How do I use more than 4 IDE devices in XP Pro?

[Microsoft Newsgroups]

My system currently has 2 HDDS and 4 Optical Drives. The problem is that 2
of the optical drives do not seem to work. I can read data from disks
inserted into them, but that is all. they will not write data or media, nor
will they recognize or play DVD's.

My motherboard is a Gigabyte 8INXP, and all the required IDE channels are
enabled in the BIOS. Windows XP device manager reports that all the devices
are enabled and functioning properly.

Does anyone out there know what the problem is and how to correct it?

 

[mark7dc]

If that board is anything like my Gigabyte 8KNXP, IDE 3 and 4 will not support
the optical drives. So, put the two HDDs on IDE 3 and/or 4 and use IDE 1 and
2 for the four optical drives.

Having said that, you can expect to have problems loading XP on a clean HDD
on IDE 3...you'll need a driver on a floppy to install at the F6 prompt when you
start the XP installation.

Peruse this newsgroup for help: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte

 

[MK]

Thanks for the info. I currently have them set up with the two extra optical
drives on IDE 4 because Gigabyte told me that IDE 3 would not support them.

But now the big question: If I shut down, switch the connectors and then
reboot, will everything continue to function properly? I really don't want
to have to dump everything I have already installed...

 

[mark7dc]

IDE 3 and 4 will not support optical drives. Since your board is different than
mine, and since the board will support 12 drives, in various raid and nonraid
configurations, it gets confusing quite rapidly, so I suggest you post your
question
in the gigabyte newsgroup.

If you have time for lots of reading, Gigabyte drive setups are discussed here:
http://groups.google.com/groups?as_...alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte&lr=&hl=en