PCI IDE controller issue

[phantomog]

So I just bought a Dell Dimension E521 since they were so cheap. Unfortunately, Dell didn't solder on an IDE connector to the motherboard. So I ordered this:

Syba PCI IDE controller

However its giving me problems. Whever I attach my old IDE HD to this card, it takes over during boot-up and won't work without a bootable drive. I have my BIOS set to boot first off the pre-installed SATA drive, however, somehow this card is taking over during boot-up and won't work without a bootable drive. With nothing attached, the card will allow my system to boot up and WindowsXP installs the card just fine. However, nothing seems to let me bypass this card during boot-up with a drive attached. Anyone use a card like this before?

Thanks for any advice.

 

[EmoHawk]

Have you got your master/slave jumpers in the right place?

 

[phantomog]

that makes a difference for boot sequence? I just assumed since it was on its own channel that the jumper settings didn't matter (I'm pretty sure I had it on cable select). The card comes up first after power on and recognizes the drive correctly. It just complains that the drive is not bootable and won't let the system continue on and boot normally from the SATA drive.

 

[phantomog]

What's weird is the fact that the syba card seemingly takes over even before the mobo BIOS. There is a specific setting in the system BIOS for loading the SATA drive first, then "add-on cards". However, the Silicon Labs card takes over even before I can get into my BIOS.

 

[EmoHawk]

Well I'm stumped, seems like its a problem others would have come accross though. I know its a pain but you should maybe think about trying their technical support..

 

[Peter]

Add-on card initialization is /supposed/ to take place before you can enter the main BIOS setup screens. This is because add-on cards register their drives with the main BIOS, so that you can see and select them there. This mechanism is called BBS, for BIOS Boot Services.

It's just not what you're used to from retarded AwardBIOS

 

[phantomog]

yeah, I emailed their tech support last night but I assume my chances are better if I look elsewhere until then. As you said, I was hoping someone might have had a similar experience and found a solution.

 

[EmoHawk]

This might not apply to your specific product but Iit could be useful
Linky

 

[phantomog]

didn't try swapping PCI slots, I'll see if that has an effect. I assume that would be more helpful in cases where the card was having different issues.

 

[phantomog]

Originally posted by: Peter
Add-on card initialization is /supposed/ to take place before you can enter the main BIOS setup screens. This is because add-on cards register their drives with the main BIOS, so that you can see and select them there. This mechanism is called BBS, for BIOS Boot Services.

It's just not what you're used to from retarded AwardBIOS

Thanks for the education So it seems the card is working, when it initializes, it recognizes my drive, however it won't let me continue unless the drive is bootable.

 

[Zepper]

There should be a way to enter the on-board BIOS configuration on the Syba controller. Need to go in there and make sure the settings are correct too.

And what jumper setting you use on your drive depends on the cable you are using. You should only use Cable Select with an 80-wire cable. And when the jumper is set to CS, then master is at the end connector and slave is on the middle connector and the blue connector goes to the mobo or 'controller' card. If jumper is set to Master (stand alone, means the only drive on the cable, is a separate setting on some HDDs - especially WD). When set to Master or Slave you can use either the old (40-wire) or new (80-wire) type cable.

I knew that some Dell had gone to only one IDE connector, but didn't know that any had done away with IDE entirely...

I guess I'm wrong. I DLed all the docs for your E521 and there are only 4 SATA connectors there.

I see that your machine has four SATA connectors and apparently only two are in use (one for HDD, one for optical drv), so you should probably have gotten an IDE to SATA converter like THIS. This requires a SATA cable and a floppy power connector (I'd get a power Y with one HDD pwr connector and one FDD pwr connector like THIS) - might as well get those at the same time if you don't already have them. Places like SVC.com have them cheap and will ship First Class mail uninsured on small orders to save shipping but you'll have to assume shipping risks of loss or damage. But some of the tips here should help you get what you have going.

Also make sure the setting in the PC BIOS for booting from Other Controllers is set to disabled. And remember that the BIOS that Dell (and other big-box pushers) is a purposely limited version (idiot proofing) that doesn't allow you to view many settings that are available in the generic BIOS - another good reason NOT to buy Dell, etc. So it may end up just being easier to buy an IDE to SATA adapter like the one above. Very unlikely you'll get much in the way of support for add-on controllers you didn't buy from them.

.bh.

 

[phantomog]

Positive... even the CD burner is SATA. The unsoldered flat connectorless spot marked IDE on the motherboard mocks me They did solder on a floppy connector even though I didn't have a floppy drive. Ugh...

maybe I should just order a couple of these http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812206002

 

[phantomog]

Originally posted by: Zepper
There should be a way to enter the BIOS configuration on the Syba controller. Need to go in there and make sure the settings are correct too.

As far as I can tell the only settings on the Syba BIOS is the drive order for booting. Or something like that.

 

[phantomog]

If it was a jumper/cable issue would there be problems recognizing the drives? The card seems to have no problem recognizing the drives, it just won't go on without a bootable drive.

 

[Zepper]

I've added a lot to my previous post and I agree with your third post above this one as it includes the power adapter (you'll still need a couple of SATA cables unless you have them already (sounds like you have more than one drive you want to add) and you can get them cheaper at SVC.com and have them shipped First Class uninsured) - as in my edited post.

.bh.

 

[phantomog]

Thanks for you help Zepper. I'm very annoyed that it won't work. I assumed the PCI IDE controller would be the better route than attaching IDE-SATA converters on both my HD and DVD burner but apparently not. I'll fight with it some more tonight and then probably break down and buy a couple of those converters.

 

[Peter]

... or exchange that IDE card for one whose BIOS doesn't suck. That's what I'd do.

 

[Zepper]

And just as a final effort, see if you have the latest firmware on your controller. Check both the Syba and SiliconImage sites.

.bh.

 

[phantomog]

thanks for the advice everyone. I updated with the latest drivers and searched and searched for an updated BIOS but could only find one which updated through a Windows utility and didn't work with the Syba card. I gave up and RMA'd to newegg. Ordered a couple of the Rosewill IDE/SATA bridges I found earlier. Hopefully those will work.

If I wanted to boot off a drive connected to the card it wouldn't be a problem, however, with the crappy BIOS I wasn't able to do what I wanted to do. I'm sure if I spent a couple days looking I could find an updated BIOS and figure out a way to flash it, but it wasn't worth the effort.