Zip Drive problems on 686B/A7V133 Motherboard

[cbuchach]

Well, I have fought with this issue long enough, so I thought I would post a thread. The problem stems from the fact that my internal Iomega Zip100 doesn't function properly when connected to the Via 686B Southbridge on my A7V133. Reads are ok, but writing to the drive will lock up the system in both WinME and Win2K.

To fix this issue I found information to install the separate Via Busmaster Driver (the 3.011 Beta driver). Well, I install this driver in Win2k and I can get the drive to work properly. The problem is that the system then suffers from random lockups especially when doing things like playing DVD's or burning disks. Also, all devices after installing the Via drivers come up as SCSI devices in the device manager in Win2k.

I have tried everything I can think of to try to get the system to work properly including reinstalling Win2k and am asking for any suggestions anyone might have for resolving this issue, thanks.

 

[Shooters]

I just bought an Zip about a week ago and had this problem also. I just put mine on the Promise controller to fix the problem, but I see you can't really do that since you have a RAID array. I've been told by another person who had this problem that flashing the BIOS to version 1005 fixed it for him.

 

[cbuchach]

Yeah, I just flashed to 1005a and I still have the same problems, ie, both with and without the special Busmaster drivers I get the same issues as originally specified. I have tried every possible configuration for the ZIP drive in the BIOS.

What I have found is that when I specify anything other than ZIP100 as a floppy device (or setting to None) in the BIOS, when starting Win2k I get a Device I/O error=0080000, at least something close to that error message. The system boots though it fine, but it flashes just after selecting win2k from the boot menu. So is I set the drive to Auto in the BIOS or set it as a Hard drive I get the 0080000 error. In any case, any of these settings do not make a difference with drive functioning in Win2k.

 

[MarcusAsleep]

cbuchach,

Well someone ought to start an official thread for this or something! (do a search for "zip" in this forum and you'll find mine and many others.) This was my last time buying a VIA chipset board. I went through all possible solutions for this (the ASUS tech said to "put the zip all by itself on the secondary channel.) Oooo, do they hire experts there or what? That was after waiting 30min on hold long distance. No solutions for anything I tried, so I just bought six promise controllers for the six new lemons I have on my hands now!

Well, sorry for the big rant, it's been a frustrating week of working on this. I don't think this problem is only for one manufacturer. But I still see some of them claiming compatibility with zip drives on their websites! Maybe that's a way to a return for a different chipset board???? Mine drives all come up a SCSI too after the busmaster installation. Some have said this is not a problem, but I had crashes after this. Good luck, I hope I have some soon too!

 

[Davegod75]

this problem has been around for awhile. I got rid of my zip drive and most others are doing the same. Zip drivers are becoming a fading technology anyways.

 

[cbuchach]

Well at least others have had similar experiences with this problem as I have had. I guess then there isn't a real work around for this??? I suppose I should just stick to using my roomate's zip drive shared over the network--too bad.

 

[resinboy]

If any of you are running scsi like I am, a scsi Zip works perfect: I sold my used IDE, and bought a used Scsi- works perfectly with the 686B.
Resinboy

 

[MarcusAsleep]

Hi again,

Well, those promise controller cards are only about $19 or $20 plus shipping, and some on this forum seem to have good luck with them. I am trying them because we use zips a lot at work, I think we probably should have tried to convert to using rw cd's. Anyway, the cards can be useful for other things too (easy conver to raid card.)

Good day!

 

[Duvie]

I agree...I use zip drive cause it is the only way I can bring home my work (large files) at the time...I am going to get a cd-rw soon, so that may all end...

I have no problems with mine but I run the KT133 board with the 686a southbridge...

Is it just with ASUS mobos or all of them that have the 686b? I have been around and am surprised I haven't seen more threads if it was effecting all the mobos with no fix...They are still pretty commonplace...you may be surprised. A lot of externals though (parallel or usb)

 

[X14]

I fought this exact same problem for over a month w/ my KT7A and could never get it resolved. I'm quite sure the USB Zip would work fine but instead of spending $170 on the host powered USB 250, I decided to get a EPoX 8K7A instead and some DDR SDRAM instead LOL.

I know the EPoX still uses the same 686B Southbridge but from everything I've read, I've haven't seen owners of this board complaining about the same issues.

I'm not sure is this problem is limited to boards with both the 686A/686B North/South bridges or not. The EPoX has a AMD Northbridge so maybe the combination of the AMD North and VIA Southbridge, do not cause these problems.

I'll know in few days I suppose.

 

[MrGrim]

Hey there. I have good news for you. Just plug it in the Promise RAID/ATA100 controller and it will be fine.

 

[bigbootydaddy]

here is what i know...

if you have both raid and regular ide atapi...

the ide usually defualts its channel 1 to disk 0, and if you put your zip on their, it will be drive 0 and win2k i know likes to write partition/boot info on there, even if win2k isnt to be installed there. but it cant cuz there is no disk. (cbuchach, i think this is why you get the error, i used to get something like this when i tried to reinstall win2k off the cd)

yeah you can stick it on the raid controllers, (mine worked, but my comp dead to test), make sure the raid isnt sharing anything ugly with it, like a sblive, especially if you hace the notorious southbridge.

sometimes, disabling that channel in the bios, or putting it to manual instead of auto detect can help, and then just get windows to try to recognize it, i know that sounds like how could it if the bios never read it, but it used to work that way on my vp6.

 

[Modus]

The 4.31v service pack from VIA fixes the 686B southbridge issue. It's confirmed to address the SBLive problem, so maybe it will fix the Zip thing too. Give it a try.

Modus

 

[cbuchach]

So bigbootydady, I can put the Zip drive on the Promise controller even though I have a RAID array set up on it? I did not know that this was possible. As for the Via Service pack, I have the latest installed have tried all the various Busmaster drivers.

I still am curious however, why my system becomes unstable with the special Via Busmaster drivers installed. Yes, my devices appear as SCSI, but I don't think that this is necessarily a problem. Everything is detected properely, and the system seems to work, except of course I get the random lockups having to do with IDE activity on the Southbridge.

 

[Mr. Burns]

I have the same problem with 3 computer I built with the MSI pro2a motherboard. Never was able to fix the problem--the most annoying bug I have ever had to deal with. Getting rid of our zip drives isn't feasible, so still looking for a fix. Perhaps I'll look into this promise ata100 controller....

 

[Macro2]

Have a pro2-a and a zip as primary slave without problem.

Mac

 

[Jorrit]

perhaps you could try booting from a zip, and try to write to it. that way you can see if it's a windows problem or not. my zip works fine with a7v133. did with bios 1003,1004 and 1005. running win2k with sp2, but it worked with sp1 as well. also runs with or without the via drivers. perhaps you could try another ide cable (i have the zip connected to 40-wire ribbon cable, not 80).

 

[cbuchach]

Well, in WinME the drive seems to function correctly with the Via Busmaster drivers v. 3.011 installed. As I said I can get the drive to work in win2k with the Busmaster drivers, but then in Win2k my system randomly locks up. So, I guess it is more of a problem with the A7V133/686B/Via Busmaster drivers/in win2k and locking up.

 

[MarcusAsleep]

Thanks McGrim, I have the promise ultra66 on order so I am looking forward to the end of all this! I will let all know if it goes well.

X15 good luck with the new mb, I hope it works! I think this is a zip/686b/w2k problem-I have a 686a(Aopen Ak33) that runs perfect with zip100 and w2k. hopefully the AMD northbridge will do the trick.

I have tried just about all combos of 4in1's, even the newest with no luck. All the via busmaster drivers turn my drives into scsi's and give me stability/wake up problems. Also, the Viahardware website recommends against any current via busmaster driver as they say it is not perfected yet for w2k. I believe them!

See ya!

 

[bigbootydaddy]

<< So bigbootydady, I can put the Zip drive on the Promise controller even though I have a RAID array set up on it? I did not know that this was possible. As for the Via Service pack, I have the latest installed have tried all the various Busmaster drivers. >>



ok, i have 2 raid enabled ide looking ports (4 channels)...if you chose for a port (2 channels) to be in a raid-0 or whatever, you can still plug the zip into the un-raid'ed port..

im not running raid right now cuz my scsi is dying...and i had to split it up cuz i smell some major formatting approaching...

but i do have the zip in the raid, just not (obviously) set in the bios as one fo the two raid drives..
hope this helps. (also, zips like ata100 cables)

 

[cbuchach]

Well I tried putting the Zip drive as a slave to the primary drive on my RAID array. Both the Promise controller and Win2k didn't seem to like it very mcuh. The Promise controller usually came up with an error saying that there was something wrong with the array. When this error didn't come up Win2k gave me a BSOD during boot up saying INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE. So, putting the Zip drive on the Promise controller is not an option for me.

Any other suggestions?? It seems that several others too are having the same problems so I guess I need to ditch my Zip drive and just use my roomates over the LAN.

 

[MarcusAsleep]

Thanks to all who suggested the Promise controller! Installed Ultra66 card with W2K drivers and now the zips work like a charm! The cards made my day for $18 and came with an 80 pin cable too! Yea!!!!

 

[MrGrim]

cbuchach I'm afraid that was the only way I could get my Zip to work properly. Of course it worked because I'm not using Raid, and I have the Promise Controller set up as ATA100 controller. I'm afraid the only thing I can think of is getting a cheap PCI IDE controller and hook the Zip on it. Sorry.

 

[NetworkDad]

Iomega now has a fix - it was posted yesterday!

Head HERE

I havent downloaded yet, but i have the same issue. Hope it works, good luck!

 

[bacillus]

here's a descripition of the patch

Slow Performance/System Hang Beta Patch download now!
Description: Please note, this is a 3rd party Beta patch and is not supported by Iomega or its contact centers. This patch will help solve system hangs and slow performance between the Zip 100 ATAPI drive and Via's 686B chipset. This also affects motherboards with the KT133a core logic chipset.

Installation: Download and save the file to your computer. Double-click the file to start the installation. Select the win9x Miniport IDE driver when prompted. Also, choose to enable DMA mode for each device when prompted. Reboot after installation.

Version: 3.01.1
Size: .97MB
Posted: 21-JUN-2001
Download Time: 00:05:00 (Average with a 28.8 kbps modem)

seems to be the same patch for win98 &amp; win2k