IDE Controller problem

[Sentry77]

Greetings all, first post here, but I'm sure I'll be around. Looks like a great forum...

Really tricky question here... I have to rebuild a Windows 98 computer to replace a DOA unit that runs an embroidery workstation. I have to use a crappy old computer that the owner already had.:
100MHz Intel chip
Unknown motherboard

(It has to run a certain ISA network card and software that cannot run on any processor other than <600MHz Intel. Don't ask)
I have the comp. up and running but have SEVERAL errors in Device manager regarding video drivers, pci ethernet (new item, not properly installing), Primary slave IDE controller, Secondary master and slave IDE controller, DMA controller (solved). I can't see the two CD's on the secondary IDE in Windows. They don't auto detect in the CMOS, but this isn't a surprise as the BIOS is from about 1996 so ATAPI drives, while still available, don't show in the cmos settings. During boot it does detect the secondary master. It's after Windows startup that it's not visible. I have tried just about everything and am really scratching my head on this one....

Replaced cables. Unhooked the CD's from Secondary IDE, placed one in slave position on Primary. TRIPLE CHECKED all jumpers in each config. Removed all devices with errors in device manager for re-detect. Checked registry for 'noide' problem.

I can't get to a CD, even with a boot disk, to reinstall windows. It does something very wierd. I can get a directory of the d: (CD-ROM) at a command prompt, but cannot execute anything on the disk. It says 'Bad command or file name'. ARRRGH! Any help would be GREATLY appreciated.

-SeNTry

 

[paparazi]

Sounds simple but are they set to auto detect in the bios?
Try just one drive at a time.
Some older drives do need third party drivers ie: Creative
Have you tried a newer CDrom? 98 should have the necessary drivers.
Martin


We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[edfair]

Except that 98 is missing some .inf files that point to intel devices. Try a google search on "missing cdrom drives" and it should hit on some definitive info.
Was particularly bad with the Intel PIIX chipset.
There were also some issues with older VIA chipsets.
The problems with the secondary controller is because the wrong drivers installed.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[mainegeek]

Try to id the mobo or ask the owner for any/all software for that PC. You need to id the chipset and install the utility drivers for it.

 

[Sentry77]

Yep, everything in BIOS is set to auto, both ide channels are enabled. As stated, BIOS does not show ATAPI drives. One CD drive came in the computer.... I have booted it in it's original config and the error is the same. Oddly enough, when I first opened the computer, the original CD was on the Secondary by itself but set to 'SL' so I wonder what was changed before it darkened my doorstep. It did not have a second CD at any point - the second bay still had the snap-out metal tab.
I have tried the original CD in every slot, Primary SL, Secondary MA and SL, with jumpers set correctly. It shows up in the boot sequence, but not in Win98.
I can't identify the mobo- no name whatsoever. It's very old and the only clues are that the computer case says 'Aopen'. The only number I found was '577' ver. 1.xx. I searched for Aopen mobos and didn't find it. I called Aopen and they said every mobo they make has their name on it. No paperwork available. It's an Intel chipset, I'll try to ID it and install the drivers. Will have to copy them in DOS, even the floppy controller is errored in Device Manager in 98 (although I can boot from a boot disk.) Thanks for the help so far everyone... any more suggestions?

-Sentry

 

[edfair]

ID the intel chips and do a google search on the number.
Or go to the Intel site and get the missing .inf files and install them according to the instructions. This is, of course, assuming that you have the problem because of the specific chipset.
You can download 3 different diagnostic aids, Belard advisor, Sysoft Sandra, or Mitchell (was Aida) for aid in identifying the M/B. Then you would get the drivers from the M/B site.



Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[micker377]

<You can download 3 different diagnostic aids, Belard advisor, Sysoft Sandra, or Mitchell (was Aida) for aid in identifying the M/B. Then you would get the drivers from the M/B site.>

How do you run these programs if you can't boot into Windows?

 

[edfair]

Partly bootable per initial post. Whether it is up enough to get the diagnostics is another question. Belarc's install file fits on a floppy. Sandra's 20 files would fit on 2 floppies.

And install from the hard drive should get a fully functional windows without anything on the primary slave and secondary channel.
Using DOS to load the install stuff works as the glitch is with the windows installer.

Didn't try it with any of my problem machines, but I would suspect that the DOS based programs for access would also work if loaded in config.sys and autoexec.bat.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.

 

[Sentry77]

Well, many lessons learned on this one. I don't know the exact cause still yet, but I fixed it. Here's some notes...

I found the mobo model thru the award BIOS number. The second number will ID the mfr and possibly even the model of mobo. Not so for Phoenix or AMI BTW.

Since the IDE and floppy controllers were recognized during boot, I couldn't really assume they were bad so I was figuring on software. I could boot to windows from the start, just not see floppy or CD's so I copied the chipset drivers with a disk onto the c: drive and installed in windows. This did not fix it.

I was booting with a win98 start disk w/ cd support to try and restore windows. (There had to have been some major corrupt junk going on to have errors for kb, mouse, video, HD controller, primary and secondary controller, nic card, and dma controller. restore seemed fastest to solve it and save the customer some money.) From this prompt, I could change to the cd drive, and even get a dir of the Win98 contents. But when I would try to run 'setup.exe' it would say file not found. Sounds related since I'm having controller probs and windows won't see it either. Well, as a last ditch effort, I try a different win98 cd. It works. The first one was scratched or something and didn't work. Just goes to show ya, any little thing can create a problem. ARRRRRGHH!! I wasted half a day on that!

One last note, I installed over the existing windows in order to save existing data (although it had already been backed up). This DID NOT solve the problem since it did not reinstall the drivers. Had to format and do a complete reinstall. Also, it would have been really nice if the drivers from the win98 CD had been on the hard drive. If you have the space, PUT 'EM ON THERE! A tech down the road will thank you.

-Sentry