My HP CDRW is a SLAVE, is this ok?

[mltolun]

My devices are distribued like this:

IDE-1 (80-cable): HDD Master (Quantum 30GB) as Master + CDR Drive as Slave
IDE-2 (40 cable): HP CDR-W as SLAVE + Mobile 2GB (Samsumg) as Master

--> How bad is for the HP CD-RW to be Secondary Slave? Would this affect the performace?

[cfitz]

What model HP CD-RW drive? And what is the device you have labeled as CD-R on the primary channel?

cfitz

[mltolun]

1) The HP CDRW model is: 7550i
2) The Slave of the IDE-1 is a CDR Aopen 48x

[BuddhaTB]

If the current configuration works for you then stick with it. The only thing I would suggest is putting the CD-RW as secondary master and the samsung hard drive as secondary slave. But either way is fine. Make sure to enable UDMA if its possible too.

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=3848

[cfitz]

In general I would say you have an acceptable setup for having two hard drives and two optical drives, assuming everything is DMA enabled. However, the HP 7550i is a very old drive, and as far as I know doesn't support DMA. That means it must operate in PIO mode and is thus likely slowing down the mobile 2 GB hard drive.

I don't see any good way around this limitation though, given your setup. Ideally you would put the slow PIO device on its own channel so it doesn't affect any other drives. But you have all the slots filled, so the 7550i must share an IDE channel with at least one other drive.

Assuming that your AOpen drive is actually the CRW4850 48x12x50 drive, then I would suggest dumping the 7550i altogether. What good is a 2x2x24 drive in comparison to the 48x12x50 AOpen drive? I would say the 7550i is nothing but an anchor at this point, and would reconfigure the system to look like this:

Primary IDE channel = Quantum 30GB as master
Secondary IDE channel = Samsung 2GB as master, AOpen CRW4850 as slave

HP 7550i = trash can.

If you insist on keeping the 7550i, then I would say you probably have things set up as good as possible. At least the main hard drive and the AOpen can operate at high speed in DMA mode. And for all I know the Samsung operates only in PIO mode as well. If that is the case, then that adds additional weight to setting up the system as you have it (again, assuming you insist on keeping the 7550i).

cfitz

[mltolun]

The thing is like this...

The Aopen is a CDR...only reads at 48x...and the Quamtum 30Gb operates on DMA 5.

1)The 7550i is the only CD-RW I have
2)The 2GB Samsung HDD is old... i don't know if it operates on PIO or DMA.
But when I had the 7550i as seconday master, and the 2GB HDD as slave, i had problems...
this way all works OK.

BUT are u saying that the 7550i will work ok, being PIO, as a secondary slave?

[mltolun]

I checked mi Windows XP configuration, and in the "devices administrator" on the

-Primary IDE says:
device 0 (30GB HDD) : Ultra DMA mode 5
device 1 (48x CDR) : PIO mode

-Secondary IDE says:
device 0 (2GB HDD) : Word DMA mode 2
device 1 (HP CD-RW): Word DMA mode 2

Thats what Windows XP detects on my devices.....so, what should I do?

[BuddhaTB]

If it works right now, then no need to fix it or change up the configuration. You should call your Aopen a 48x CD-ROM, not a 48x CDR. Yes, the HP will work okay in PIO mode under your current set-up. I would suggest getting a new CD-RW drive if you can afford it.

[cfitz]

The Aopen is a CDR...only reads at 48x

Oh, you mean "CD-ROM". I don't think I have ever seen anyone refer to a CD-ROM as a CDR. If you write CDR, most people will think CD-R - the blank discs.

1)The 7550i is the only CD-RW I have

Then for heaven's sake get a new one! Check out the hot deals section:

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewforum.php?f=8

Someone just posted a drive for $19.99 after MIR (I don't know what shipping costs):

http://www.cdrlabs.com/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=9060

There are plenty of other deals as well.

2)The 2GB Samsung HDD is old... i don't know if it operates on PIO or DMA.

I suppose then it is so slow it doesn't hurt to be running in PIO mode anyway

But when I had the 7550i as seconday master, and the 2GB HDD as slave, i had problems...
this way all works OK.

Well, there you go!. You have answered your own question. If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

BUT are u saying that the 7550i will work ok, being PIO, as a secondary slave?

No reason to suspect it won't. Particularly since you just got through saying that it does!

cfitz

[mltolun]

sorry 'bout the CDR....
i alsways meant CD-ROM

So,...
I checked mi Windows XP configuration, and in the "devices administrator" on the

-Primary IDE says:
device 0 (30GB HDD) : Ultra DMA mode 5
device 1 (48x CD-ROM) : PIO mode

-Secondary IDE says:
device 0 (2GB HDD) : Word DMA mode 2
device 1 (HP CD-RW): Word DMA mode 2

Thats what Windows XP detects on my devices.....so, what should I do?

[UALOneKPlus]

If your machine is fast enough to run Win XP, throw the HP out and get a 48 or 52x CDRW!!!

In fact I'm going to order the Buslink special just now, rather than risk the Hi-Val 48x CDRW from CompUSA for my friend!

I burned 2 music CD's on another friend's older PC. It was agonizingly slow. Don't inflict pain upon yourself

[mltolun]

I can't afford new stuff...I live in Argentina, and the Computer hardware is very expensive.
SO, I have to survive with the things I allready have.
Thats why im trying to use them the best I can...

[mltolun]

I have:
Mother ECS K7S5A
Athlon 1600+ XP
512 DDR Micron
and the HHD and optical devices i told you before

[cfitz]

Given the limitations you face, I would leave things as is with one exception. Try to enable DMA on the AOpen CD-ROM drive. I don't know exactly what model you have or when you bought it, but AOpen 48x CD-ROM drives were supporting Ultra DMA/33 as far back as 1998, so there is a good chance your drive supports it.

If you can't enable it or have troubles after enabling it, write back with details.

cfitz

[mltolun]

I the DEVICES ADM i changed the device 0 mode (AOpen CD-ROM 48x):
-it was in ONLY PIO and I changed it to DMA, if available
now the AOpen CD-ROM is in "DMA mode 2".

is that ok?
all my devices are DMA now....3 of them DMA mode 2
and the 30GB HDD Ultra DMA mode 5

[cfitz]

I think that is the best you can do given the equipment you have. As long as you don't run into any problems, I wouldn't worry about it anymore.

cfitz