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Thread ID: 35017 2003-06-30 08:05:00 HDD Read Speed Issue PerseusNZ (4126) Press F1
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156365 2003-06-30 08:05:00 I recently bought a new computer with a Soltek SL-75FRN2-L motherboard and a Seagate Barracuda ATA V ST380023A 7200rpm HDD. Ever since I first turned it on I have been having trouble with the speed data is being sucked off the HDD. My trouble is that this is intermittant. Some days there is no problem, but other days it can take nearly 10 minutes to boot into Windows. Lately the machine has taken to slowing down over time.

I've replaced the IDE cables, played with the jumpers on the HDD and the CRRW drive, played with Master and Slave settings, as well as the primary or secondary slots to no result. The HDD is slowing ATA100 performance with the CDRW ATA33. The HDD is primary master, the CDRW secondary master. The HDD controllers are the stard Micorsoft ones. I've updated the motherboard drivers to the latest ones available and the BIOS is current as well.

Is there any way that I can decide whether the HDD or the motherboard is at fault? Any suggestions to resolve this issue?

Specs are (in addition to the above):
Windows XP Pro
Athlon 2700+
512 PC2700 RAM (1 stick)
ATI Radeon 9700
Diamond Data 40x24x10 CDRW
Onboard sound (AC'97)
PerseusNZ (4126)
156366 2003-06-30 08:29:00 The quickest way may be to ask the seller to test them for you - take the whole computer in to them and they should happy enough to test both components for you. Just be acreful that they are not going to try and charge you to assemble / disasemble the computer

Nic
nicnz (2273)
156367 2003-06-30 08:30:00 oh, and another way may be to change the IDE port the drive is connected to.

N
nicnz (2273)
156368 2003-06-30 08:35:00 this may not help,
but these diagnostic tools may be of use
www.seagate.com
Marty2001 (421)
156369 2003-06-30 08:51:00 Sounds like the same I had when I put new hdd in . Turned out that to run at 100 DMa I needed the new screened type cables. I also only use one drive on the IDE as master and use the end connector on the cable only ( I couldn't find one with only one termination.) piva (3796)
156370 2003-06-30 11:53:00 For one make sure (As you have) that the HD and Cd are one different cables.
For the other I don't think the standard MS drivers would be the best ones
Go to this site (www1.soltek.com.tw) and you will find the latest drivers as well as probably a flash for your bios. Be very aware that flashing your bios can be very dangerous if you do not follow the proper instructions.
mikebartnz (21)
156371 2003-06-30 11:57:00 Which connector only matters when you use cable select other wise which drive is set to master or slave matters is important. mikebartnz (21)
156372 2003-06-30 12:12:00 Try a through scandisk on the drive. If its hitting bad sectors you will get big slow downs/pauses. bmason (508)
156373 2003-06-30 21:55:00 Thanks, I've downloaded those drivers and installed them but will have to wait and see if the problem persists. I never flashed the BIOS as it was the same version as is currently installed.

I've scandisked (no errors) and defraged on a regular basis. I've also used the Seatools with mixed results. When run under one of the options, Seatools do not work, but when run under the CPU option (or something like that) they work fine and show no errors.
PerseusNZ (4126)
156374 2003-07-01 02:41:00 To run at ATA100
1. Yes you will need an 80 core screened cable
2. You can still have your CDRW on the same channel. (just when transfering between CDRW and HDD it will be slightly slower)
3. You need to find a testing suite and report back to us with the results on your hdd. download.com.com ( [url) this might help [/url]
roofus (483)
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