BIOS slow to detect IDE drives - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

07-01-2003, 04:11 PM

Computer: Dell Dimension XPS R400, Win 98 first edition...

When I do a cold boot, my BIOS verifies my RAM. It detects the keyboard and mouse right away, then it hangs for 30 seconds before it detects my drives. This happened after I switched out the CD-ROM drive and intalled a CD-RW drive. I figure its not set up right in the BIOS or a jumper is off track, but I have everything set to what seems to be correct.

Here is my IDE drives:

(Printed from Belarc Advisor):
IDE-CD R/RW 8x4x32 [CD-ROM drive] -*Jumper set to second master- BIOS setup says the same thing*

Generic IDE hard disk drive (8.40 GB) -- drive 0 -*jumper set to primary master- BIOS setup says the same thing*

IOMEGA ZIP 100 [Hard drive] (100 MB) -- drive 1 -*jumper set to second slave- BIOS setup says the same thing*

Generic floppy disk drive (3.5")

Here is the stuff for my BIOS (printed from BIOS Wizard):
BIOS Manufacturer : PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0 licensed to Intel ( revision A13 - latest version that I found )
BIOS ID : 4S4EB0X1.10A.0035.P13.990*******
BIOS Date : 09/21/99
BIOS OEM Signon :
BIOS ROM Size : 512K
Chipset : Intel 440BX/ZX rev 2
Super I/O Chip : SMC 77x rev 1 found at port 370h

Any thoughts on how to have BIOS detect IDE fast the way it did before?

The_Dude · 07-01-2003, 05:00 PM

i have the same problem, and i think it's something to do w/ the cdrom drives.

it hasnt bothered me enough to make me go out there and find a solution.

anyway, it could be the firmware for the cdrom and/or cdrw

poof · 07-01-2003, 09:42 PM

re read your post. My answer was incorrect. Sorry to waste your time.

edit: set your hd as primary master, zip as slave, set your cd as secondary master

Adjust your boot sequence in bios accordingly.

Take two aspirin, let me know if this helped, or if I was way off base.

shalafi · 07-02-2003, 08:15 AM

If poofs solution doesnt work might try looking for a bios update.

*note*: if you're not familiar with how to do this dont even attempt it without someone experienced there to help you. If you screw up the bios your motherboard is basically worthless.

07-02-2003, 09:55 AM

The BIOS is at the latest and greatest version that I could find for my Dell. If changing the CD-RW to primary slave doesn't work, then I'll just keep living with a slow boot up on this system.

The only reason I haven't tried this config before is just due to lazyness. I think based on where the HD is intalled, the ribbon cable won't reach the back of the CD-RW drive. heh. I'm not sure. I'll check it again when I get home.

charliex · 07-02-2003, 11:32 AM

its a bit hard to tell from the wording, is your CD and ZIP on the same cable and then HD on the primary master cable all on its own ?
so primary IDE master HD nothing on primary slave
secondary IDE CD master / ZIP slave

thats as it should be, you could try swapping the ZIP and cd around

you dont want a low speed device like a CD or ZIP drive on the same cable as a HD, as it will reduce your HD's performance (unless you have very slow HDs )

shalafi · 07-02-2003, 12:50 PM

An 8.4GB is probly gonna be a UDMA33 so id think he'll be ok on the same controller

07-02-2003, 02:27 PM

the HD is set as primary with no slave. The CD is set 2nd master and the ZIP is 2nd slave.

Right now, I feel like my ass is set to primary and my head is set to slave. Got a BIOS for that?

07-02-2003, 03:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by charliex
its a bit hard to tell from the wording, is your CD and ZIP on the same cable and then HD on the primary master cable all on its own ?
so primary IDE master HD nothing on primary slave
secondary IDE CD master / ZIP slave

thats as it should be, you could try swapping the ZIP and cd around

you dont want a low speed device like a CD or ZIP drive on the same cable as a HD, as it will reduce your HD's performance (unless you have very slow HDs )

--first off, thanks for those who took time to reply.

the winning setup is:

HD - PRIMARY MASTER
ZIP - 2nd PRIMARY MASTER
CD - 2nd SLAVE

thanks charliex for the suggestion!

I resisted moving these around because the IDE ribbon cable would be twisted badly trying to reach the CD on top with the 2nd slave plug, then twisting the cable to reach the ZIP with the Master plug.

So why does putting the ZIP as Master speed up the boot? Just curious...but if you give me a good answer, you win a gold star.

charliex · 07-03-2003, 10:14 PM

zip drive might just misbehave as a slave, its hard to tell without some testing, i've had a few problems with my iomega drives.

it doesn't really matter if the HD is udma 33 a CD sharing the IDE will probably slow it down, since a CD is an order of magnitude slower than a HD and IDE is not buffered, stacked or chained for commands, its all one at a time, the faster drive can't do its thing until the slower one has fiinished, when both are is in use.

poof · 07-04-2003, 06:37 AM

<i>"I feel like my ass is set to primary and my head is set to slave."</i>

I won't use the laugh out loud cliche, but, I did laugh out loud.

07-01-2003, 04:11 PM	#1 (permalink)
wpulley Guest	BIOS slow to detect IDE drives Computer: Dell Dimension XPS R400, Win 98 first edition... When I do a cold boot, my BIOS verifies my RAM. It detects the keyboard and mouse right away, then it hangs for 30 seconds before it detects my drives. This happened after I switched out the CD-ROM drive and intalled a CD-RW drive. I figure its not set up right in the BIOS or a jumper is off track, but I have everything set to what seems to be correct. Here is my IDE drives: (Printed from Belarc Advisor): IDE-CD R/RW 8x4x32 [CD-ROM drive] -Jumper set to second master- BIOS setup says the same thing Generic IDE hard disk drive (8.40 GB) -- drive 0 -jumper set to primary master- BIOS setup says the same thing IOMEGA ZIP 100 [Hard drive] (100 MB) -- drive 1 -jumper set to second slave- BIOS setup says the same thing Generic floppy disk drive (3.5") Here is the stuff for my BIOS (printed from BIOS Wizard): BIOS Manufacturer : PhoenixBIOS 4.0 Release 6.0 licensed to Intel ( revision A13 - latest version that I found ) BIOS ID : 4S4EB0X1.10A.0035.P13.990******* BIOS Date : 09/21/99 BIOS OEM Signon : BIOS ROM Size : 512K Chipset : Intel 440BX/ZX rev 2 Super I/O Chip : SMC 77x rev 1 found at port 370h Any thoughts on how to have BIOS detect IDE fast the way it did before?

07-01-2003, 05:00 PM	#2 (permalink)
The_Dude The GrandDaddy of them all! Location: Austin, TX	i have the same problem, and i think it's something to do w/ the cdrom drives. it hasnt bothered me enough to make me go out there and find a solution. anyway, it could be the firmware for the cdrom and/or cdrw __________________ "Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity." - Darrel K Royal

07-01-2003, 09:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
poof Psycho	re read your post. My answer was incorrect. Sorry to waste your time. edit: set your hd as primary master, zip as slave, set your cd as secondary master Adjust your boot sequence in bios accordingly. Take two aspirin, let me know if this helped, or if I was way off base. Last edited by poof; 07-01-2003 at 09:51 PM..

07-02-2003, 08:15 AM	#4 (permalink)
shalafi ARRRRRRRRRR Location: Stuart, Florida	If poofs solution doesnt work might try looking for a bios update. note: if you're not familiar with how to do this dont even attempt it without someone experienced there to help you. If you screw up the bios your motherboard is basically worthless.

07-02-2003, 09:55 AM	#5 (permalink)
wpulley Guest	The BIOS is at the latest and greatest version that I could find for my Dell. If changing the CD-RW to primary slave doesn't work, then I'll just keep living with a slow boot up on this system. The only reason I haven't tried this config before is just due to lazyness. I think based on where the HD is intalled, the ribbon cable won't reach the back of the CD-RW drive. heh. I'm not sure. I'll check it again when I get home.

07-02-2003, 11:32 AM	#6 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	its a bit hard to tell from the wording, is your CD and ZIP on the same cable and then HD on the primary master cable all on its own ? so primary IDE master HD nothing on primary slave secondary IDE CD master / ZIP slave thats as it should be, you could try swapping the ZIP and cd around you dont want a low speed device like a CD or ZIP drive on the same cable as a HD, as it will reduce your HD's performance (unless you have very slow HDs )

07-02-2003, 12:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
shalafi ARRRRRRRRRR Location: Stuart, Florida	An 8.4GB is probly gonna be a UDMA33 so id think he'll be ok on the same controller

07-02-2003, 02:27 PM	#8 (permalink)
wpulley Guest	the HD is set as primary with no slave. The CD is set 2nd master and the ZIP is 2nd slave. Right now, I feel like my ass is set to primary and my head is set to slave. Got a BIOS for that?

07-03-2003, 10:14 PM	#10 (permalink)
charliex Junkie Location: North Hollywood	zip drive might just misbehave as a slave, its hard to tell without some testing, i've had a few problems with my iomega drives. it doesn't really matter if the HD is udma 33 a CD sharing the IDE will probably slow it down, since a CD is an order of magnitude slower than a HD and IDE is not buffered, stacked or chained for commands, its all one at a time, the faster drive can't do its thing until the slower one has fiinished, when both are is in use.

07-04-2003, 06:37 AM	#11 (permalink)
poof Psycho	<i>"I feel like my ass is set to primary and my head is set to slave."</i> I won't use the laugh out loud cliche, but, I did laugh out loud.