ve no idea where I`d plug such a lead in the PC anyway. All I`ve plugged into the re-writer is the wide parallel cable marked `slave`, and a separate 4-pin plug. The existing CD ROM/Writer that came with the PC is also plugged in with identical plugs (that seem to be running in serial).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated,

Thanks!

The existing drive will have a little lead with a square-shaped plug attached to it - this is the sound lead. I think you can just unplug it from the original drive and plug it in the corresponding socket of the new one.

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www.soundalikes.com/

thats not the problem as i have 2 dvd drives both of which play dvds with no problem and only 1 is connected to the soundcard, anyways there are 2 audio connectors on the dvd rom drives, one like those on cd drives and 1 digital output for straight to spdif connection .
Its more likely to be a setting in the dvd player software you have installed or the windows volume controls having the relevant output muted.
First check the windows volume control and see if that helps then run the dvd player (not windows media player or realplayer as these are using the codecs supplied with the dvd player which may be powerdvd or some other such dvd specific player, hmm windvd by intervideo seems to be listed under a google search). Possibly the dvd player software is setup for a speaker setup you don`t actually have on your system e.g 5.1 as I assume you didn`t have a dvd drive of any sorts installed prior to this

after more digging i found this No sound in windvd or later compaq machines
and this

This item was edited on Thursday, 20th April 2006, 16:52

You shouldn`t require connecting the audio out from your DVD writer to the motherboard. Windows has drivers to decode the audio from the disc. Check that the sound isn`t muted. Usually it will be Wave or Master Volume.

If this doesn`t work for whatever reason (and I cannot see why not) then you can connect an audio cable on to the CD in of your motherboard and you need to un-mute it from the volume control.

er dubious that you`ll get anything out of the audio out connector when playing anything aside from a cd given that dvds often have multiple audio streams to choose from

Yep quite right, the audio cable is analog and DVD sound is digital. I`ve had a long day.

Well, for the record just tried playing DVD in new DVD writer I installed couple of weeks ago and its just fine. Played it back in WMP and Nero Showtime(downloaded with rest of supplied software). I installed it in the spare bay and did not use audio cable supplied - just the IDE slave connector and power cable. Know this doesn`t help but should indicate as previous posts that problem probably lies with some volume control setting.

Pete

P.S. Just tried WinDVD player and that was just fine also.

This item was edited on Friday, 21st April 2006, 10:51

Thanks for all the advice everybody, as an experiment I tried playing a music cd on my new dvd writer, and it played fine, so I guess it looks like a software config problem, and I don`t need to connect any extra leads.

One thing I noticed is that the CD-Rom drive that came installed with my PC has disappeared from the Windows hardware list!, I`m guessing that this is a master/slave issue (both the dvd writer and the cd-rom wanting to be master). I doubt this is the reason for my dvd sound problem.

Does anyone have an opinion on the best setup in terms of master/slave when you add a new dvd writer to your pc? I`ve seen some websites that suggest there can be conflicts between cd-rom and dvd-writer that can cause problems burning dvd`s, but if I`m not using the cd-rom at the same time as burning a dvd would it matter?

Iain, again don`t know if this has any baring on the matter but did you select cable select or slave option on the DVD writer when you installed it. I eventually opted for slave setting. I`m assuming you didn`t select master option.

Pete

P.S. what is the top selling DVD writer from Amazon you installed?

This item was edited on Friday, 21st April 2006, 11:27

Hi Pete,

The exact item is:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/tg/browse/-/1193396/ref=br_bx_2_1/203-9666686-3427167?tag=myrev09-21

No, I selected master option on the dvd writer, I guess this is why my cdrom is `gone`. I plan to change this to slave (as you have), but am wondering what works best. Have you had any problems with this configuration?