Stuck on "Verifying DMI Pool Data" Epox 8KHA+

[Poontos]

I have been fighting with my PC here, to try and get it functioning.

In short, it takes a long time for "Detecting IDE devices...", but finally finds the HD (a month old WD 80BSE) (I have unplugged all other storage devices), but it sits for several minutes at Verifying DMI Pool Data....

Any suggestions or further information required?

Thank you.

 

[CaptnKirk]

Might have your jumper in wrong position -

If it looks like this : : : | : (for dual harddrives)

It should be like this : : : _ (for single harddrive)

As seen from the back of the drive

 

[Poontos]

Originally posted by: CaptnKirk
Might have your jumper in wrong position -

If it looks like this : : : | : (for dual harddrives)

It should be like this : : : _ (for single harddrive)

As seen from the back of the drive

I called WD support... first dude just say don't worry about it and to run the DLGDIAG from their website. I was not convinced and called back a second time and spoke to a helpful lady who suggested the following:

Problem: Detecting IDE devices during bootup takes several minutes (out of the blue on Sunday). Once it see's the devices (which it does correctly identify them), it sits at "Verifying DMI Pool Data..." for another couple of minutes and then the OS is not able to access the disk.
So I unplugged all of the IDE devices and left the WD drive as the only one plugged in.

Solution: She sugguested that I remove the jumper from the "Master" position, since it's the only drive there (duh my mistake). Now run the DLGDIAG from their website, and came back with 0000 (No errors). So now with all the devices unplugged, the system flies through bootup and the drive is read OK.

What I am thinking:

a) Could be IDE cable? Can one be this inconsistant? What would be teltale signs of a fading IDE cable?

b) My IDE controller? How can I track that down? My CD-ROM devices worked fine...

c) Bad power? My Antec 400W PS has had good readings since I have been keeping an eye on the heat the last couple of weeks. So I do not think this is the issue, as their are no power flickers with all my electrical devices on in my room. How would I track down a PS problem without crazy electrical equipment?

d) Bad luck... well all this happened on Sunday, so this is already part of the problem.

e) Bad IDE cable? Even though, I have never twisted, stretched, played around with, modified, etc. the cable or overclocked the bus, I cannot see any other causes to this problem. It's a brand new WD 80GBSE drive and passed the WD tests without any errors.

hmmmm......

I need to go clear my head. In the meantime, I am very open and welcome suggestions, experience, feedback! Thanks!

 

[CaptnKirk]

Right click on 'MY COMPUTER'
4th item down is "MANAGE"
Try to run 'FORMAT' and 'PARTITION' from this program command

 

[Poontos]

CaptnKirk,

What drive and why am I formatting it? Typically I see the word format in a response meant to humour someone who is having problems, specfically OS problems.

 

[CaptnKirk]

This system used to work, right? If you had the WD on master without anything on the slave, it never should have gotten past a BIOS detection to an enabled to run status.
If there is an operating system on the Harddrive it should initiate when you removed the jumper, or stowed it to the horizontal position.

1) Check IDE connection at the MoBo header remove & re-attach. (Harddrive works best on IDE channel 0, by itself - or paired with another harddrive)
2) Remove & re-mate at WD connection (make sure it is the master cable position)
3) Check your BIOS to make sure the boot from harddrive has not been turned off by accident (eg: every thing changed to boot from floppy)
4) Run the checkdisc and defragment utilities,

If this system was functional, there is a chance you have picked up something to corrupt the drive. I had a WinXP system update fail on a 60GB MAXTOR
and ended up with a 'BAD POOL CALLER' (lost excessive data) which forced me to WRITE ZEROS, and install WinXP Home from scratch. (on another computer}
Microsoft support could offer no other solution after two hours of trying to re-start in SAFE MODE, and suggested I contact MAXTOR, and when they gave up
it was 'WRITE ZEROS' and call microsoft back when it's ready. Very frustrating situation - hope you don't have that depth of trouble.

The Format and partition would make your drive into smaller segments, I cut may C partition down to 20GB, and section out the remaining 60GB into like a 25GB MP3 D Drive,
and a 30GB E Pictures drive, the remaining approx. 5GB becomes F drive where I keep my internet stuff - like an isolation ward to keep unauthroized cookies from trying to
become resident in the other drives. You may have to Re-install to do that though.

Good luck with this one - tell us how it gets solved

 

[Jeff7]

Do you have a floppy drive? If so, make sure it's connected. If you have no floppy drive, make sure that your BIOS is set accordingly.
That has has caused me problems in the past.

 

[kursplat]

In short, it takes a long time for "Detecting IDE devices...", but finally finds the HD (a month old WD 80BSE) (I have unplugged all other storage devices), but it sits for several minutes at Verifying DMI Pool Data....

do you actually still have a problem ? WD drives don't like to be by themselves on a channel and have the jumper set. thats why for a single they use no jumper . like this. you have fixed that . are you still having a problem ?
good luck

 

[Poontos]

All appears to be working OK now. I replaced the IDE cable, so we will see how it goes.

THANK YOU all for your suggestions, pointers, advice, etc.