MHQ
asked on
Slow performance
I am experiencing two problems, probably associated with eachoter.
1: A "freeze" during bootup. When the text "Starting Windows Millennium..." appears, the coputer freezes and there is activity for up to five minutes. Then you heard the HD spin up and everything works fine.
This problem appears about 90% of the times I start the computer. I tried removing the SCSI HDs and controler-card. This might have helped, but not completely.
2: As soon as I connect the SCSI controler-card and more than one SCSI HD, The computer runs as if in syrup. Loading WinME, running programs, nothing takes less than 5 minutes open.
This problem appers, as mentioned, as soon as I connect more than one SCSI HD, sometimes even only with one, and it seems (though I'm not sure) to getworse the more more discs I add. (A total of three)
The SCSI card is a NCR card from 1993. The drives are two Quantum Empire 1080S and one Quantum Fireball 1080S. The card is terminated, and so is the drive at the end of the cable.
For the Empire drives, the jumper "ES" is set, and I haven't been able to identify it's purpous.
I have tried diffrent cables.
Thanks in advance!
1: A "freeze" during bootup. When the text "Starting Windows Millennium..." appears, the coputer freezes and there is activity for up to five minutes. Then you heard the HD spin up and everything works fine.
This problem appears about 90% of the times I start the computer. I tried removing the SCSI HDs and controler-card. This might have helped, but not completely.
2: As soon as I connect the SCSI controler-card and more than one SCSI HD, The computer runs as if in syrup. Loading WinME, running programs, nothing takes less than 5 minutes open.
This problem appers, as mentioned, as soon as I connect more than one SCSI HD, sometimes even only with one, and it seems (though I'm not sure) to getworse the more more discs I add. (A total of three)
The SCSI card is a NCR card from 1993. The drives are two Quantum Empire 1080S and one Quantum Fireball 1080S. The card is terminated, and so is the drive at the end of the cable.
For the Empire drives, the jumper "ES" is set, and I haven't been able to identify it's purpous.
I have tried diffrent cables.
Thanks in advance!
ASKER
At first,I was only running two drives. One Empire and one Fireball. It worked fine for atleast three or four months, maybe more. Before problem no.1 appreard.
A few days ago, I installed the last drive and since then I've had problem no2 constantly. I've tried diffrent combinations of the drives, 1, 2 or all 3. But nothing works as it did b4. I have triedre-seating the card.
A few days ago, I installed the last drive and since then I've had problem no2 constantly. I've tried diffrent combinations of the drives, 1, 2 or all 3. But nothing works as it did b4. I have triedre-seating the card.
ASKER
the jumper is maked EP not ES, typo!
ASKER
Keeping this post updated. I have found that EP means Enable Parity. Not sure what effectt hismight have on the system. it is enabled on both the Empire Drives.
ASKER
Mpre info:
The bootlog for windows ends with these three lines:
Terminate = User
Terminate = Query Drivers
EndTerminate = Query Drivers
But not when I run without the SCSI card.
I have termination set on the card as well as on the last drive (at the end of the cable)
The bootlog for windows ends with these three lines:
Terminate = User
Terminate = Query Drivers
EndTerminate = Query Drivers
But not when I run without the SCSI card.
I have termination set on the card as well as on the last drive (at the end of the cable)
I would check the documentation about how the termination is supposed to be.
You normally terminate the last drive in the SCSI chain.
Depending on the card, you may or may not need termination on the card itself.
See the adaptec site for more info on SCSI in gernaeral and termination in detail.
All the drives should be using parity or without. I would not try to mix both.
Try your drives in both modes.
I hope this helps !
You normally terminate the last drive in the SCSI chain.
Depending on the card, you may or may not need termination on the card itself.
See the adaptec site for more info on SCSI in gernaeral and termination in detail.
All the drives should be using parity or without. I would not try to mix both.
Try your drives in both modes.
I hope this helps !
i think, parity is an extra bit which is for testing purposes, if transfers are well done.
i only new that from memory, the ecc check.
i only new that from memory, the ecc check.
ASKER
Ok ppl, I have the system up and running with all three drives. And no sign of lag (for now). Solution... however crazy it might sound, terminate drive 1 and 2, and not the last one...
The problem with the halt during bootup is still happening.
The problem with the halt during bootup is still happening.
ASKER
Hmmm... seems like I might actually have solved this completely...
First of all, just want to state that the drives worked with none of them terminated, and also with only no2 terminated... strange... (all with the card terminated)
The working solution (and I'mnot going to try other combinations) is to have the card NOT terminated, and the last drive terminated.
This also seemsto have gotten me rid of the pause during bootup.
I won't close this thread at once since I want to make sure it works for a cpl of days first.
Regards,
MHQ
First of all, just want to state that the drives worked with none of them terminated, and also with only no2 terminated... strange... (all with the card terminated)
The working solution (and I'mnot going to try other combinations) is to have the card NOT terminated, and the last drive terminated.
This also seemsto have gotten me rid of the pause during bootup.
I won't close this thread at once since I want to make sure it works for a cpl of days first.
Regards,
MHQ
Lie I said previously, You need to check the documentation for your SCSI card. It could be that you have finally achieved the proper termination. Normally termination is Only on the ends of a SCSI chain. But some older cards could be slightly different.
I'm glad you got tis going !
I'm glad you got tis going !
ASKER
Not working properly anymore though... Assebled the computer fully, booted, and it froze. Now i still experience problem no 1.
I have not been able to get any documentation for my SCSI card. but from the texts I've read it should be terminated at the card, and at the final drive. This applies when I only have internal drives. Otherwise, it should be terminated in bothends and not on the card.
I have not been able to get any documentation for my SCSI card. but from the texts I've read it should be terminated at the card, and at the final drive. This applies when I only have internal drives. Otherwise, it should be terminated in bothends and not on the card.
That sounds right, IF you have both internal and external connectors.
1) SCSI cables can cause problems. Make sure you use good quality cables !
2) Check the ISA BUS speed of your computer. If it is 8 Mhz or more, try to use a slower speed.
3) Try a different ISA slot.
I hope this helps !
1) SCSI cables can cause problems. Make sure you use good quality cables !
2) Check the ISA BUS speed of your computer. If it is 8 Mhz or more, try to use a slower speed.
3) Try a different ISA slot.
I hope this helps !
ASKER
I still havn't got it to work. I've been running with my SCSI-card dismounted and have no trouble, but as soon as I set it, I get slow performance or non working boot. I am going to install Windows XP and see if that helps. I dunno wether to leave this Q open or delete it since it feels hopeless to get it to work and no working solution has been given. Feel free to come with suggestions as on how to deal with closing this thread.
/MHQ
/MHQ
ASKER
It did not help installing XP, as soon as I install any ofthe two Quantum empire i get the previously mentioned "freeze" durin startup, it seems to me that it is, for some reason waiting for the drives to start their rotation. From the sounds, I can make outthat they do several attempts to speed-up, and eventually they do. Afterthat, the computer runs fine, though I am unable to locate the drives in XP.
/MHQ
/MHQ
Have you tested the drives using the quantum ( now maxtor ) diagnostics ?
Have you tried these in a different machine ?
I hope this helps !
Have you tried these in a different machine ?
I hope this helps !
ASKER
Never managed to solve the problem even though there were a cpl of good suggestions, eventually gave up and threw them away.
Regards, MHQ
Regards, MHQ
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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It could be that the SCSI card or drives are getting flakey.
I would also check the bus speed of your motherboard.
Reseat the SCSI card also !
WHen did this start happening ??
I hope this helps !