Dim8300.. Adding PCI IDE Controller?

Question

I've had a problem for a couple of years... My Dimension 8300 occasionally 'loses' IDE connection... that is, stops recognizing there are hard drives connected. On about a dozen occasions I've been able to 'clear NV RAM' to restore function, but the fix is not permanent. 1. I'm wondering if getting a PCI IDE controller card could fix this... ?? 2. If the onboard controller is bad, would it interfere with the PCI card's function? 3. Would/Could I still use the IDE channel which has the optic drives attached, or would the entire onboard controller be bypassed? 3. Would I need to 'disable onboard controller' to use the card? There appears to be no BIOS setting to disable the IDE controller chip. Is it POSSIBLE to disable it? 4. Any models or brands of controller card especially good or should be avoided? TIA

Hose · Answer

I've swapped hard drives and cables on the Primary IDE Channel a few times. I've never changed the cable on the Secondary IDE Channel where the optic drives are mounted. Though the problem has been with the HDs mounted on the Primary Channel, could a bad cable on the Secondary Channel be at fault?

Elsbeth. · Answer

Hose,

It is possible that the controller may be going bad, but it is also more likely to be a cable problem or something else corrupting the BIOS settings.

Just to check you may wish to run the Dell Diagnostics, always a good first step in troubleshooting something like this. You also may wish to try a different cable.

If you do decide to add an IDE controller card, a bad port on the system board should not interfere with it.

I do not see a way in the system setup screen that I can access to disable the onboard controller.

Elsbeth. · Answer

Hose, A bad cable on the secondary controller shouldn't affect the primary. Have you changed the CMOS battery at any point? A bad battery can cause some strange symptoms.

Hose · Answer

Yes, battery has been changed at least twice over the period of the problem. I'm checking into this problem now because it is happening "again". In this episode, the mouse cursor and keyboard just stopped responding. I rebooted and got the message "no hard drives found". The BIOS setting for the IDE Primary Channel had changed from Hard Drive to OFF. Did the "clear NV RAM" routine and function was restored... temporarily once again, I suppose. Battery was changed a couple of months ago. ADDENDUM... I have a battery checker, so I removed the battery and checked it. Sure enough, it's low. Maybe my rig just eats batteries..?? (I thought they were supposed to last 5-10 years...)

Message Edited by Hose on 10-03-2007 12:13 PM

Hose · Answer

Unfortunately, I'm getting only a few months out of this one.. Replaced the battery. Next time it happens, I'll check the battery first off... Thanks for the response.. :>)

Message Edited by Hose on 10-03-2007 01:49 PM

Elsbeth. · Answer

Hose, Actually, it is not unusual for a battery to get low after only two years, they can vary widely in how long they may last. Hope this solves the problem for you.

Elsbeth. · Answer

Hose, That is an unusually short period of time for a battery. It is possible you just got a bad one. You might want to keep an eye on it though.

Hose · Answer

I checked the last battery before installing, and it registered 'Good'. I hadn't thought of the problem being the battery because it had been replace so recently. However, the problem seems consistent with that as a cause. This relatively new battery is reading just below 'Low' on the tester( with about 1/2 of the tester scale remaining)... seems this machine might be losing the CMOS setting as soon as the battery drops a relatively small amount in charge, whereas my other one will hold the settings until the battery is drained so low it barely registers on the tester.

mombodog · Answer

Check the battery socket for corrosion.

Hose · Answer

Good idea, but no corrosion..

Elsbeth. · Answer

Hose,

When you are shutting down the system, do you turn it off also at the surge protector?

If so, this could put a strain on the battery. These systems are designed to maintain some current going through them when off.

Hose · Answer

I didn't know that... but no, surge protector stays on.

Hose · Answer

Follow up, in case anyone is interested.... New battery 6 days ago, lost the HDs again and unable to boot even after 'clear NV RAM'. Disabled Primay IDE Slave and was able to boot with one HD... we'll see if it holds. Still may have to get a PCI IDE controller card...

Storage, Drives & Media

Dim8300.. Adding PCI IDE Controller?

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