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4 Posts
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42769
November 24th, 2008 14:00
XP device manager: "enable write caching" greyed out for SATA disk
How do I enable my hard disk's 32MB write cache? The option is greyed out under XP device manager->disk->policies tab.
It's also not an option under Intel Matrix Storage Console Ver 7.5.
System:
XPS 410, 2.4GHZ Q6600 quad CPU, 4GB RAM, Windows XP SP3 Home Edition
Disk: 2x Western Digital Caviar Black 1TB drives, non-RAID
Disk controller: standard on-board Intel ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID controller
Disk driver (iastor.sys) version 7.5.0.1017
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joema2
4 Posts
0
November 25th, 2008 10:00
A few more details: I previously had two 320GB Samsung SATA drives in a RAID0 configuration. The XP device manager disk->policies tab options were also greyed out then, but I could control both hard drive and volume write caching from the Intel Matrix Storage Manager application. Drive model: HD321KJ.
I replaced those with two 1TB WD Caviar Black drives (non RAID) -- same XPS 410 system, no other changes. Device manager drive caching options are still greyed out, but Matrix Storage Manager will not let me view or change drive/volume caching. Drive identifier: WD1001FALS-00J7B0.
Any suggestions on this?
joema2
4 Posts
0
November 27th, 2008 10:00
Tried changing SATA operational mode in BIOS from "RAID ON" to "RAID Autodetect / ATA". System wouldn't boot in that mode, so changed it back.
If no advice from Dell, will try contacting Intel since they provide the disk controller chip, iastor.sys device driver and Matrix Storage Manager software.
Shaggy_Californ
35 Posts
0
November 27th, 2008 11:00
Hey, Try this. Right click on the drive and select properties. Then to hardware tab, select the device and select properties again. If you look at the policies tab here everything is grayed out. Go back to the general tab and select 'change settings'. On that policies tab you should be able to change things if you wish.
Hope this for you.
Regards,
Shaggy.
joema2
4 Posts
0
December 1st, 2008 09:00
Shaggy, thanks for the response. Unfortunately there's no "change settings" option under the general tab, on my system. I could upload a small .jpg of the dialog box, but the forum software won't let me.
NetSkipper
3 Posts
0
June 21st, 2009 06:00
I have too encountered this problem. Is there any solution? I have Dell Vostro 1310 with 160GB Sata.
ForShore
3 Posts
0
June 7th, 2011 19:00
BTW I'll add that I was looking for a way to DISable write caching, due to the "delayed write failure" problem:
You receive an error message when you save or move documents in Windows XP: "Delayed Write Failed"
support.microsoft.com
ForShore
3 Posts
0
June 7th, 2011 19:00
Try seeing if XP is showing the option is in the Properties for the drive controller, rather than the drive:
Control Panel > System > Hardware > Device Manager
IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers
Right click on the controller(s), then choose Properites
For Primary Channel and Secondary Channel, depending on the device you may see an option there to enable or disable write caching.