Multi-Word DMA Mode 2 and One hard drive error

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he has
noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a while to
refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in Safe
Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least 70% free
space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little paging activity
going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not optimal;
it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the hard
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run the
hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell what would
be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if there's a better
method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive that has
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44) --
and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of course,
this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am suspicious
that there is a problem with only *one* message block. Perhaps the drive
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run HDAT2 to
examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like relocated
sectors... Ben Myers

Daave

2009-09-21 02:06:10 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell what
would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if there's a
better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive that
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run HDAT2
to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like relocated
sectors... Ben Myers

Thanks for the suggestion, Ben.

I ran Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. The message:

Problem detected on a non Hitachi disk drive, Please contact your HDD
supplier for additional support. Disposition Code = 0x70.

I'm not familiar with HDAT2. Is this what you're talking about?:

http://www.hdat2.com/download.html

Ben Myers

2009-09-21 02:15:26 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell what
would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if there's a
better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive that
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run HDAT2
to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like relocated
sectors... Ben Myers

Thanks for the suggestion, Ben.
Problem detected on a non Hitachi disk drive, Please contact your HDD
supplier for additional support. Disposition Code = 0x70.
http://www.hdat2.com/download.html

Kind of odd that Hitachi DFT decided its own drive was not its own.

Yes, that's the HDAT2. Download the 4.5.2 version. For some reason,
the 4.5.3 version seems crippled... Ben Myers

Daave

2009-09-21 02:22:59 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell
what would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if
there's a better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is
welcome. Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run
HDAT2 to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like
relocated sectors... Ben Myers

Thanks for the suggestion, Ben.
Problem detected on a non Hitachi disk drive, Please contact your HDD
supplier for additional support. Disposition Code = 0x70.
http://www.hdat2.com/download.html

Kind of odd that Hitachi DFT decided its own drive was not its own.

That's what I thought.

Post by Ben Myers
Yes, that's the HDAT2. Download the 4.5.2 version. For some reason,
the 4.5.3 version seems crippled... Ben Myers

*Now* you tell me! :-) (I'm running 4.5.3 currently.)

Where can I find the 4.5.2 version?

Daave

2009-09-21 02:45:28 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell what
would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if there's a
better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive that
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run HDAT2
to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like relocated
sectors... Ben Myers

Like I said in my other post, I'm currently running HDAT2 (4.5.3 for
now). It's less than 10% finished and it corroborates the Dell
diagnostics: read error in block number 06118011. How exactly do I
"examine the SMART data"? Will this utility allow me to fix the
"uncorrectable data error"? Or is this in a section of the hard drive
that is "write protected" (like the MFT?) How could I determine this? If
it's fixable, how would I fix it?

TIA.

Ben Myers

2009-09-21 03:53:26 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell what
would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if there's a
better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive that
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is welcome.
Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run HDAT2
to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like relocated
sectors... Ben Myers

4.5.2 can fix some (not all) data errors. Depends on how badly
deteriorated the drive is. Same with Hitachi or other vendor diagnostics.

You download 4.5.2 from the same place where you got 4.5.3.

To examine the SMART data, cursor down to SMART, then SMART attributes.
IIRC, Hitachi is pretty good in adhering to the SMART data standard.
Some drive manufatcurers (e.g. Fujitsu and Seagate) do not touch some of
the SMART data, leading to wildly improbable values. This is another
poorly publicized mess in the computer biz... Ben Myers

Daave

2009-09-21 21:44:23 UTC

Post by Daave
A friend recently asked me to look at his Dell Inspiron 5100 laptop
because he was having printing issues (which I won't go into
presently -- I haven't gotten that far yet). He also stated that he
has noticed some sluggish behavior, including the desktop taking a
while to refresh. That is what I wanted to address first.
I ran AVG and also the Bit Defender Live CD in addition to MBAM in
Safe Mode. There is no evidence of malware. Also there is at least
70% free space on the hard drive. And there is extremely little
paging activity going on as well.
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not
optimal; it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."
After entering the Service Tag # at the Dell site, I see that the
4G167 Hard Drive, 40GB, I,9.5MM, 5.4K HIT-EUCL
I intend to perform the Dell diagnostics (the laptop does have a
diagnositcs partition) on the hard drive, but I'd also like to run
the hard drive manufacturer's diagnostic, too. But I can't tell
what would be. I suppose I could try Sea Tools for DOS. But if
there's a better method, I'm all ears.
Also, there is a method I've successfully used to force a drive
http://users.bigpond.net.au/ninjaduck/itserviceduck/udma_fix/
(I believe there is also a .reg file available that automates this
process.)
But I'm not sure this is the same situation. So all input is
welcome. Thanks in advance.
*** New Info***
0F00:0244) and one error in the verify test (Error code: 0F00:1A44)
-- and they were *both* the same exact message block (6118011). Of
course, this might mean the hard drive should be replaced, but I am
suspicious that there is a problem with only *one* message block.
"Uncorrectable data error or media is write protected."
Sea Tools for DOS corroborated the Dell diagnostics: *one* error.
Thoughts?

The drive is a Hitachi. Run Hitachi's Drive Fitness Test. Run
HDAT2 to examine the SMART data which keeps track of stuff like
relocated sectors... Ben Myers

4.5.2 can fix some (not all) data errors. Depends on how badly
deteriorated the drive is. Same with Hitachi or other vendor
diagnostics.
You download 4.5.2 from the same place where you got 4.5.3.
To examine the SMART data, cursor down to SMART, then SMART
attributes. IIRC, Hitachi is pretty good in adhering to the SMART
data standard. Some drive manufatcurers (e.g. Fujitsu and Seagate) do
not touch some
of the SMART data, leading to wildly improbable values. This is
another poorly publicized mess in the computer biz... Ben Myers

Thanks for all your help, Ben. It tuns out my friend wants to purchase a
new PC after all. :-)

Brian K

2009-09-21 01:00:15 UTC

Daave,

Before doing anything drastic, reset the DMA mode. Uninstall the IDE Channel
in Device Manage. Restart and the Channel will automatically install. See if
the DMA mode is now 5.

Daave

2009-09-21 01:30:32 UTC

Post by Daave
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not optimal;
it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."

Before doing anything drastic, reset the DMA mode. Uninstall the IDE
Channel in Device Manage. Restart and the Channel will automatically
install. See if the DMA mode is now 5.

I think I may have jumped to a false conclusion!

Primary IDE Channel is Multi-Word DMA Mode 2. But Secondary IDE Channel
is the preferred Ultra DMA Mode 5. I'll bet the optical drive is on the
primary channel. Still, what is the way to know for sure?

Ben Myers

2009-09-21 02:13:47 UTC

Post by Daave
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not optimal;
it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."

Before doing anything drastic, reset the DMA mode. Uninstall the IDE
Channel in Device Manage. Restart and the Channel will automatically
install. See if the DMA mode is now 5.

I think I may have jumped to a false conclusion!
Primary IDE Channel is Multi-Word DMA Mode 2. But Secondary IDE Channel
is the preferred Ultra DMA Mode 5. I'll bet the optical drive is on the
primary channel. Still, what is the way to know for sure?

With a Dell, power up the system, press F2 to enter the system setup
menus, where you can see which device is attached to which channel...
Ben Myers

Daave

2009-09-21 02:29:32 UTC

Post by Daave
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not optimal;
it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."

Before doing anything drastic, reset the DMA mode. Uninstall the IDE
Channel in Device Manage. Restart and the Channel will automatically
install. See if the DMA mode is now 5.

I think I may have jumped to a false conclusion!
Primary IDE Channel is Multi-Word DMA Mode 2. But Secondary IDE
Channel is the preferred Ultra DMA Mode 5. I'll bet the optical
drive is on the primary channel. Still, what is the way to know for
sure?

With a Dell, power up the system, press F2 to enter the system setup
menus, where you can see which device is attached to which channel...
Ben Myers

I should have mentioned that I had already tried that. I couldn't see
that in Setup. (I'll look again.)

Jean Rosenfeld

2009-09-21 21:50:47 UTC

In device manager , View menu, click devices by connection. Then click the
+es until you see which drive is connected to which channel

Post by Daave
I did however notice that the hard drive's transfer mode is not optimal;
it reads "Multi-Word DMA Mode 2."

Before doing anything drastic, reset the DMA mode. Uninstall the IDE
Channel in Device Manage. Restart and the Channel will automatically
install. See if the DMA mode is now 5.

I think I may have jumped to a false conclusion!
Primary IDE Channel is Multi-Word DMA Mode 2. But Secondary IDE Channel is
the preferred Ultra DMA Mode 5. I'll bet the optical drive is on the
primary channel. Still, what is the way to know for sure?

Daave

2009-09-22 15:37:49 UTC

Thanks, Jean!

Post by Jean Rosenfeld
In device manager , View menu, click devices by connection. Then
click the +es until you see which drive is connected to which channel