Disk DMA mode dropping eventually to PIO.

  • Thread starter Thread starter Rob Turcott
  • Start date Start date
R

Rob Turcott

Hi,

I have a dell inspiron 8000 Notebook and Windows XP
professional SP1. I'm getting disk errors and atapi
errors in the event viewer - on bootup and afterwards
until the disk mode goes to PIO. The errors are:

Source: Disk
Event ID: 11
The driver detected a controller error on \Device\Harddisk0
\D.

and...
Source: atapi
Event ID: 5
A parity error was detected on \Device\Ide\IdePort0.

The relative frequency of the error messages is about 6 to
one.

I've used two different disks with the same problem.
There are NO other indications of problems: No other error
messages when runing programs etc. I've run several
diagnostic programs on the disk including Dell diagnostics
and the XP Disk/tools/error-checking with no errors.

The concern is the DMA mode for the hardisk drops from DMA
5 through 4,3,2, and eventually to PIO mode. The system
appears fine otherwise.

Could anyone tell me what this indicates or perhaps where
to look for more detailed info. I've called Dell support
twice and realize I'm going to provide them with as much
info as possible.

Thanks very much,

Rob.
 
If you've tried 2 different disks, that kind of points to the cable or the
controller.

How long have you had the Notebook, has this just started happening, or has
it happened since you got it ? Was it the original hard disk which first had
the problem, or did you upgrade it to a larger size/make ?

Clearly xp is continually dropping the speed so it doesn't think its a
reliable connection.

Perhaps you have some faulty memory.

Do you have more than one stick of memory or is it built into the
motherboard.
Could you pull the sticks in turn and try and see if this is the problem, or
sometimes even removing the memory modules and putting them back can fix an
issue, as contacts degrade over time, and pulling them out and putting them
back gives you a better contact.

Failing that there is the good old Windows Memory Diagnostic Program
http://oca.microsoft.com/en/windiag.asp

Paul
 
Thanks,

I've checked the memory as you suggested and ran the
windiag memory test with no errors.
I've not had the machine for very long. I inherited it
from my boss, The original config, before I upgraded the
hard drive, had the same error but, as I recall, the
errors didn't accumulate as quickly but there was at least
one immediately after booting. I too suspect the
controller or cable. I'm going to call Dell again and try
to confirm this.

Thanks again,

Rob.
 
Glad to help.

Post again when you resolve it.

We hardly ever hear from anyone when a problem gets fixed !

Paul
 
Hi,

The Dell support guy twigged on the 'atapi' error message
which he thought pointed to the cd drive interface. I
removed the drive and the problems stopped. No more error
messages and the hard drive stays at DMA mode 5 :-).

Apparently the system is still under warranty so they'er
sending me a new cd drive. I hope that it is actually the
drive and not the mere fact that something is connected,
but it looks like it is solved.

Thanks again for help.

Rob.
 
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