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37855
August 18th, 2008 19:00
Hard Drive Stuck in PIO Mode
The hard drive on my Dad's computer (Dimension 2400) has been thrashing away for no reason, so I checked and the Primary IDE channel was set to PIO mode. In fact, the Secondary, with 2 optical drives, was also in PIO mode. I wanted to set them both back to DMA, like they should be, but it's not cooperating.
The BIOS (Revision A05) shows, in Drive Configuration, IDE Drive UDMA: On.
Windows XP Device Manager shows, under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers,
Intel 82801DB Ultra ATA Controller, Driver: Intel Version 2.3.0_2160
Primary IDE Channel, driver: Microsoft Version 5.1.2600.1106
Properties: Transfer mode---DMA, if available; Current Transfer Mode: PIO Mode
Secondary IDE Channel, same thing.
I tried the recommended procedure for reinitializing the controller, which is to uninstall the device, and restart. The message says, "Confirm Device Removal, Intel 82801DB ...., Warning! You are about to uninstall this device from your system." I click OK.
Then the message says, "To finish removing your hardware, you must restart your computer. Do you want to restart your computer now?". I reply Yes, and the system restarts.
But then Windows won't boot. Upon restart, I get the text message that says, "We apologize for the inconvenience, but Windows did not start successfully. A recent hardware or software change might have caused this."
The only way I can start windows is by choosing "Last login that worked." I'm not sure how to proceed to troubleshoot this situation.
Is it possible some software is preventing the registry changes from being done properly? I see that Norton Save and Restore is installed....
jackshack
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August 19th, 2008 00:00
Somehow I always thought that it is the IDE channels that needed to be removed and re-detected. At least that is where you find the information regarding the data mode.
maury11215
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August 19th, 2008 01:00
maury11215
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August 19th, 2008 21:00
Okay, I tried to Uninstall only the Primary IDE Channel.
Windows asks if I want to restart my computer now.... when it restarts, I still get the text screen that says, "We apologize for the inconvenience..." and the only option that works at that point is "Last Known Good Configuration." And then I'm back where I started; Device Manager shows as follows:
Intel 82801DB Ultra ATA Controller, Driver: Intel Version 2.3.0_2160
Primary IDE Channel, driver: Microsoft Version 5.1.2600.1106
Properties: Transfer mode---DMA, if available; Current Transfer Mode: PIO Mode
What prevents the channel from being re-detected? Is there an error log? Maybe there's a different approach (e.g., updating the drivers).
jackshack
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August 20th, 2008 03:00
One of the curious things about your complaint is that both IDE channels are stuck in PIO mode. Just as a check you should go to setup (F2 on system start) and check the Drive Configuration item. If you press Enter on that item you should get a box that has a listing that includes IDE modes at the bottom; UDMA On or Off. I think you should make sure this setting is ON.
Other than that, there is a small program that is available that will force the 2nd IDE channel to UDMA, but I haven't found the same for the primary channel. Looking over the knowledge base in Microsoft they basically instruct you to do what you've already attempted unless you have an older Windows version that had some problems with this. These are basically Windows XP prior to Service Pack 2. That is another thing I just remembered. Service Pack 3 sometimes does funny things depending on what else is installed when the update is attempted, and it doesn't seem to like to have an active anti-virus at that time, either. There is an entire thread on Service Pack 3 hassles at the top of the Windows XP page, here. Wouldn't hurt to take a look if the computer has been updated.
While you're at it, have you tried booting to Windows safe mode before you try booting normally? That will sometimes set things straight.
maury11215
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August 20th, 2008 04:00
Thanks, I will try what you suggested. (The system is Windows XP Home SP2.)
I want to check out the ribbon cable, too, and see if there's anything interesting in the System Events log....
mombodog
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August 21st, 2008 01:00
Sata and IDE optical drives will be DMA2 mode.
Most hard drives will be either DMA 5 or 6
Constant reverting to PIO mode on a hard drive is usually an indication of a severely fragmented file system and or many file system errors, or a failing hard drive (most likely) or IDE controller(rare)
First run a chkdsk on the drive, it may take a very long time to complete with the drive in PIO mode, be patient and let it finish. http://kb.wisc.edu/helpdesk/page.php?id=5097
Once this is done, defrag the drive in Windows, you may have to do this twice if it is severely fragmented. Then try the uninstall of the IDE controller and reboot, if no Joy, replace the drive.
Do not attempt to defrag the drive before running chkdsk or more serious problems could present themselves.
jackshack
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August 21st, 2008 02:00
I don't normally disagree with Mombodog, but I'm running a D2400 here and my device manager reports my secondary IDE channel, which does have my optical drives, is operating in DMA 2. The primary channel is operating in DMA 5.
Regardless of that, however, I agree with all else, and if the setting in bios shows DMA to be enabled that gives all the more reason to follow Mombo's advice.
mombodog
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August 21st, 2008 03:00
jackshack
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August 21st, 2008 03:00
maury11215
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August 25th, 2008 22:00
Thanks for the suggestions. I think maybe I could install the drive on a different system as a slave and defragment there.
In the system Setup (F2) the Drive Configuration is definitely set to UDMA. I checked the IDE cable--it has an 80-wire Ultra-DMA IDE/ATA cable. The drive is the Hitachi Deskstar IC35L090AVV207-0. I ran the IDE Drive Diagnostics, the one on the Boot Device Menu, and also the Disk drive portion of the DELL Hardware Diagnostics Utility. All tests passed successfully. I also wanted to get the Intel CHipset ID Utility and then check to see if the latest Windows drivers are installed.
I wonder why windows will not start (neither Normal or Safe Mode) after uninstalling the Primary Channel. Maybe Windows doesn't support doing that for the System or Boot Volumes.