IDE Conundrum - this is beyond me!

[Linden]

Figure this out, and I owe you.

(Yeah, I know that this is long-winded and convoluted. My learning curve since I built this machine in November has been extremely steep!)

These problems may be related, so I?ve listed both of them. First, information that is additional to my signature: Windows 98 FE with all (?) updates. The new drive that I?m referring to is a WD Caviar, 30GB, ATA 100 - capable, 7200 RPM, spanking new. I used FDISK to partition and format it. I has one Primary DOS partition of the total capacity.

PROBLEM 1

On IDE 1 or 2, with the drive set as single stand-alone, and only the HDD on the cable, the BIOS detects the drive and lists it accurately. (on the other IDE slot is a CDROM) Under device manager though, the drive is listed twice as *Disk drive* and second entry of *GENERIC IDE DISK TYPE 00*. When I remove the disk entries and reboot to allow Windows to re-detect the drive, I get the same listings in Device Manager.

Device Manager properties for the HDD listings:

*Disk drive* -- under options, Int 13 unit is checked but is in subdued view. DMA is checked. The other options are all in the subdued view.

*Generic IDE DISK TYPE 00* --

Also, some disk operations are not functioning correctly. During a really long write session, such as backup, the write will quit after transfer of a couple GB - but the system won?t freeze.

During one attempt to get Windows to correctly recognize the drive, it dropped out of view completely from Explorer, My Computer, and Device Manager -- it was still identified properly in the BIOS. I could not get it recognized again until I switched the CDROM and IDE cable connectors to the opposite IDE slots - moved CDROM to IDE 2 and HDD to IDE 1. After this, the HDD appeared in Windows, but incorrectly listed as above.

Steps taken already:

- Norton Disk Doctor - no errors on drive.
- Properties under My Computer - capacity and FAT32 correct.
-Windows Explorer - drive label and capacity properties listed correctly.
-Changed settings in Device Manager to DMA field checked. Rejects change upon system reboot.
-In BIOS, set detections and speed setting to Auto - same problems.
-In BIOS, set Detections to Manual and speed to LBA - same problems.
-Tried Hardware Tach to test drive. It wouldn?t test. HD Tach stated that I needed to ?insert media into the drive?.

Tried all tests with HDD at IDE cable?s end connector, and at middle connector - seemingly no difference in results. (This cable is one of the cables shipped with the KT7-R; it has a tiny snip near the IDE connector.)

Please bear with me - this second problem may be related to the first problem.

PROBLEM 2

I could not get this drive to function correctly under the HPT 370?s IDE controller either. I had it set as a stand-alone drive on IDE 4. On IDE 3 I have my WD 20GB drives in a Primary Master and Primary Slave setup - they work perfectly. On IDE 4, the system would freeze during long writes, especially backups. Nevertheless, on IDE 4 the 30GB HD was listed accurately under BIOS, Explorer, Device Manager, and My Computer. Also, under Device Manager, Properties, the HDD was listed correctly as DMA.

I am sure this HDD is not defective. I experience the same PROBLEM 2 with another HDD that had no defects.


Thanks in advance for putting up with this huge post.

 

[Linden]

What, is everbody stumped on this? "Is anybody out there?" Help!

 

[Linden]

FDISKED a second time, FDISKED a third time. Finally, the HDD is running great on IDE 2 at ATA 66. Tried a couple times reinstalling on IDE 4 (ATA 100); would register perfectly but would not sustain large file writes.

 

[rbV5]

Do you have your jumpers on your hardrive set properly? I see you have a WD, I have a Maxtor, so I could be wrong, but doesn't WD have a slightly different than normal jumper settings? Seems like I remember something about a "Single", "Master" and "Cable Select" ....shot in the dark.