Computer freezing - atapi error?

Recently my machine has been running XP SP2 perfectly until yesterday. Working on e-mails everything suddenly froze, no HD activity, cursor static, nothing working.
The only thing I could do was reboot. After this reboot the partition which holds my e-mail programme was no longer recognised, and the shortcut to the programme was indicated as invalid -insert a disk, etc. Disc check found nothing wrong with the partition but I could not access it.
I reformated that partition, re-installed my mail programme, and called up all the backups, address book etc. The machine ran OK until this morning when, in the middle of a ZA virus check, it froze again and I had to reboot.
The reboot was very slow -about three minutes- and the quick start icons, task bar icons, desktop background, all appeared in an unusual order, but the machine is now running correctly again.
In the event viewer I have two system events for the times concerned, both for an atapi error, category none, event 9.
Anybody have any idea what this error is indicating, and how I can rectify it?

Athlon XP 3200+, Asus A7N8X-E, 1.5GB DDr Memory, nVidia GeForce FX5500

Any advice gratefully accepted,

Roger

 

Just googled it thanks. There is enough there to think about.
My brain aches!
Roger

 

Hi r.leale.

That is a common problem. It is seen a lot when burning cds or dvds.

The first thing to do is unplug and replug the cables to all the ide devices, hdds and cds/dvds. You might just have a bad cable. If you have another good one just go through an interchange and reboot. Go an extra bit and be sure the cables are seated good on each end of the plugs.

You're probably loosing the signal between the hdd and the system and it has to re-read the hdd and slowing things down.

If that isn't it I would search the Microsoft site for "atapi error event 9 ". There are instances where an update will cure the problem and they will point you to the right update.

Giles

 

I am now sure that the problem is being caused by a buggy Atapi driver in SP2, and since I have removed my CD deck there have been no more freezes. Boot is still taking up to 3 minutes, and all HD access is very slow.
Apparently this problem is not rare and is described in KB 842520 together with the necessary hotfix. Unfortunately, the KB article does not lead to a download for the hotfix, instead it says "Contact MS Support . . . " which will obviously cost me!
Does anybody have a copy of the hotfix for KB 842520 or a download link?

Roger

 

Thanks Arie, I had already copied the Article 314093 but much of the steps it suggested were ruled out by the fact that I had already checked the cabling, jumpers etc., and when I saw the date of the article, September 2004, I kept looking around.
There have been many reports of this problem since then with the atapi drivers in SP2, for example see here
I'm still looking though!
Roger

 

Hi r.leale.

Consider the possibility that installation of cd or dvd burner software, etc., might have replaced Microsoft drivers, hence causing the problem. I've seen this before. Also, if you have SP2 on cd you might consider installing it again.

Giles

 

The saga continues, but I feel hopeful now. This is a long story but I'll tell it just in case it helps someone else.
I decide to carry on using a very slow XP to await further developments. The machine ran OK but slowly for a couple of days, then:

1. I tried to burn a programme to a CD-RW using my DVD deck and Nero. Nero said that the burn had been successful but nothing had actually been added to the CD-RW;
2. I removed the DVD deck from my machine; The machine continued to run programmes and booted slowly, but no freezes that day.
3. Next day it froze again. Atapi error 9 again - ide'0'
4. Remade all the cable connections, ran 'chkdisk' then ran the Western Digital test programme on both discs. On the 3rd run the slave HD failed the Smart test -'Raw read failure'
5. I fitted a new HD as slave. Machine ran but still slow to run progs and boot. eg 15 secs to open Firefox, and 3 minutes to boot to a usable desktop.
6. I de-installed Zone Alarm Security Suite after reading that it caused some delays, and cleaned up with Reg Mechanic.
7. Rebooted without ZASS - 1min 15secs only to boot.
8. Re-installed ZASS - 3 minutes to boot again!
9. Tried to restore an image of 'C' using True Image which indicated 1hr 48mins for the restore which usually takes 4 minutes, so abandoned.
10. Tried a System Restore which took 48 minutes and made no improvement.
11. Tried a repair install of XP which stalled after about 10 minutes.
12. Restored an XP image from an external HD using TI - 14 minutes.
13. Rebooted normally, around 60 secs to a working desktop, set a restore point, ZA, its updates, and MS updates installed..
14. On reboot, machine froze before the desktop appeared. Rebooted OK.
15. Tried to image 'C' using TI, froze during two attempts.
16. Next reboot - froze in BIOS screen. I reset the BIOS memory.
17. On reboot - "Windows cannot start File . . . \config is missing. May be repaired using console "
18. Using the Acronis boot disc tried to restore an image of 'C' TI froze 'Awaiting DMA'
19. Fitted a new primary data cable.
20. Booted with the Acronis boot disc and restored an image of 'C'
21. Booted normally, and running very fast.

"IS THAT THE END? "
Conclusion so far:
ZASS was not causing any slow downs.
I never thought that a cable fault could be so intermittent and produce such such a variety of problems and symptoms.
The removed HD is probably OK.
Thank the Lord (or Acronis) for giving us True Image!

 

Hi r.leale.

Yep. Those cables are machine made and a fairly good percentage have problems. I always keep about 10 spares here and there.

Your hard disks were worked pretty hard re-reading the data so you might expect an earlier-than-expected wear problem with them. As fast as they read, the heads could have accessed the drive thousands of times within that slow response time.

I also use Acronis True Image. Very convenient and it has saved my bacon many times.

Good work. Thanks for letting us know the solution.

Giles

 

I thought that my troubles were over, but no!
After two days of perfect, fast, working, this morning no boot.
On an Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe. Boot order HD0, CDROM. Both HD's are less than two months old, Western Digital, connected with a brand new cable.
At boot the CPU is recognised, and the memory test is completed OK, but the BIOS cannot find either of the HD's.
I get the voice message "No floppy disk detected ", I press F1 to continue, and get another voice message "System completed power on self test, computer now booting from the operating system "
After a couple of nVidia screens a screen message "DISK BOOT FAILURE,INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND PRESS ENTER "
I've reset the BIOS memory and reseated the IDE cable, no success.
Any suggestions as to my next move?

Roger

 

Hi r.leale.

Thats bad enough to make me look in a mirror.

Thought we had it. Anyways, at this point all your cables and drives are probably good. I would make sure you have 12v power on the power supply when this happens. After that it's possibly the IDE ports. If you can get someone to loan you an IDE card to try that might eliminate the IDE ports. Other than that I would think there is a hardware problem with the motherboard. Possibly a crack causing the land lines to part, etc. Also, be sure the mounting screws for the motherboard arn't shorting something around the mounting holes.

When something like that happens to me I usually total disassemble the computer, assemble the bare essentials and boot from a floppy. With an intermittent problem that might not tell you anything. It's probably going to take some time to find the problem.

Giles

 

This is puzzling me!
The problem now can have nothing to do with XP any more, because the boot is not even getting past the BIOS. I realise now that I don't know enough about the processes carried out by the motherboard and the BIOS before the OS is booted.
Are the IDE channels driven by something on the Mobo, or are the drivers loaded by the OS?
Without the OS being booted it is impossible to load any other drivers.
Could this total failure to find the HD's be caused by the chipset?
Is it possible to control the IDE channels from a PC card?
I shall try the ASUS web site but I'm not very hopeful that I shall find any answers there.

Roger

 

Hi r.leale.

The problem never had anything to do with XP. It is purely a hardware problem with the possible exception that something can be wrong with the BIOS (Basic Input Output System) on the motherboard. Since the problem is intermittent it should be hardware only. When you turn the computer on, the BIOS, which has basic drivers for the hardware, tries to load an operating system according to where it is directed in the BIOS settings, floppy, hdd, etc.

If your BIOS doesn't detect any hardware then it can't load anything. That problem is limited to your motherboard (which also contains the BIOS). More than likely you're going to find that you have a motherboard problem.

I would disconnect or unplug everything but a floppy. If you have more than one memory stick, take all out but one and try and boot from the floppy. If it doesn't boot, interchange one of the memory sticks and try to boot again. Be sure the fan on the CPU is working ok, that will probably eliminate a heat problem.

With these kind of symptoms the list of what could be wrong could be several pages, most all related to the motherboard and BIOS.

Don't forget to check the 12v on the power supply when it happens. Just put a meter (set for DC) with one probe on the chassis and one probe on each of the 4 pins of one of the plugs. If you read a 12-volt on one of them then you're ok, the other ones will be a 5-volt and two grounds which will show nothing.

Giles