markp888

Done a quick search of the forum on the general topic of IDE controller cards - some of the results are putting me off installing, hence this post... I've got a "Promise Ultra100" ATA/100 IDE Controller card (PCI) to increase the number of IDE devices I can connect. Not interested in RAID etc, all I need is to add another hard drive from my old PC to use for data storage - it won't be a "boot" disk with OS installed. My system is Win2k service pack 2, Athlon xp1800+ with Jetway V266B motherboard. My 4 current IDE devices are DVD Rom, Hard drive, CDRW, LS120 floppy. Do you have any general tips for installing this card / this type of card? Any settings I should check etc? Or is it just a case of suck it and see? It's just comments like, "don't use PCI slot 1 as it shares AGP blah blah" and similar that are making me nervous. It all sounds like techno-voodoo to me! Any help appreciated. Regards Mark

It is a British saying - sort of describes the moment you decide to go ahead and do something that you're a bit worried about doing! You know it might hurt.... but you go ahead and do it anyway. A nettle is sort of what you thought - a weed with stinging spikes. Hurt like hell but don't leave their spikes in your skin - just a nasty rash... Regards, Mark

Thanks for the tips / reassurance. Well... I grasped the nettle and went for it. It worked first time.. No need to worry after all. Only comment I would make post-installation is maybe consider "round" IDE cables. If I ever make use of the second IDE chain on the controller card there will be so much IDE cable floating about it will be hard to see anything in there! Regards Mark

Strange problem - hope someone can help! Using Win2k Pro service pack 2. Successfully installed my Diamond SupraExpress 56e Pro external modem using latest Diamond drivers from their official website. Modem works fine but disappears on re-boot. Doesn't appear in Device Manager / System list after re-boot... If I progress through the "add/troubleshoot (?) new hardware wizard" Windows searches for a few seconds then brings up a list of devices, including my SupraExpress modem. If I click on this, then click "finish" everything is back to normal and the modem works again.. until the next re-boot... System is: XP1800+ Jetway V266 Motherboard (the one that takes DDR or SD Ram) 256mb DDR Geforce 4 MX440 Sorry if I've missed any key info from this post. Thanks ina advance... Mark

Making sure the modem is powered on before booting the PC works every time! Thanks for the help. Mark

Thanks for the replies - I'll try your suggestions out tonight and report back if I need further help. Cheers Mark

It's connecting to a COM port, it's not a USB modem. I don't remember manually setting / assigning anything to do with COM ports as part of the install. Does it sound like I've missed a step out? Can you advise me on a simple check I can make to ensure the COM port assignments are OK? Thanks Mark