DVD drive not installing or reading DVD's properly

I've come across the need to burn some dual layer dvd's... well, i have a DVD drive capable od doing JUST that; The DVDRW IDE1008. The thing is right as i need it to work (oor maybe it just never worked to begin with) it won't read my blank dual layer dvd's, and regular dvd's are detected as CDs.

I have the latest firmware, and i do have IDE drivers, i've tried just about everything to no avail.
I even installed ANOTHER drive into my computer with dual layer just to see if it was the original drive that was defective, the same thing happens. Obviously i'm dealing with a motherboard problem, but that's as far as i can interpret.

I really need to burn these DVD's, any help would be greatly appreciated.

Some more information:: when i install the drive, windows XP detects it as DVDRW IDE1008 and then goes to label it as a CD drive. In "my computer" its name is "DVDrw drive", but when i put in a dvd, it turns into the label cd-drive, and reads the dvd as a cd (in otherwords, it asks if i want to burn the CD, not the DVD)

System information:
Motherboard: EVGA NF-CK804 nforce4 sli
DVD drive in question: DVDRW IDE1008

P.S. this problem MAY have to do with my pwoersupply

It looks as if it is a fairly old drive - so it may be a driver problem in XP. One suggestion I found googling was to make sure it is the master drive on an IDE channel.

It is unlikely to be a PSU problem - but I am interested to learn why you think it might be?

It definitely is on the master channel on the IDE, but i do have one question. The PATA cables that came with the motherboard have labeling on them (a sticker) and the one conencting my dvd drive is labeled hdd cable, and so is the one connecting my hardrive. Is there really a difference? if both of the cables have 80 lines, aren't they the same?

If it's a driver problem, please help me find some drivers that would work, i've tried to no avail!

I think it may be the powersupply because the way things are happening when installing and not working just makes it seem like not enough power is being routed to the dvd drive. i dont THINK im using a Y cable to power it... im so confused...

Windows reporting a DVD drive as a CD player is 100% normal - anyone can do a dxdiag report and see the same thing.

What software are you using to burn DVDs? AFAIK the free Windows one can't. I use InfraRecorder.

I'm using alcohol, and everytime i try to burn something it says to insert a blank dvd.

and each time i put in a dual layer dvd, it doesnt even recognize it at all, or as ANYTHING.

Hmm alcohol does very funny things with virtual drive layers doesn't it? It may not be your problem, but I've heard of it messing up several things before.

Interesting. I'm going to get the latest version of alcohol see if that helps. But why doesnt windows recognize that i put in a dual layer dvd. Also, i remember before a while back (possibly a different drive) when i put a dvd, explorer would read "blank dvd" not CD.

Oh, would you happen to know what drivers could clear this mess up?

Well in my guess it's not lack of drivers, more interference by something else. I've never had to install drivers to burn DVDs. Perhaps give InfraRecorder a go, maybe clearing alcohol off your system if it doesn't work first time.

yeah, the new version of alcohol didnt work, still wont read dual layered dvd's. im just at a loss of ideas...

EDIT: tried other softwares such as cloneCD and infraRecorder, same thing happens...


EDIT: anyone have any suggestions? i need to burn these dvd's!!