I know that some of you people are computer gods & I apologise for having to post this.
My computers runs XP Home (sp3) (didn't trust Vista & to cheap to buy 7).
Anyway got myself a 2nd DVD writer, same brand that it came with.
They use SATA cables, everything attached ok.
Now both DVD drives appear in my BIOS, but 2nd one no where to be seen when I boot up into XP?
Tried to trouble shoot at Windows site, but they are about as useful as an ashtray on a motorcycle. Any clues?

 

Is it in Device Mangler... err Manager? Start -> Run -> and type in devmgmt.msc

Can't remember my XP atm but there should be a DVD / CD-Rom category. If it's not listed there, try scanning for new hardware from the menus.

 

See if any of the discussion in this link will help you. It came up when I did a Google search about your problem.

2nd SATA drive detected in BIOS but NOT in Windows Disk Management

 

Thanks guy's, but been there,done that, saw the movie.
Even tried swapping the SATA cables around & even ran the new dvd solo (so I now it works). Chaged the settings in bios from auto to 3 & 4 which is the number of the SATA plugs on the motherboard, reversed that for heck of it. I'll probably just take the the puter in to where I got it (same place as I got the DVD burner) SATA may be faster, but IDE cables meant that you could set on rom to master & the other to slave & never any weird problems like this.