XPS 700 Delayed Write Error on SATA Drive

Question

Hi.

Recently added a Maxtor Diamondmax 10 (300Gb, 16Mb Cahce) SATA drive to my Dell XPS 700 and am getting regular "Delayed Write Error" when moving files to it.

I've tried Microsoft's official answer

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=330174&sd=RMVP

.. but no joy with that.

Is anyone or has anyone experienced anything similiar.

The machine came with the Dell 320GB (7200rpm) Serial ATA/100 Hard Drive with 16MB DataBurst .. perhaps my new Maxtor drive can't keep up or something!!

I have the option I think of returning the Maxtor drive, but then I really don't know what drive to swap it for, as I've seen people reporting this type of error with other makes.

Any ideas or advice welcome.

/Jason

XPS Gamer · Answer

I've received this message on a server w/ two 15,000 rpm drives when they were too close without enough airflow.  Perhaps the drive is getting too hot.

JPittock · Answer

Thanks for that. Had tried that but no difference, plus I think the XPS 700 has pretty good cooling judging by size of case & fan.

After the Delayed Write error occurs the hard disc then just disappears, i.e. drive D: no longer appears in Windows XP.

krdomingue · Answer

I added a 500GB (7200rpm 16mb cashe) WD drive with no write or speed errors. You may just have a bad drive. Did you make sure the drive is still selected in the bios and is not selected as a raid drive? The only problems I had is when I tried to add my old non-sata drive to the system.

FroggyVic · Answer

Hello Jason,   I am afraid I do not have good news for you or anyone else who has added Maxtor SATA II drives to their XPS 700.  I installed two 500GB Maxtor DiamondMax 11 HD's to my XPS 700 and was getting the same Delayed Write Failed error messages when trying to transfer data to them.  If you dig deep enough on the Maxtor support site you will discover that their SATA hard drives don't work with the nVidia nForce chipset.  The XPS 700 has the nVidia nForce 590 SLI chipset.  Maxtor offers a firmware update only if your system does not recognize the Maxtor hard drive.  Well, the XPS seems to recognize the hard drive okay it just won't transfer data  properly to it.   From the Dell support site I have added the two nVidia patches labelled 'urgent', and from the nVidia support site I have added a driver update that appears slightly newer than the ones on the Dell support site.  None of these fixed the problem.  I am reluctant to suggest that Maxtor can offer any help because they don't sound too sure about their firmware update otherwise they would have made it a regular dowloadable item.  Truth is, I have no idea where to begin to look for the firmware upgrade they mention.   At this point I think the only option those of us who have purchased Maxtor SATA drives for our XPS 700 have is to beg our suppliers to take them back, or to buy external enclosures for them (make sure the enclosure accepts SATA and SATA II drives) and use them via USB2 or firewire or eSata external connections.   When I phoned Dell support about the Maxtor problem they were totally ignorant.  The fellow I spoke with went looking on this very forum and then told me that he could find nothing about Maxtor drives not working with the XPS.   Dell has a responsiblity to state clearly and upfront that Maxtor SATA drives do not work with the XPS 700!!!!   Or maybe they should be proactive and work with Maxtor to find a solution.  For now, however, it looks as if we are on our own...and out of pocket.  From the other posting in this thread it appears that Western Digital HD's work okay and I understand that Hitatchi are okay, too.  So I am off to buy two Western Digitals.  Good luck, and if you find out anything more than I have please keep me posted.   FroggyVic

Jyunte · Answer

Let me save you from spending more money...

I have a Maxtor OneTouch 300GB External Firewire/USB drive. When I try to transfer large files (4+ GB), Windows Media Center and/or my Dell XPS 700 loses connection to the drive halfway through the transfer. I don't get delayed write error messages, Windows simply says the drive is no longer available. I have successfully used this drive and its wiring (Firewire only) with two other systems (running XP Home and Win2KPro), but the XPS 700 just doesn't like the drive. Of course, this drive has all my backups on it and is the drive I write to and read from when doing digital video work!

So, to summarize, don't bother putting your large Maxtor drive into an external (Firewire) enclosure. I have no idea what type of interface the drive has inside the OneTouch enclosure.

See the following link: http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=xps_desk_hddr&message.id=3308

JPittock · Answer

Okay - I finally fixed the problem on my own (no help from Maxtor or Dell)..

My 2nd Maxtor drive was appearing in BIOS and XP, I had run chkdsk (looked fine), and played around with buffer settings but consistently the new hard disc always throw up "delayed write" errors after a few minutes use.

The solution... finally after almost 2 weeks... was to move the CD/DVD drive to the 2nd set of SATA cables, and have both the hard discs on the first set of cables. I don't exactly know why this works but the machine has been stable for a fortnight now with both drives working full speed (i.e. buffering on).

Dell shipped the machine with the CD/DVD on first cable and the pre-installed hard disc on 2nd cable. I added my new hard drive to 3rd cable and that seems to be what cause the delayed write problems.

Regards,
Jason

flippoo · Answer

to: JPittock

I would to thank you for your reply....

i've had the same problem.....

2 week i've done updates,firmware updates,bios upgrates,etc,ect......

thanks to you i've solved my problem....

dedeene filip
begium

Trenton XPS · Answer

Many thanks Sir. Love the XPS 700 but from the day I installed the Maxtor 320Gig it was frustrating to say the least, drive would go off line after 1 to 2 minutes os sustained activity.    Then I found your post, Left the Dell WDC WD3200 on SATA 0, moved the Maxtor 6V300F0 to SATA1, left the TssTcorp DVD-RW on SATA 2, moved the Phillips DVD ROM to SATA 3, left SATA 4 and 5 open.   The Maxtor is now staying on line.   Thanks again for the excellent solution, it should be posted in the Dell FAQ.   Trenton XPS

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XPS 700 Delayed Write Error on SATA Drive

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