DMA mode keeps changing to PIO

[SCDVD]

I have a problem that keeps reoccuring. I am using XP SP2 on a P4 3.2 Ghz. Prescott CPU on an ABIT IC7-MAX3 MB. I have an Artec DVD-ROM and a BTC-1108 DVD writer. My problem is that from time to time without warning, the IDE channel that the DVD-ROM and the DVD writer are on spontaneously switches from DMA to PIO mode. I notice it when my DVD writer suddenly will not burn faster that 1X. It will not switch back to DMA mode if I change the IDE controller setting to DMA under Control Panel, System, Hardware. The only way that works - for a while, is to delete the secondary IDE channel and reboot. When Windows finds the "new" hardware, it installs the driver and sets the IDE channel to PIO as it should. But then, a week or so later, it switches back to PIO mode again without any obvious event that triggers it and I have to repeat the process. Any ideas?

[lordsmurf]

Bad cable?

[BobK]

I had the same problem a year or so ago. I tried moving drives to different cables, switching cables, etc. The only thing that got rid of the problem for good was a clean reinstall of Windows (and everything else).

But I'd still try a different cable first- if that is the problem it'll save a lot of time rather than reinstalling everything without trying it.

[Babachan]

I had the same problem with my DVD-ROM. My DVD-ROM switched automatically to PIO mode. But my DVD burner stayed on DMA mode. I reflashed my DVD-ROM and the problem was solved.

[redwudz]

Windows will occasionally switch you to PIO mode if it has great difficulty reading a disc. As lordsmurf said, check your cables and the cable connections. Substitute a known good IDE cable for a while and see if that helps.

[DVDJET]

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm

[JSB]

http://www.michna.com/kb/WxDMA.htm

Very nice site.

I would bring out the big guns and get into the registry:

Re-enable DMA using the Registry Editor
My thanks go to my fellow MVP Alexander Grigoriev who taught me this method.

Run REGEDIT. Go to the following key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Contro l\Class\{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

It has subkeys like 0000, 0001, 0002, etc. Normally 0001 is the primary IDE channel, 0002 the secondary, but other numbers can occur under certain circumstances. Check the DriverDesc value to see which one it is.

Delete MasterIdDataChecksum or SlaveIdDataChecksum, depending on whether the device in question is attached as master or slave, but it can't actually hurt to delete both. Reboot. The drive DMA capabilities will be redetected.

Open Device Manager again and check whether the device is now actually using DMA mode. If so, congratulations, you've made it (at least until the next time Windows disables DMA

I have used this in the past and it did the trick 8)

Some more info from a sticky...
DVD Rippinging Speed Tips

JSB

[VamPYR]

i had the same MB Abit IC7-Max3, this always happen when the optical drive not responding during disc reading or ripping, after you eject the disc out, the drive itself will automatically reset to PIO, change in Device Manager didnt help. if i remove the IDE Controller in device manager and restart, windows xp sp2 will show error and unable to install the controller.
I solved this problem by install DVD Region+CSS Free, each time when the drive change to pio, start DVD Region+CSS Free > select you drive > ok > right click the DVD Region+CSS Free icon > choose 'Enable DMA' > click ' Enable DMA for DVD drive and Hard drive' > restart computer.

[SCDVD]

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It turned out to be a case of Microsoft being too helpful. I found that each time the problem occured, I had just attempted to read an archived DVD-R disc that had unrecoverable errors. I checked into the Windows XP "feature" that automatically reverts to PIO mode when more than six errors occur on an IDE channel and confirmed that is what is happening. I fault Microsoft for this oversimplifed and heavy handed way to "take care" of the user. It's a case of a reasonable error recovery mode taken way too far. In the case of a hard disc drive on an IDE channel experiencing excessive errors, it's reasonable to slow things down in an attempt to read from the drive. But it's not reasonable to then ignore the user's subsequent attempt to reset to DMA in Control panel/system/hardware/device manager. It is true that you have to delete the IDE channel and reboot to cause Windows XP to "find" the "new" IDE channel and reinstall its driver.

In the case of optical drives on an IDE channel this "feature" is ridiculous. The "feature" assumes that the problem is the drive, not the media and it also assumes that this condition will stay this way forever. The "feature" won't even allow the user to reset the IDE channel to PIO in any normal or obvious manner. I'm sure this problem is widespread with anyone doing any amount of CDR and DVDR recording, conversion etc. on Windows XP or Windows 2000. I wonder how many of the "My burner is bad" and "My media is bad" comments that we see in the various forums are actually due to Billy Gates and his band of merry men?

[stiltman]

From what I've read here and there, XP SP2 will switch to PIO automatically when it encounters a bad block on a CD/DVD. this is to ensure that the system still runs effeciently

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&q=XP+SP2+DMA+to+PIO

[SCDVD]

As I said, this is a reasonable error recovery mode taken way too far. It is reasonable to switch to the slower PIO mode when ONE CDR or DVD disc has a problem. But it is not reasonable to change the IDE channel to PIO forever in order to pay homage to a single bad disc. Windows XP or 2000 will not even allow the user to set the channel back to DMA in Control Panel/System/Hardware/Device Manager. This is way too presumptuous and heavy handed.

[rfielder]

I have been encountering this issue with two systems and three drives - Plextor PX-712, NEC 2500A, and ASUS 52x32x52 CD-RW.

Same thing - delete the secondary chanel and reboot. But, before discovering this - what a PAIN!!!

If anyone finds a way around this, such that the chanel STAYS in DMA mode, please post!

[stiltman]

This does not happen in win2K, winXP, winXP SP1 this only happens with winXP SP2

[tekkieman]

This does not happen in win2K, winXP, winXP SP1 this only happens with winXP SP2

I've seen it happen in SP1. It was an auto fallback feature. If the drive encountered too many read or write errors, it would revert to PIO. Usually, removing the IDE channel and letting it auto-detect on reboot cleared the problem until the next batch of read/write errors.

[Roderz]

This does not happen in win2K, winXP, winXP SP1 this only happens with winXP SP2

No sorry but this happend to me (using w2k sp4) after trying to read a crappy disc
Just delete ide channel .......

[BobK]

> This does not happen in win2K, winXP, winXP SP1 this only happens with winXP SP2

I had it happen with WinXP and SP1. Been using SP2 since it came out and it hasn't happened yet.

[RAAGAAman]

Actually if the drive does not respond to the OS request within 9.5 seconds the OS will drop it to PIO mode. Usually this can be corrected with a FW upgrade. Some drive suppliers have crappy read retry algorithms that do not respond to the OS within the required time. Since I have worked with a few BTC drives it does not surprise me that they would have issues with read or write command timeouts.

RG

[Lux_a]

to my knowledge it happens in all XP's noSP/SP1/SP2 after 8 errors/timeouts.
uninstalling controller will reset the count but if drive is bad (like it was
in my case whenever i was reading burnt dvd's it was timing out) it will happen eventually again.

[ROBERT BLACK]

I've had this happen with my cd writer three times. The third time my comp re-detected the secondary IDE drive, but STAYED in PIO mode. A re-install of XP solved it.

[freestylegreek]

That sucks just cause there is an error on the dvd disc doesnt mean the dvd burner is broken. So it shouldnt change it to that mode.

to my knowledge it happens in all XP's noSP/SP1/SP2 after 8 errors/timeouts.
uninstalling controller will reset the count but if drive is bad (like it was
in my case whenever i was reading burnt dvd's it was timing out) it will happen eventually again.

[stiltman]

Never had the problem once in win2k and I've tried some really mangaled DVD/CDs

I read it was only implemented in XP SP2, but can't find the link...sorry if I'm off the mark

[freestylegreek]

Oh well i hope you can find it cause im going to look for it as well as i have XP and SP2.

[caremarto]

I am having the same problem, it doesn't matter wich of the drivers a plug on the device 1 it changes to PIO, did you find a solution?


any

I have a problem that keeps reoccuring. I am using XP SP2 on a P4 3.2 Ghz. Prescott CPU on an ABIT IC7-MAX3 MB. I have an Artec DVD-ROM and a BTC-1108 DVD writer. My problem is that from time to time without warning, the IDE channel that the DVD-ROM and the DVD writer are on spontaneously switches from DMA to PIO mode. I notice it when my DVD writer suddenly will not burn faster that 1X. It will not switch back to DMA mode if I change the IDE controller setting to DMA under Control Panel, System, Hardware. The only way that works - for a while, is to delete the secondary IDE channel and reboot. When Windows finds the "new" hardware, it installs the driver and sets the IDE channel to PIO as it should. But then, a week or so later, it switches back to PIO mode again without any obvious event that triggers it and I have to repeat the process. Any ideas?

[handyguy]

Try using the best media you can find.

[hellbringer]

i have basicly the same problem except when i put a cd or dvd in my burner my computer freezes ive tried different ide cables different ide drivers ive tried different fireware and different aspi drivers. the drive works in pio mode but it only burns at 1x, what do i need to do next? how do i turn off this windows thing that might be causing this?

[budz]

reformat and reinstall xp.

[hellbringer]

hahha funnty guy you are

[hellbringer]

there was a post eariler in this topic about how to do turn off the windows thing and some people have tried it and got it to work i was just woundin if one of those people could simplify the instructions a little in a post on how they did it. i found the previous posts a little confusing on witch steps to take

[budz]

hahha funnty guy you are

I wasn't being funny at all! :P I was serious....there are some who have had the same problems with the only resolution was to reinstall xp....here's a link you can check out with regard to PROBLEMS IN ENABLING DMA in XP.
http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=6645

[hellbringer]

ok the registry key trick is what i was looking for, the link it clearly shows what i need to do. thx for your help.

reinstalling xp again is something that would prob send me into cardiac arrest, i think i have done that about 20 or 30 times in my life and i just don't think i can take it again. altow i did recently set up norton ghost which will save me a few mins when worst comes to worst.

thx again