Windows keeps changing my HD from DMA to PIO even after I change it back

[flashbacck]

Hey all,
Windows XP keeps changing my Western digital 80GB 7200 to PIO mode. So what do I do? I delete the primary IDE controller and reboot to have it reinstall. But after a few hours it automagically changes back to PIO!

Are these signs of hardware problems? and if so, which hardware?

In a possibly related but possibly completely unrelated, I've also been getting A LOT of "/system32/config/system is corrupt" errors during reboots...

thanks for any help.

 

[osmononame]

Have you tried changing the IDE cable? Is it 80 wire? Is there just the HDD on the cable or do you have 2 drives connected to the cable, if you have 2 drives connected try removing a drive to see if that helps. If windows detects to many errors on the cable it automatically reverts to PIO mode.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Originally posted by: osmononame
Have you tried changing the IDE cable? Is it 80 wire? Is there just the HDD on the cable or do you have 2 drives connected to the cable, if you have 2 drives connected try removing a drive to see if that helps. If windows detects to many errors on the cable it automatically reverts to PIO mode.

Ding ding ding, we have a winner.

Swap cables and check the original for shorts/splits/tears. If you're using rounded cable, try straight.

- M4H

 

[flashbacck]

I switched cables, and it seems to be working so far! It hasn't slipped ultra dma modes yet and the stupid /system32/config/system error seems gone. thanks!