Problem with IDE controller

[QueBert]

I have a Dell I'm working on for a friend, I finally figured out something is wrong with the IDE controller. It could be the MB, but it comes on and tries to boot fine if all the IDE devices are unplugged. So I'm guessing it's not the MB. I had him order a PCI IDE controller off Newegg since you can't just put any MB in with the stupid dell connectors. Anyways I haven't gotten the controller in the mail yet. I'm wondering, am I going to have to an repair install of XP to get it to work? He can't find his XP media and all I have is my Pro, which won't work legally with his PC. Will the Dell version detect it as a different computer since the new IDE card and not let him install? I'll just tell him to upgrade to Windows 7 if it's going to be a hassle. I dunno since I've never dealt with using a PCI IDE controller as the main one, always just as an expansion.

any advice here would be great.

 

[Paperlantern]

This occurs with ANY ONE IDE device connected to ANY IDE channel? The system won't boot?

 

[RebateMonger]

You won't be able to do a Repair Install without the proper Dell XP Install CD. If you ask Dell, they will probably send you Install CDs.

If the PC will boot at all, you could boot it, "Update" the IDE drivers to the Generic IDE drivers, and shut down the PC. Insert the new controller, disable the old one in BIOS, and reboot the PC. The OEM Dell XP software won't care about the new disk controller. Dell OEM XP never asks to be Activated as long as it sees the original Dell BIOS.

 

[Gunbuster]

It is FAR more probable that the HDD is toast. In my experience controller failures are exceedingly rare.

 

[QueBert]

This occurs with ANY ONE IDE device connected to ANY IDE channel? The system won't boot?

Yes, I've tried a single device on each port, and both devices on both ports. When I first got it it would sort of boot up but I was getting checkpoint errors right at the beginning of the POST. They stop the second the IDE cables were unhooked though. It did however show the HD in the BIOS the one time I was able to actually get into it. Since then nothing.

It is FAR more probable that the HDD is toast. In my experience controller failures are exceedingly rare.

Tried 3 HD's and 2 optical drives, they come up as "unknown device" I've tried both ide ports and and both channels on each. With the HD or OD hooked up I either get it freezing at the first dell boot screen with the load bar under the logo, or I get a weird system checkpoint error. Or it would tell me to insert boot device. I never get either with the ide cables unplugged. So It either has to be the IDE ports or the MB, But the 4 Dell diagnostic lights on the back are all green when it's not seeing the HD. green lights should mean the MB is fine. I mean there's no diag code for a bad MB according to the Dell documentation. But that's my best guess. I've been building PCs since you could buy parts and never see an IDE controller go bad, but if it's not that it has to be the MB which I can't really find a way to prove or disprove. Telling him to buy a $14 controller card off Newegg would be far cheaper than a new MB, especially when it's an older Dell so I'd need to find a Dell MB since it uses stupid proprietary connectors for the power, reset button ETC. Maybe somebody sells a converter but even if they do a replacement MB for an older PC might be problematic to find. it's a 4600, not sure what CPU it has exactly, but it's definitely not anything current.

I have tried multiple IDE cables too, same result with any of them, so it's not a bad cable issue.

 

[RebateMonger]

Note that some (all?) add-in IDE controllers won't support an IDE optical drive.

 

[QueBert]

Note that some (all?) add-in IDE controllers won't support an IDE optical drive.

Shit, I did not know that, I just looked on Newegg and the description says it supports ATAPI CDROM + DVD. I just dogged a bullet lol. I guess this makes sense as I've seen some IDE to SATA converters that wouldn't work with optical drives.

Maybe I didn't dodge the bullet, a few of the reviews are saying they cannot get CDROM's to boot from it hummm re-installing Windows isn't going to work very well then, GAAH!

edit again - crap it doesn't say anywhere if it supports booting from any attached device, and Syba's web site doesn't even list this model, just great lol.

 

[RebateMonger]

edit again - crap it doesn't say anywhere if it supports booting from any attached device, and Syba's web site doesn't even list this model, just great lol.

I suspect they'll all boot from a hard disk. The days of SCSI controllers that weren't bootable were a long time ago.

I know there's add-in IDE controllers that won't handle CDROMs, but I that may be less of a problem these days. Newegg, on one of the Syba cards, is confusing:
--The Newegg product pages says it supports opticals.
--A Review says the person installed two DVD drives on the controller.
--Another person says he couldn't get the controller to work with opticals and found this statement on the Syba web site:
"Note: Do not support ATAPI devices on this raid card, such as: ATAPI CDROM, DVD ROM, CD-R, CD-RW, LS-120, MO, Tape and ZIP devices"

Confusing.

 

[Raincity]

Did you try running the auto ide reset in the bios?

 

[QueBert]

Did you try running the auto ide reset in the bios?

No, I didn't see that option. It's a Dell and the Bios is pretty lacking from what I'm use to dealing with. I guess I should fire it up and see if I can find an option for that.

 

[Raincity]

No, I didn't see that option. It's a Dell and the Bios is pretty lacking from what I'm use to dealing with. I guess I should fire it up and see if I can find an option for that.

I dont think its an option in the BIOS. I went through this same issue on a few Dell boxes and they freak out once you add a drive or change the IDE settings. The auto config goes something like ALT +F ALT+E ALT+B all at the F1 boot promt. If you post this question at the Dell forums you will get a quick response from thier support staff.

 

[Gunbuster]

If it's a older dell it may have bad caps. are any puffed up or leaking on the mainboard?