VIA and Windows

The reason that I post here, to this board is that I mean this is a hardware/software related problem.

My Mother Board (QDI Advance 9,VIA Apollo 133 chipset) support ATA 66 transfer mode but HDD attached to this MB (Maxtor DiamondMax 8 40Gb ATA100) runs only in Ultra DMA Mode 3 (I think, something between ATA33 and ATA66).

Searching through Microsoft Kb I found article related to this problem, where is explain this downgrading form ATA66 to UDMA3.
In the article is explained that this is an a due to several write/read errors and Windows XP automatically downgrades UDMA for security reasons.

I don’t like this "thinking" of XP,I want back my ATA 66

So…anybody knows where XP stores these settings in registry?

During the POST BIOS detects and show that my HDD is "Maxtor 6E40LO ATA 66 hard drive) !?!
During this time of usage (about 3 years) I didn’t found some strange in reading/writing processes.
Installing VIA 4in1 drivers, installing VIA IDE driver (download is separately from VIA 4in1) uninstalling/deleting primary and secondary channel together with VIA Bus master controller, installing a fresh copy of XP with or without SP`s didn’t solved problem.
And yes, I use ATA100/133 80 pin cable

Regards

 

First, I would get the Maxtor diagnostic for your drive
Downloads from maxtor for diamond max drives

See if it finds a problem with the drive.

Secondarily, even though you have the correct cable, they do fail. Over time heating and cooling causes the crimped end to either loosen or bite through some of the wires in the cable. This can cause data corruption. Likewise, you could have damaged the cable by bending it or pinching it with the case cover. I would definitely try a new cable .

 

The cable is O.K and testing with PowerMax is O.K also.
This is a older problem.
I know,this is software related problem because odher attached devices on the secondary channel works properly (secondary master DVD-Burner,secondary slave is CD burner)

 

And another question.How can I put picture(s) in my posts?

 

http://www.windowsbbs.com/faq.php?faq=vb_faq and toward the bottom of the page - look at the link to "What are attachments ".

 

Wait, are you mixing a Hard drive and an optical drive on the same channel? It really depends on the controller , but a lot of them will revert to the slowest item on the drive rather than allowing each to run at its own speed.

 

As I mentioned before (or I`m not,no sure) HDD is alone on the primary channel as master.
Cable is O.K (on the cable manual is described which connector go to MB and which to HDD,jumpers is also properly installed)


P.S
Please,please don`t angry to me
for my bad English

Regards
LazyB

 

The cable may appear fine, but the damage may be present. As one step in troubleshooting this, you should try replacing it with a new cable. You cannot see internal damage which could cause errors which will cause windows to drop the speed.


Would you clarify where you are checking to see that it is running in ATA/UDMA 33 mode?

Get this free system analysis tool
http://www.snapfiles.com/get/everest.html

Go to storage/ ATA

Then go to report / quick report/ text if you want to copy and paste the info here .

Under storage/ windows storage/ maxtor
What does it show ?
(You can do the same for a report.)
What buffer to host?
What Interface?

 

Some hardrive manufacturers offer utilities to change the UDMA mode of the drive, unfortunately this is all I could find at the Maxtor website:
https://maxtor.custhelp.com/cgi-bin...lh_adp.php?p_faqid=403&p_sid=8S2ZkcOh&p_lva=#

Since it shows as a different drive (ATA 66) in the BIOS, the problem will probably be in the BIOS or the way the drive is "seen" by the BIOS.
You have run PowerMax, run MaxBlast. If PowerMax and MaxBlast do not see a problem...maybe there is no problem. Check that they report the drive correctly.

You may need to run "Detect Hard Drives" in the BIOS/CMOS settings, if it has it.

The drive should have a website of it's own at Maxtor. Check if there may be firmware updates for the drive.

Matt
PS "Bad English "...not to bad to me (Good English...don't ask me! )