DMA Mode

[Rhino]

I'm using Windows with XP SP2 on a nearly new computer (18 months old).

My CD/DVD burning software is Nero OEM 6.3.1.26. (InCD is 4.2.12.1.)
Whenever I attempt to burn a new CD or DVD, I get a message from Nero DMA
Manager saying "This application has detected that your drive is not in DMA
(direct memory access) mode. To improve your system performance we suggest
you to enable DMA for all drives. Do you wish to run Nero DMA Manager to
enable DMA mode right now?"

I have clicked OK and rebooted (after it was done) on several occasions but
I keep getting this message. I've checked Device Manager and found that both
Primary IDE Channels and both Secondary IDE Channels indicate a Transfer
Mode of "DMA if available" for both devices in their Advanced Settings.

1. It looks as if the settings are correct so why am I still getting the
message?
2. Is it possible that I am actually using DMA despite the message? How
could I be sure?
3. Is it possible that a CD/DVD burner manufactured within the last couple
of years would _not_ support DMA? I thought that only very old drives didn't
necessarily handle DMA. What would I need to know about the device to
determine if it supports DMA? The burner is a Lite-on DH-20A4H 20x DVDRW.

I'd like to get the DMA mode working if it isn't, assuming that it will
actually speed up the burning process. If it doesn't speed up burning or
have some other major benefit, then I can live with it the way it is ;-)

Suggestions?

 

[Jim]

I'm using Windows with XP SP2 on a nearly new computer (18 months old).

My CD/DVD burning software is Nero OEM 6.3.1.26. (InCD is 4.2.12.1.)
Whenever I attempt to burn a new CD or DVD, I get a message from Nero DMA
Manager saying "This application has detected that your drive is not in
DMA (direct memory access) mode. To improve your system performance we
suggest you to enable DMA for all drives. Do you wish to run Nero DMA
Manager to enable DMA mode right now?"

I have clicked OK and rebooted (after it was done) on several occasions
but I keep getting this message. I've checked Device Manager and found
that both Primary IDE Channels and both Secondary IDE Channels indicate a
Transfer Mode of "DMA if available" for both devices in their Advanced
Settings.

1. It looks as if the settings are correct so why am I still getting the
message?
2. Is it possible that I am actually using DMA despite the message? How
could I be sure?
3. Is it possible that a CD/DVD burner manufactured within the last couple
of years would _not_ support DMA? I thought that only very old drives
didn't necessarily handle DMA. What would I need to know about the device
to determine if it supports DMA? The burner is a Lite-on DH-20A4H 20x
DVDRW.

I'd like to get the DMA mode working if it isn't, assuming that it will
actually speed up the burning process. If it doesn't speed up burning or
have some other major benefit, then I can live with it the way it is ;-)

Suggestions?

Remove the CD driver(s) and reboot. This is the usual method of fixing
your problem.

Windows XP changes the mode to PIO rather than DMA if there ever is an error
on the drive whether it is currently recording errors or not.

Jim

 

[Greg Russell]

I've checked Device Manager and found that both
Primary IDE Channels and both Secondary IDE Channels indicate a Transfer
Mode of "DMA if available" for both devices in their Advanced Settings.

1. It looks as if the settings are correct so why am I still getting the
message?
2. Is it possible that I am actually using DMA despite the message? How
could I be sure?
3. Is it possible that a CD/DVD burner manufactured within the last couple
of years would _not_ support DMA? I thought that only very old drives didn't
necessarily handle DMA. What would I need to know about the device to
determine if it supports DMA? The burner is a Lite-on DH-20A4H 20x DVDRW.

Many devices require a jumper to be set in order to utilize DMA ... check
the manufacturer's data sheet for the device.

 

[Rhino]

I'm using Windows with XP SP2 on a nearly new computer (18 months old).

My CD/DVD burning software is Nero OEM 6.3.1.26. (InCD is 4.2.12.1.)
Whenever I attempt to burn a new CD or DVD, I get a message from Nero DMA
Manager saying "This application has detected that your drive is not in
DMA (direct memory access) mode. To improve your system performance we
suggest you to enable DMA for all drives. Do you wish to run Nero DMA
Manager to enable DMA mode right now?"

I have clicked OK and rebooted (after it was done) on several occasions
but I keep getting this message. I've checked Device Manager and found
that both Primary IDE Channels and both Secondary IDE Channels indicate a
Transfer Mode of "DMA if available" for both devices in their Advanced
Settings.

1. It looks as if the settings are correct so why am I still getting the
message?
2. Is it possible that I am actually using DMA despite the message? How
could I be sure?
3. Is it possible that a CD/DVD burner manufactured within the last couple
of years would _not_ support DMA? I thought that only very old drives
didn't necessarily handle DMA. What would I need to know about the device
to determine if it supports DMA? The burner is a Lite-on DH-20A4H 20x
DVDRW.

I'd like to get the DMA mode working if it isn't, assuming that it will
actually speed up the burning process. If it doesn't speed up burning or
have some other major benefit, then I can live with it the way it is ;-)

Suggestions?

Thank you all for the suggestions! I'll get back to you if they don't pan
out but I'm optimistic that one of these will solve the problem.

 

[MowGreen]

See this thread which ran for almost 3 years:

if your DMA is OFF or PIO Mode (here is a very easy guide to fix it)
http://forums.afterdawn.com/thread_view.cfm/260038

There's a vbs script authored by an MVP on 4/4/2007 available there, too.


MowGreen
================
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Never Forgotten
================

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