DRU-500A trouble when DMA is set !

[lcoulon]

Hello,

I've just bought a DRU-500A ( v2.0e firmware was upgraded )but the writter in unable to run movies properly when Ultra DMA 2 mode is set in BIOS AND Windows XP IDE controler setup.

When used in DMA mode as a normal condition ( the unit is master configured ) the DVD movies are run very slowly the audio is very bad and system gets unstable.

I can only use my DVD writter to work properly in PIO mode ( forced from Windows on Channel IDE setup ) but speed average is only x2 max in DVDs read and only 16x in CDs read.
Writting speed is around 2x too.


My configuration is Windows XP Home Edition - service pack 1 installed - Athlon 1800 - 256 Mo - Gforce 2 Pro 64 Mo.
Aspi drivers v4.71.

Please help me !

Regards,
L.coulon@usa.net

[somte]

You need to upgrade your IDE bus controller. Either that or use Microsoft standard IDE Controller driver. I had the same problem and by upgrading the drive I was able to get the drive to be set as DMA.

[lcoulon]

Thanks for your help.

Before installing DRU-500 Writter my old HP CD 9300 Writter was able to work in DMA mode . this is strange isn't it ?

However i get trouble to change my IDE controler driver :

Would you please get me the steps to follow ?

This is what i do :

Windows XP --> Control Pannel -> System -> Hardware -> Device Manager :

IDE/ATA ATAPI controllers.
From here i get this :

Primary IDE Channel
Secondary IDE Channel
Ali M5229 PCI Bus Master controler ---- >>> Needs to be Changed ?

Please let me know what you have done.
Regards.

[lcoulon]

I've changed Ali M5229 IDE Controler driver by Standard Microsoft IDE Controler driver.

The problem remains when i set DMA on.
Movies are very slow and audio sound poor.

I have to switch back in PIO mode to use my writter.

Did you find Ali M5229 IDE drivers upgrade on the Web ?


My mothercard is Asus A7A266-E . Asus does not have Ali M5229 driver update on their web site.
What is yours ?

[somte]

I think there is another thing that you can do. If you have DLA installed go ahead and unistall it. I heard that DLA sometimes create this problem.

[lcoulon]

I've removed Ali M5229 PCI Bus Master Controler from Windows XP Device manager .

When restarting Windows XP find the controler and install the appropriate drivers but the the problem remains !

I've have also fully re-installed Windows XP this day --> no chance the trouble is the same.

Who knows about that ?

[Bartlet]

I've got the exact same problem with mine. With DMA on I can write discs perfectly but reading is a different matter. It can get a directory listing and if it's a small file (couple of Kb) it might read it correctly, but anything bigger and it just reads loads of errors. When I checked my first few burns in the Sony I thought it was completely duff as every file failed verification! Turn the DMA off and it reads perfectly as well.

Previously I had a TEAC CDRW which also had a DMA problem. Burning discs in Disc at Once mode worked fine with DMA on or off (except at high speed obviously) but try Track at Once and it locked up before even starting the burn. DMA off and TAO worked.

To test I took the drives around to a mate's and they worked fine.

My set-up:
DRU-500AX 2.0C (as purchased)
MB: ASUS A7A266
Bios: Award 1004 04/30/2001
ALi M5229 PCI Bus Master IDE Controller
XP Pro SP1 or WinMe

My mates:
MB: ASUS A7V266-E
BIOS: Award 1005 12/25/2001
VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
WinMe

My plans are to try flashing the BIOS to the latest (1011) and I've also downloaded what appear to be ALi IDE controller drivers but they say they are for Win2K rather than XP so I'm wary of using them.
Anyway, I'm going to do a full back-up before tinkering with any of this - just to be on the safe side

What are your MB/BIOS details lcoulon?

[Bob W]

Take the burner back and get the Pioneer A05 or 105. My Sony failed after some 300 burns.

[Bartlet]

Which may very well exhibit the same or other symptoms since the problem appears to be motherboard connected as the drives works fine with another machine. Besides, the Pioneer might have a few probs with my +R & +RW discs

[Bob W]

Which may very well exhibit the same or other symptoms since the problem appears to be motherboard connected as the drives works fine with another machine. Besides, the Pioneer might have a few probs with my +R & +RW discs

+R costs too much. Your Sony may also have problems with DVD+R if it goes belly up like mine did. Is your motherboard using the VIA chipset?

[Bartlet]

Mine is ALi, mate's is VIA.

[Bob W]

Try using an IDE ATA33 or ATA66 cable on the Sony. Some say that helps.

[Bartlet]

I've tried a couple IDE cables to no effect. Now tried the BIOS upgrade to 1011 and still doesn't work properly. However, I've read elsewhere of getting a £75 2100+ CPU overclocked to 2800+ proportions quite easily so I think this DMA problem is a good excuse to get a new MB and CPU

[igalan]

Don't spend your time doing more tests, it won't work on this mobo with UDMA set at the BIOS...

I have the same mobo (ASUS A7A266, BIOS 1011), and I have the Sony DRU500A in PIO mode, and UDMA set in Windows XP (master single on IDE channel 2, UDMA quality IDE cable). Ali confirmed that this is an issue in the IDE controller, they are aware of it. I don't know if they will release a new ALI IDE driver that fixes this (AliMagik has been on the marker for a long time already.)

Anyway in PIO mode it's running perfectly. The computer slows down a bit when ripping, but that's all. The only "fix" is to use a PCI IDE controller...