Installing these on Gateway 2000 computer (products not bought or supported by them):

1.  installed these 2 new drives (NEC DVD, different brand CD R), replacing CD Rom and an empty port

2.  icon My Computer now shows D and E drives, but cannot open.....get error message...."retry", etc.

3.  cannot update hardware....search for new hardware results in nothing

4.  in rebooting, hit F1 to open configuration....shows both new drives as "secondary" in IDE configuration, not "primary".  Cannot change to primary.

5.  checked cables....in correct sequence (I am told) using Belt plugs....middle plug to MASTER DVD player....and end of cable plug to Slave CD R/WR drive.  Power is correct.  Slave and Master switches are correct.

??
Why wont it recognized these 2 new drives?  It will read a Win 98 CD if I put it in......starts on its own.  But I cannot open the drives myself....

Anyone explain this MYSTERY.....or did I miss something?  Gateway will not help.  NEC not open until Tues.
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Be certain that the configuration of the drives is correct. Secondary Master and Secondary Slave.

Primary Master and Slave are most likely taken by your HDD and another device.

Are the drives detected in the BIOS?
Thanks for reply....

1.  YES, configuration is detected in bios.

2.  Secondary Master is the DVD Rom, and Secondary Slave is the WR drive.  

still shows Primary as the original config.  

Any more ideas?
P.S. This is weird......

I was able to burn a cd from Windows Media Player to the new drive.

But cannot open D or E drives directly, or on any commands.  Can put a Windows 98 Install CD in D drive...and it reads and works.

Still puzzled.  Please help experts.Have you tried to RESET your BIOS?

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still shows Primary as the original config.