Error auto detecting primary/ secondary-master

[MkII]

Getting the above error on a Dell Optiplex 755. Either message stops the PC booting randomly from cold. Warm booting usually works after that, although the user said it didn't work one day.

 

Tried flashing the BIOS from A10 to A17. Swapped SATA cables. Same.

 

On the 755 the HDD and DVD are both SATA. But why doesn't it boot with the DVD channel error?

 

I'm going to try another HDD, but suspect is a motherboard fault.

 

Suggestions welcome!

[chazzy2501]

does the hard drive have a jumper to force it into sata 1 mode? Try it.

[Oaktech]

Is there an option in the bios for modes of sata? we've got some 520's where you have to set the bios to different setting than default for the thing to come up, and they don't seem to be the same settings in all cases

[MkII]

Thx chazzy, will do.

 

Yes OakTech I did try the other options. No good Thx anyway

[SYNACK]

Pri/Master sounds like an IDE fault, is there an option in the BIOS to disable the onboard IDE controller and is the SATA setup as AHCI rather than IDE emulation?

[MkII]

Thx Syn that sounds good. Will take a looksie.

[MkII]

Visited PC again tonight.... wasn't set to AHCI as it blue screens with that - there's either legacy or "raid autodetect/ ATA".... , both of which display the error. No jumpers on the pins at all. 160Gb WD Caviar.

 

The user's been gone a couple of hours and it boots fine tonight from cold. Going into the setup th eHDD hadn't detected... like it's taking a long time to do so??

[SYNACK]

Could be the drive or cable are on their way out, have had both. If if bluescreens it obviously was not installed with the AHCI drivers to start with which is unfortunate.

 

I'd replace the sata cable then look at swapping out the drive.

[MkII]

Thanks for that Syn.