Hard Drive Access Probs...

C

cstone6

New member
I am using two hard drives with my computer and recently reformatted my boot drive and left my dump drive the way it was. Since reformatting (Using XP) I have noticed many problems accessing files on the dump drive with the ease I used to be able to, it sometimes takes minutes at a time to open folders and select files. I have tried to reformat the drive, I have tried to change its file system from NTFS to FAT32 and back again, but nothing has worked, just wondering if any one knows of a Windows setting or something that I could do to get back the HD's performance. Also wondering if IDE cables would have anything to do with this problem?
 
weboneando

weboneando

1
Changing the fat won´t solve your issue besides for XP NTFS is better than anything.

Have you checked if DMA is enabled? also check for drivers updates for chipset and ide controller.

How are your drives connected?
 
C

cstone6

New member
weboneando said:
Changing the fat won´t solve your issue besides for XP NTFS is better than anything.

Have you checked if DMA is enabled? also check for drivers updates for chipset and ide controller.

How are your drives connected?
Click to expand...
I cant find any updates for my IDE controller (in case you are wondering I am on an ECS board with the K7S5A chipset) and DMA ultra mode 5 is enabled on both HDs. They are connected through 1 IDE cable into the Primary IDE channel. Do you know of any other place I could search for IDE controller updates?
 
S

scarecrow

1
cstone6 said:
If it is the my virus scan, what can I do? (I have McAfee Virus Scan 8.0)
Click to expand...
Just disable it, and check if the access times on the second harddrive have improved. If this is the case then pick another AV with a less intrusive on-access scanner, or ease the on-access scanning rules.
 
C

cstone6

New member
scarecrow said:
Just disable it, and check if the access times on the second harddrive have improved. If this is the case then pick another AV with a less intrusive on-access scanner, or ease the on-access scanning rules.
Click to expand...
Just disabled it and still the same problem, but thanx for tryiing to help me out.
 
weboneando

weboneando

1
If I´m not mistaken you have a VIA chipset so the best thing to do is to download the latest via 4 in 1 drivers, altough I think they have a different name now but go to VIA web site and check for it:
 
C

cstone6

New member
weboneando said:
If I´m not mistaken you have a VIA chipset so the best thing to do is to download the latest via 4 in 1 drivers, altough I think they have a different name now but go to VIA web site and check for it:
Click to expand...
Found out it is an SiS 735 Chipset, updated the IDE controller, but still having the same problems. Thanx for all the help, but maybe its just time for a new dump drive.
 
weboneando

weboneando

1
I don´t think your drive is the problem, it also could be some hardware conflict better check your drive in other pc before looking for other drive and check your IRQs.
 
C

cstone6

New member
weboneando said:
I don´t think your drive is the problem, it also could be some hardware conflict better check your drive in other pc before looking for other drive and check your IRQs.
Click to expand...
What would be the best way of cheking my IRQ's, I actually have little knowledge of what an IRQ is and what purpose it serves. Sorry to sound like a moron.
 
Duracell

Duracell

1
if it is the usually onboard IDE controller, it won't share the IRQ because it is hard wired to IRQ 14 and 15; so you cannot get IRQ conflicts with this device;
 
weboneando

weboneando

1
Duracell said:
if it is the usually onboard IDE controller, it won't share the IRQ because it is hard wired to IRQ 14 and 15; so you cannot get IRQ conflicts with this device;
Click to expand...
I had problems with pcs in wich the onboard IDE controller had conflicts with the lan card and wont aloud to see anything but the system HD.

Anyway IRQ stands for Interruption Request and is used by the system to map all the components in your pc, you can check them going to the device manager then select the icon with the pc and in the menu select view and then resources by connection in the list you´ll see them expand the list and check if there are any components sharing the same IRQ.

If you hapend to have an IRQ conflict check in your bios if you have enabled ACPI that way XP has a better handling for interruptions.
 
Duracell

Duracell

1
weboneando said:
I had problems with pcs in wich the onboard IDE controller had conflicts with the lan card and wont aloud to see anything but the system HD.
Click to expand...
O.K., i will never again say never ever; :D
 
C

cstone6

New member
Well thanx everybody for all the info, I am going to try all the ideas you guys have given me and I will let you know if I have any success.
 
C

cstone6

New member
scarecrow said:
SiS 735 is notorious about creating such problems as yours...
Click to expand...
I have always had problems with SiS chipsets and yet I keep buying them, I think next time I will be a little more cautious about what chipset I invest my money in.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top