removing "press any key to continue"?

@ptbg: It's always best to be logged in to read threads. This site allows advertising and that shows up when you're not logged in. So, nope.... I didn't recommend Driver Detective, but I do recommend removing it.

Basically there are only two updates in #118 - Bios and Intel Rapid.....
An electronic version of the manual is always good to have - it makes searching for something easier. They might have native language versions - I think I mentioned that before....

I'll be out for about 4 or 5 hours, see how you make out with the BIOS and Intel Rapid.. updates. If you have difficulties flashing from a folder on your HDD, follow their instructions in the download. There shouldn't be any problems and it shouldn't take that long (you probably completed the updates while I was typing this post )

@ptbg: There is a 7 hour difference between your location and mine, This adds to the difficulty of troubleshooting. By the time I do more research, you're sleeping and by the time you complete a step, I'm sleeping. Thanks for understanding all of the constraints I have working through this problem with you (locale, proximity to the machine, not having a test machine).

That's why I suggested that you post current status when you complete a step. It isn't necessary when you just post a question though.

Same thoughts about the time difference!
Updated BIOS,both drives connected,usual detection,prompt and only OD found,when only WDC connected at end of cable,got RAID detection,WDC found and ctrl-j option.OD is a NEC ND-3520A.

Award BIOS: V1.10 070507
JMicron BIOS: 1.0.0.0
Drives Connected: WDC, OD, SATA
Jumpers: WDC-slave OD-master
Drives seen: WDC, SATA - no OD

@ptbg: You report BIOS v1.10 but I (per MSI recommendation for your system) pointed to BIOS V1.8 . Perhaps you forgot to change the information for the BIOS when you posted the status. It's important to keep accurate records and let this side (me) know the state of things.

I would expect version date (yymmdd or yyddmm)
Award BIOS: V1.8 070327

I'm curious how you got to BIOS v1.10 - did MSI Live Update utility (MLU) or Driver Detective "help" you and update the BIOS behind the scenes?

It might be best if you uninstall MSI Live Update and Driver Detective to make sure they are not working against your efforts.

@ptbg:It might be best if you uninstall Driver Detective to make sure it is not working against your efforts.

I'd like you to add cable position and change the wording for jumper positions in the status template:
Drives Connected: WDC, OD, SATA
IDE cable: WDC(end), OD(mid)
NEC jumper: MT, JUMP, MT
WD jumper: MT, MT, JUMP, MT, MT
Jumpers: WDC-slave OD-master
Drives seen: WDC, SATA - no OD

For now, let's forget about BIOS and re-focus on cabling your drives. A standard configuration has the primary IDE drive on the end connector and the secondary IDE drive on the middle connector - the longest end of the cable connects to the mother board. IDE supports two drives per port in a master / slave relationship. The relationship really only tells BIOS how to communicate with each device on the same port. SATA drives are always "master" - there is only one device supported per SATA port.

Please verify that you have the jumper in positions and that the devices are on the cable in the positions shown below. Also double check that the shunt is actually on the pins - it's a small thing and sometimes it looks like a good connection, but the pin hits plastic instead of metal inside the shunt. Note that both devices have to be jumpered and on the correct connector for all of this to work. I knwo you've confirmed this before, just want to make sure that's how it is now. I won't ask again, because it will be in our status report template. Thanks.


If you see all drives (WD,NEC, & SATA) great! If not, we'll revisit the BIOS. I just wanted to confirm the hardware config before looking at firmware.

Also, don't let the terminology confuse you, the master / slave only refers to two IDE devices on one cable/port. Your SATA drive is your system and boot drive. There isn't any relationship between the IDE and SATA drives. They're not even on the same controllers. As I stated before, I never know the experience level of the person I'm trying to help - so if you knew this already...... forget that I mentioned it

-->edit: When you say updated BIOS, did you also apply the iRST update? I'm guessing that you did. If you didn't do iRST go ahead and apply it.

Slartybart said:

@ptbg: You report BIOS v1.10 but I (per MSI recommendation for your system) pointed to BIOS V1.8 .

What is the source for this recommendation?

MSI CPU Support - scroll down to the machine defined in the user system specs
Core 2 Duo - Conroe - E6600 - 266 - 2.40 - 4M - N/A - B2 - 65 - 7235v18.zip

The MSI site needs some work, if you're on the CPU Support page and click the recommended BIOS it places you near V7235v18.zip - otherwise (linked outside of the CPU support page) it simply takes you to the main BIOS page.

It should take you where this takes you: Download 7235v18.zip

At least that's how I read it.

My understanding is that the CPU Support Page list the CPU is supported since that BIOS, not it is recommended for that CPU. Obviously some may require a later BIOS if it fixes a certain problem even though their CPU doesn't change.

Asus basicly confirms this as their table heading is titled "Since BIOS". Asus goes one further and also has a column "Since PCB".

When I first joined this discussion, I thought I saw a screen shot with a 1.0 something BIOS. Maybe I had another senior moment, because I don't see an Award BIOS screen shot showing the version now. I had originally thought ptbg should update the BIOS to 1.11, which would align my thinking at the time with what you're saying (the CPU Support references the earliest BIOS for that CPU).

When I saw the CPU Support page, and thinking ptng was at a much lower BIOS level, I thought "at least let's get to 1.8... we can update to 1.11 later"

Anyway, ptbg is on Award 1.10, how he got there instead of 1.11 perplexes me a bit. I'll have to read the thread again, maybe he was always at v1.10 or prehaps the MSI Live Update (MLU) utility updated BIOS. I never saw the screen with BIOS on it, and I didn't pursue MLU - perhaps ptbg did. Dunno.

So what am I thinking now? I already said "Let's hold on of the BIOS" and see if we can resolve the device issue.

I presume that by prompt, ptbg means the any key to continue prompt. I'm not sure why ptbg is getting RAID detection when only the WDC HDD is connected to the end. I'm also not sure why the WD HDD is not being seen when both devices are connected. There shouldn't be this much difficulty.

ProudtobeGreek said:

Updated BIOS,
both drives connected

1. usual detection
2. prompt
3. only OD found

only WDC connected at end of cable

1. got RAID detection
2. WDC found
3. ctrl-j option

OD is a NEC ND-3520A.

I'd like to get RAID completely out of the way. I appreciate all of the extra pairs of eyes on this - thanks for clarifying BIOS.

I'm not familiar with JMicron, so any advice on that is most certainly welcome. I'll dig through the manual (if there is one - I'll look for a link here, or Google it) and try to find that golden nugget.

I am confirming the current status:
IDE cable: WDC(end), OD(mid)
NEC jumper: MT, JUMP, MT
WD jumper: MT, MT, JUMP, MT, MT
Output Attachment 216138

NEC is a six pin drive,i got BIOS update via Live Update.The 7235v18.zip file contains an exe file which does nothing and a doc file,guiding to flash bios via floppy,which i dont have.Screenshot attached for current BIOS versionIs it 1.06 as above or 1.10 as below?
Attachment 216139
Please ignore the RAID config,me setting IDE-RAID to RAID.