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When my HDD (Seagate ST31200) is coupled with a cd or dvd drive, it develops terrible problems. I finally worked out that part of the problem is the XP downgrading my Primary IDE channel issue, and got the fix for that from this forum. On deleting my Primary IDE channel my HDD is back up to speed ... for a very short time.

It doesn't take long for the downgrading to occur again. Whats more, my HDD seems to switch on and off again randomly... it makes a single beep as it does when the computer powers up and down, and the whole system pauses for a few seconds.

This occurs in any IDE configuration and with all drives I've tested, including 2 CDROMs, 1 CD-RW and a new Benq 1640.

If left as a single solitary drive, there are absolutely no problems with the hdd. I've tried switching IDE cables as well.

For now I'm stuck with leaving my shiny new burner in my g'friend's machine . If anyone has any ideas what might be happening I'd be much appreciative.

System is a 1GHZ Athlon, on a Asus KT7A mobo. Is rock solid (when no CD/DVD drive is in sight).

did you try moving the drive to Slave postion on the IDE channel ?
how about trying Cable Select (if your IDE cable supports that) ?
try moving it to the Secondary IDE channel ?

i'd seriously consider contacting Seagate support. the drives come with a 5-year warranty if i'm not mistaken. drive might be defective.
maybe before that run the SeaTools diagnostice programs to check your drive.
http://www.seagate.com/support/seatools/

I've tried all combinations possible with both IDE channels. All master/slave/cs jumper settings within reason too. I'm wondering if it's the mobo, I'm hunting down bios updates and I'll try that.

Strange thing is it really only started happening with SP2.

Thanks for the seatools link, drive comes up with no problems. I'd forgotten the warranty, if fiddling with the bios and ide drivers doesn't help I will definitely approach seagate.

anther thing to consider: take the drive out and try it in another computer.

The bios update seemed to do the trick. Touch wood. Horay, this problem has plagued me for weeks.

cheers

congrats!
live long and prosper.