Windows Hdd "polling" problems!!!

[cjolley]

I had the same problem.
Turning off Auto Insert Notification for the CDR fixed it.
Also, put the CDR on an IDE channel by it's self. In other words, use a different cable for the CDR than the harddrive.
Also make sure that somehow AIN did not get turned on for the hardrive.
chuck

PS Turn off "Passive Release" in the chipset options of your bios, if possible.



[This message has been edited by cjolley (edited 30 July 2000).]

[Jake]

Windows Hdd "polling" problems!!!

Hi!

I really need some help with this problem.

Being the computer geek in the family, I have bought and built most of the computers used by members of my family, including the PC my mom uses when working at home.

After installing an IDE CD-recorder in her system some time ago, and quickly discovering that it did not work when trying to record a CDR, I have been searching for the cause of the problem.

I seem to have narrowed the issue to a strange harddrive "polling" that occours at 3 second intervals. The harddrive LED just makes a short "blip" every 3 seconds, as if the harddrive is being reset or accessed by the controller. This interferes with any other controller activities including CDR-recording.

As you might know the CD-recorder requires a steady flow af data when recording and this is interrupted by the strange "polling". All attempts to correct the problem has failed for me and I'm really at a loss here.

The polling seems to be related to either controller management in the OS (Windows 98 SE) or compatibility with the drivers that manage CD-rom or CDR access.

When the harddrive (IBM DTTA-371010 10.1 GB) is connected as the ONLY device on the controllers the "polling" does NOT occour. As soon as I connect a CD-rom or CDR-recorder it begins, but NOT if I boot up in Windows "safe mode". (Windows CD-drivers are not loaded this way)

This should mean that it has something to do with the generic ATAPI Windows drivers and compatibility with the Windows harddisk drivers or disk management. So it can't be a hardware issue. If it was, the polling would occour even if the CD-rom drivers were not loaded.

For you reference I have included a list of components in the system.

Abit BH6 motherboard with latest bios version
Intel P3-350 (not OC'ed)
128 Mb Samsung PC100 memory in a single stick.
Matrox G200 Mystique 8Mb driver 5.52
IBM DTTA-371010 10.1 GB Hdd
Toshiba DVD IDE drive (4X DVD second gen. I think)
Wearnes CD-RW 622 IDE

If you have any ideas for solving this problem or questions that require more information from me, feel free to reply.

Regards,

Jake

[Jake]

Just found this article on MS support:
http://support.microsoft.com/support.../q138/5/98.asp

It simply tells me that HDD "polling" can also occour if "Auto Insert Notification" is enabled in Windows.

I don't remember right now if I turned it off, but it sounds too stupid for me to forget something that trivial. Then again, I have been known to forget simple things like this during a Windows install. :-)

I will have to check it at my mom's and get back to you.

Regards,

Jake

[MultimediaMan]

If you have a blank CD-R disc in the drive Windows will keep trying to read the media, over and over again. Turning off the Auto insert notificatio will help, but not eliminate this problem if Office is installed. Office' FindFast will poll all directories at fixed intervals, and O2k is pretty adamant about how.

You might try shutting off Findfast if it is running.

[Jake]

Hi guys!

Thank you for your input on the matter. I did know about the "putting CD-drives on their own controller" issue, but not about the O2k Findfast and the Passive release option in bios (I allways wondered about that).

If the AIN issue turns out not be the culprit, I will try these other options.

Once again you have confirmed my belief in the MURC as being comprised of nice, intelligent and helpful people.

Your fellow MURC'er,

Jake