Plextor only running in PIO Mode in Win2k

[bluezebra1098]

Cannot get the plextor to use UDMA mode. Attempts to enable it in the BIOS causes it to immediately switch back to PIO Mode. Secondary IDE channel in windows set to use UDMA mode but the Plextor is still in PIO.
Win 2k SP2
VIA 4 in 1 4. 4.32

Posted similar post in another category with no suggestions, just other people with the same problem.

 

[Pabster]

You can try this unofficial "hack" - look on the back of the unit for a jumper spot labeled "reserve" (you'll need to find a jumper to put on those two pins, there isn't one there originally.) Stick a jumper on to short the two pins below "Reserve" and your BIOS should see the drive as ATA/33 rather than PIO4. This should take care of it.

 

[bluezebra1098]

Jumped those pins and the BIOS now sees it as UDMA 2 but in Windows the secondary channel for the Plextor still shows up in PIO Mode although UDMA is enabled.

Oh well, half way there!
Thanks for the quick response

 

[jamesbond007]

Hmm..I take it you have your "DMA if available" selected, right? Try updating your drivers as well.

Are you on a VIA board?

 

[Kinesis]

Interesting, I notice I have the same problem. PIO Mode and Not DMA. Does it matter if there is another device on the same IDE port that is not DMA?

Just curious.

 

[bluezebra1098]

Yep, ASUS CUV266 VIA Pro 266 Chipset
Just loaded Via 4 in1 4.32 yesterday. Can't get any more updated than that.
I have "if UDMA availalbe" in the setting but it just says PIO mode below.

 

[Pabster]

Try going into BIOS and setting the UDMA/PIO to "none". Win2K should be able to set the correct mode...

 

[bluezebra1098]

Tried NONE in the BIOS and it remained at PIO Mode in Windows
HOWEVER;
on a hunch I tried setting the BIOS to regular CD ROM and

BAM !!!
UDMA Mode pops up finally !!!
Good to go...
Yeah, Baby yeah!
Thanks to Pabster who gets a bump on his rating

 

[zorglub257]

hello bluezebra1098!
what is the model of your plextor?
cause wan't to try this....

 

[bluezebra1098]

Here it is zorglub
Plexwriter 12/10/32A
Model PX-W1210TA Internal
using
Win2k SP 2

 

[mindiris]

Hmmm...My BIOS say's my plextor is in PIO4 mode (Via KT266). Getting into Win2K, I set the drive to DMA if available, which sticks, and system performance doesn't go south when I use the drive. It probably doesn't matter as long as windows will ignore the BIOS settings.

 

[Mark R]

I've got a TDK 12/10/32 (same drive) and the same problem.

On my BH6 though I don't have any fancy DMA or CD-ROM BIOS options - any ideas?

 

[inqztive]

This thing can merely be cosmetic. and a well discussed glitch in win2k. What you need to do is download a drive test( I am sorry i don't have the link) and test your drive for the data transfer rate. If that is done at the rated speed you are okay. Don't bother what windows says.

 

[Mark R]

In my case this is definitely not cosmetic.

Burning a CD at 12x on the TDK takes longer than burning at 8x on my old Yamaha (Yes, it is the same image). Of course, it wasn't always like this - for about a week after I enabled DMA in win2k it worked at 12x. Then it just stopped.

 

[kehi]

Is it best to use the jumper "hack" for this drive or put it to regular cd rom(that is described above in another post)in the bios. Thanks

 

[Kinesis]

Well now this confuses me. In my bios I can not make my Plexwriter or my CD-ROM (on the same IDE port) operate in DMA mode. PIO only. But when I go into Win98 DMA is selected in the Device manager. But in W2k it says PIO Mode only

Hmm, wrong IDE cable you think? Or should I try the jumper hack?

 

[Kp99]

Check your bios settings...

 

[fetuchin]

dma is something that is driving me mad, in w2k i don't find it at all tho i've always found it when running 95, 98 and me (control panel, system, and so on)now it only appears the controller and the version of it and something more than that.
btw does sp2 add something really interesting to w2k?

 

[zorglub257]

can i do the "jumper hack" on th plextor 8/4/32?

 

[NFS4]

My Iomega 12/10/32 (Plextor drive) would do the same thing in Win2k. I tried the jumper "hack" and it still would resort back to PIO mode after a few reboots.

I'm running WinXP now and it always stays in Ultra DMA Mode 2

 

[zorglub257]

somebody try de jumper hack on a plextor 8/4/32?

 

[Remedy]

My plexy does the samething i thought i was the only one with the problem. It says PIO mode in the BIOS info, but in win2k it says DMA so i didn't know what to think even after the download of the SP2 it stay the same, aggrivating me...:|

 

[jamesbond007]

Well, just burn a CD and see your CPU utilization. Be sure you do the same burn 2x so the media or the source couldn't cause a different reading.

That should give you an accurate way of seeing if it truely works on your system or not.

Good luck to you all!