Need help with SCSI!! Especially with Tekram DC-390U3W controller

[maxSe]

Hi guys. I'm kinda stumped here... Trying to set up this system with the above Tekram controller & WD Enterprise 10K drive. Plex 40X is also connected to the controller.

Problem - The controller doesn't recognize the HD!!! When I boot up the system, controller searches for the drives connected, but it only lists the CD Rom! Is there something I need to do in the controller set up menu??? The HD should be automatically detected... I've double, triple checked the cables, it is properly terminated... I've tested the HD on my Adaptec 2940U2W & it recognizes without a hitch, so it's not the HD... May be I just got a bum card...? Only thing I haven't try is switch the cables... but it is a new retail card/package... Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys.

FYI, here is the rest of the system config:

Asus CUSL2
PIII 700@933
256MB of Kingston
V5 5500
SB Live 5.1
60G Maxtor IDE HD

 

[Santan]

If I were guessing i would say you had 2 devices sharing the same ID

make sure you dont have the multiple terminations

Double check to make sure all components have different IDS...

Personally,

I would just connect the hard drive on the last available port on the cable....

Set it to ID 0...and terminate it on the drive or wiith and external terminator...either, not both

See if you get it to detect the hard drive...

Let me know from there

Rick

 

[tom3]

hey there Sean!

I hope i can help you solve your problem..
i'm using the 390U3W card too..

hmmm first things first..
you have the HD connected via the 68pin LVD cable (the long and blue one) to the LVD connector right??
and the plextor 40x via 50pin cable to the internal 50pin connector??


it only sees the CD rom drive.. hmmm have you actively terminated the 68pin U160 LVD line?? how about the jumper settings on the hard drive, have you tried playing with those? maybe a different ID??

 

[maxSe]

Dang, I gave up on my thread... Thanks guys, for replying.

Okay, here it goes:
The HD ID is set at 0, actively terminated by that little terminator that came with the cable. The CD rom ID is set as 5, no termination... No hardware termination set... I'll try to disconnect the cd rom & see if it recognizes the HD...

I'll keep ya guys posted. Thanks again.

 

[tom3]

Sean but you have the hard drive and the CD rom drive on different cables right?? one on a 68pin connection and one on a 50pin connection??

 

[SonicFlux]

Make sure you flash to the latest SCSI bios!

I had a similar problem with the DC-390U3W card. The workaround was to disable boot-up detection of my cd drives (i.e. the devices connected to my 50-pin side) in the the scsi bios. I don't need to do this anymore now that I've flashed to the latest Tekram bios.

 

[maxSe]

Tom! Give me little credit here dude... me not that stoopid... I just don't know what it is... I think everything's properly connected & configured. My Adaptec never had any problems like this...

Oh, here's a interesting thing. I tried to flash bios on the card, but it won't let me!!! I forget what kind of error message it was, but I know that it wouldn't let me flash... grrrrrrrrrrr.......

 

[tom3]

hehe Sean, sorry if that offended you.. just making sure.. I've had SCA converters that coverted the drive to a 50pin.. so..


hmmm How about the jumpers on the hard drive. Which ones are set? Are you using a SCA converter? if so, what kind of jumpers does it have?

 

[tom3]

And also, which one of the 2 68pin connectors are you connecting to? the U160 LVD one I'm guessing

 

[maxSe]

Heh, don't worry about it Tom. There are no jumpers set on the HD - which sets the ID @ 0, & it is a 68-pin drive so no need for a converter...

I wanna get home & run tests again, but I'm stuck at my buiding here due to some bomb threat... & snow... cr@p...

EDIT: There you go again... Implying I'm dumb enough to do that... hehe. it is connected to a U160 connection.

 

[tom3]

hmmm hehe i'm stumped too... looks like you were doing everything right..

you did say the SCSI card was new? hmmm maybe try to restore default settings to the SCSI card?

It's searching 2 channels at boot up right? and there appears to be 2 SCSI adapters instead of 1?

 

[maxSe]

Yup... It scans 2 channels... I bought it while back from HyperMicro. I just haven't had time to put this in a system... I wanna go home...








btw, thanks dude.

 

[tom3]

hahahaha you know i'm trying!!
alright, last stupid question.. the HD is powering up and spinning up when you boot right??

 

[maxSe]

You know Tom, people usually tell me that I make a pretty okay first impression on them... I guess this apparently wasn't so with ya...

Actually, these Enterprise 10K's have this neat feature that it has a little light that comes on when it gets powered up..

 

[tom3]

Are you home yet?? Can you try telling the SCSI card only to scan the U160 channel??
and unplug everything other than the HD?

 

[maxSe]

nah, still at work... This is killing me...