IDE controller that 'just works'

[xtknight]

I've had a great experience with my new system (note the sarcasm). The onboard JMicron controller refuses to work correctly in Linux, so I put in a Promise Ultra100 TX2 that I had laying around. The result is an added minute to my boot time (updating the BIOS on the controller resulted in only 30 seconds of delay).

Then, when I try and boot either the Windows 32 or Windows 64 CDs, they both crash. The Win32 just hangs at 'loading windows', and the windows 64 crashes with an obscure error. I'm pretty sure it's the result of the Promise controller. Additionally, after I put in the Promise controller, the Windows XP 32 I had installed refuses to start. Just great.

Any ideas? Is it worth getting a new controller? Do I just need to use F6 drivers for my Ultra100? Is there an IDE controller that just works correctly with every OS (including XP, Vista 64, and Linux) and doesn't add more than 5 seconds to my boot time? Maybe I should just get SATA CD-ROM drives or a PATA->SATA converter and save me all this trouble?

 

[DaveSimmons]

I have an Ultra133 TX2 in my music server and it only adds 9 seconds to the boot time. I did need to install drivers for Windows, and it's being used for a data drive rather than for my OS drive.

You aren't trying to run CD/DVD drives with one are you? I've heard that doesn't work reliably.

 

[Conky]

I have the Promise Ultra100 TX2 too and updated the driver to the one found here hoping to get my DVD drives to work on the Promise card but had no luck with that(well, they worked but won't work for installing Windows or burning stuff which obviously isn't good enough). However, the Promise card works fine with 4 IDE HD's attached.

You will have to attach your optical drive to the board's IDE connector to install XP. After it's installed you can move the IDE HD over to the Promise card and put your optical back on the IDE. It's a pain in the butt to do it this way but it works.

I wish that controller bios loaded faster too but it doesn't seem to take as long as it used to on my old rig and adds maybe 15 seconds to the boot up time for me.

 

[xtknight]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
I have an Ultra133 TX2 in my music server and it only adds 9 seconds to the boot time. I did need to install drivers for Windows, and it's being used for a data drive rather than for my OS drive.

You aren't trying to run CD/DVD drives with one are you? I've heard that doesn't work reliably.

I am indeed trying to run DVD drives on them (all my HDs are SATA). How come that is a problem? :/

Oh well, I'll see if I can get a PATA->SATA converter. I can't think of a better option at this point. Why don't the on-board PATA controllers take that long to initialize? It seems like they're always instant.

Edit: looks like all those converters got rather poor reviews. I'll just bite the bullet and get a SATA DVD drive I guess. Make that two of them.

 

[smthmlk]

xtknight: what kernel version are you using in linux? if the controller is new (as in, fresh on the market) you'll probably have to run a brand new kernel (2.6.19.1 for example) or possibly a pre-patch kernel, etc. Takes a while for the kinks to get worked out with new hardware; could be a few months. Start scouring kernel-dev mailing lists (or google frantically) and see if there's any activity.

 

[xtknight]

smthmlk: thanks, though I've already investigated that. I even made a post to the Linux Kernel Mailing List about my issues, but nobody seemed to have the same problems. It works off and on, but I get constant errors and freezing from the controller. Maybe all I need to do is wait until they get better support in. It's hard to decide, but I want to run away from IDE as fast as I can.