DMA on/off

"DaveB" wrote:


I've had a look at Device Manager and IDE ATA/ATAPI CONTROLLERS - then i
select Primary IDE channel and this is what i have....

Device 0

Device Type - Auto Detection
Transfer Mode - DMA If Available
Current Transfer Mode - Ultra DMA Mode 5

Device 1

Device Type - Auto Detection
Transfer Mode - DMA If Available
Current Transfer Mode - PIO Mode

In that case Device 2 (presumably the DVD as mode 5 suggests a hard
drive) is using PIO, not DMA, which is not good.

This happens if there is a high level of error on reads from it; the
drivers drop back to a slower but safer method, and stick.

As the master device is in UDMA 5 this would not seem to relate to
cabling. So try first giving things a fresh start. Highlight the
controller device, immediately above 'Primary channel' at the same
level. Take Action - Uninstall. OK, and reboot to let Plug and Play
try again.

If that does not do it you may have a case where it does not like
being on the same cable as the HD. Connect it on a separate cable to
the second IDE socket of the motherboard, changing the jumper to be
Master. BTW Master devices should always be at the *end* of a cable,
leaving the middle connector for a slave one



--
Alex Nichol
Bournemouth, U.K.

Thanks all,

everything fine now.....

ahhhh, i love "happy ever after" stories

Cheers

Dave



"Alex Nichol" wrote in message
...
"DaveB" wrote:


I've had a look at Device Manager and IDE ATA/ATAPI CONTROLLERS - then i
select Primary IDE channel and this is what i have....

Device 0

Device Type - Auto Detection
Transfer Mode - DMA If Available
Current Transfer Mode - Ultra DMA Mode 5

Device 1

Device Type - Auto Detection
Transfer Mode - DMA If Available
Current Transfer Mode - PIO Mode

In that case Device 2 (presumably the DVD as mode 5 suggests a hard
drive) is using PIO, not DMA, which is not good.

This happens if there is a high level of error on reads from it; the
drivers drop back to a slower but safer method, and stick.

As the master device is in UDMA 5 this would not seem to relate to
cabling. So try first giving things a fresh start. Highlight the
controller device, immediately above 'Primary channel' at the same
level. Take Action - Uninstall. OK, and reboot to let Plug and Play
try again.

If that does not do it you may have a case where it does not like
being on the same cable as the HD. Connect it on a separate cable to
the second IDE socket of the motherboard, changing the jumper to be
Master. BTW Master devices should always be at the *end* of a cable,
leaving the middle connector for a slave one



--
Alex Nichol
Bournemouth, U.K.