IDE ATA/ATAPT -the primary IDE channel is stuck on PIO mode

[Guest]

I think that windows xp turned off dma mode and enabled PIO mode on my
primary ide channel after encountering some errors during data transfer. I
can't reset back to dma mode using device manager. I have xp service pack
2. My primary driver's devices 0 and 1 both read PIO mode and can't be
changed by the device manager.

As a fix I have been told to uninstall my nec dvd rw nd -3100ad driver and
my primary ide channel and reboot the pc and the pc will automatically
re-install my NEC driver and my primary ide channel with the dma enabled. I
do not have a secondary ide channel. BUT...someone told me that I should
NEVER uninstall the primary ide channel because it will automatically
uninstall the hard drive also. IS this true???
If so then how do I fix my problem. Any ideas?

Also, as an alternative??, I read that all I need to do is modify the
registry. I am not sure how to do this and I don't know how to back up and
/or restore the registry in case something goes wrong. Also, if everything
fails can I just go back to an earlier system restore date? How would I do
this if my system crashed?

Essentially, I don't know that much about cpu's and want to make sure that I
don't crash the cpu by doing something wrong. But I can follow directions.
Is this a hopeless situation?

Thanks so much!
Nancy

 

[dMn]

I think that windows xp turned off dma mode and enabled PIO mode on my
primary ide channel after encountering some errors during data transfer. I
can't reset back to dma mode using device manager. I have xp service pack
2. My primary driver's devices 0 and 1 both read PIO mode and can't be
changed by the device manager.

As a fix I have been told to uninstall my nec dvd rw nd -3100ad driver and
my primary ide channel and reboot the pc and the pc will automatically
re-install my NEC driver and my primary ide channel with the dma enabled. I
do not have a secondary ide channel. BUT...someone told me that I should
NEVER uninstall the primary ide channel because it will automatically
uninstall the hard drive also. IS this true???
If so then how do I fix my problem. Any ideas?

Also, as an alternative??, I read that all I need to do is modify the
registry. I am not sure how to do this and I don't know how to back up and
/or restore the registry in case something goes wrong. Also, if everything
fails can I just go back to an earlier system restore date? How would I do
this if my system crashed?

Essentially, I don't know that much about cpu's and want to make sure that I
don't crash the cpu by doing something wrong. But I can follow directions.
Is this a hopeless situation?

Thanks so much!
Nancy

I have had the same problem. There is a known issue with XP marking the
drives so they can only use PIO mode.

See the discussion: http://winhlp.com/WxDMA.htm

I used this guide to fix my problem.

dMn