HDD stuck in PIO mode?!

**ultravy** · August 14, 2012

hi guys, i have a problem with a WD hdd.i didnt noticed a slow down in write operations - 3MB/s, only when i try copy large files from another hdd -ST3808110AS to WD drivre.the read speed is ok, 63 mb/s.

first i opened HD Sentinel and looking for Realocation event count, since WD drive have 3 realocations with 7 realocated sectors.(at first detection of instable sectors - moths ago, i run a write test from HD sentinel, and hdd has stabilized since then, no other sectors reappeared no other problems that could affect the life of the drive)

i didnt noticed the "Ultra ATA CRC Error Rate" has increased from 6 to 9! on M$ page i read this :

"For repeated DMA errors.Windows XP will turn off DMA mode for a device after encountering certain errors during data transfer operations. If more that six DMA transfer timeouts occur, Windows will turn off DMA and use only PIO mode on that deviceFor repeated DMA errors.Windows XP will turn off DMA mode for a device after encountering certain errors during data transfer operations. If more that six DMA transfer timeouts occur, Windows will turn off DMA and use only PIO mode on that device.."

I found this page after a search DMA revert to PIO. before running the script that enable the DMA, i looked on device manager, but the drive is under DMA if available - UDMA mode 6!

My pc specs:

Processor: AMD Phenom™ 9550 Quad-Core Processor, x86 Family 16 Model 2 Stepping 3

RAM:2x2 GB Corsair XMS2 CM2X2G8500C5D2

Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce GT 220, 1024 Mb

Motherboard: ASUSTeK Computer INC., M3A32-MVP DELUXE

HDD: WDC WD2500KS-00MJB0 (WD-WCANKD700665) 250 GB - OS drive and other files

ST3808110AS (5LR2D0XG) 80 gb - files

The amd sata controller SB600 is set to ide mode since under ahci mode no acces to SMART or monitor the drives temp!

i tried everything i know! swiching sata cables, different ports , even on the marvell 6121 same! tried to do a drive regenation, same write speed - 3mb/s after! unninstaled ide driver to resset dma! nothing seems to work! im running out of ideas!

i do some test on drive, short test - extended - conveyance! drive seems to be ok., no problems under the smart attributes! if could be a write head problems?! the smart should be showing this or the hdd controller is dying - well this could be drive failure!!!

i booted in parted magic, formated the drive in fat32 even in a ext4 partition same file transfer!!!

here are screensshots!

**MagicAndre1981** · August 15, 2012

unintsall the HDD in device manager and reboot, let Windows reinstall the drivers and check the DMA status again.

**ultravy** · August 15, 2012

unninstaled, reboot. windows reinstall drivers ok, but the drive is under UMDA6! still got 63mb/s read, and 3 mb/s write. i swiched manually to pio and i get 1,7mb/s write/read. swiched back to dma and still get 3 mb/s write. i gues the drive is failling...

**MagicAndre1981** · August 15, 2012

try a different cable. Maybe yours has too many kinks

**ultravy** · August 15, 2012

i tried 4-5 cables! i connected the hdd to my brother motherboard (asus P5N-D), formated the drive in one partition of 250 gb, same problem! he run windows checkdisk with all 5 stages, no error!

but read this! the drive heated up to 60 gr C, and it worked fine under that condition! i could not belive! i get 63 mb/s read/write operations!

turned off and connected to my motherboard and didnt work, still 3 mb/s !!!! this is driving me crazy! i could be a write head problem?!

Edited August 15, 2012 by ultravy

**MagicAndre1981** · August 16, 2012

Look at the smart values with tools like AIDA64, HWiNFO or CrystalDiskInfo

**allen2** · August 16, 2012

I would also check the drive with the western digital tools.

**ultravy** · August 29, 2012

Sorry for replying so late, i was in vacantion! ive checked everything! after a reading test, unstable sectors appeared, and forms continuous areas and this are the signs of a failure. healt droped low, and i removed the drive from the system. i forgot to mention that i have it a normal cooler over 1 cm above the hdd, his magnetic waves could destabilize the platters?!

**allen2** · August 29, 2012

No computer cooler should be able to make a magnetic field strong enough to affect the drive. In worst case, it could only have worsened the bad drive health.

**xpclient** · August 30, 2012

After you uninstall Primary or Secondary IDE Controller in Device Manager, reboot and let it redetect it, also add this reg tweak and it won't fall back to PIO mode repeatedly.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}\0001]