Windows 7: IDE ATA/Atapi Controllers

Something that has bugged me long enough that I will now as the question...is it normal to have 3 instances of 3 different controllers in the Device Manager? This doesn't include the controllers listed under Storage Controllers.

It might be normal as you have pata as well as sata drives - open system information - type in search - check under hardware resources IQ - see what it says there - you will be able to see the details - you could also check in device manager right click properties - details. Since there is no yellow asterisks my guess its normal.

I scanned over System Information as suggested, but since most of it is gibberish to me, I'm not certain exactly what it says, but there are two lines for ATA Channel 1, but one one for ATA channel 0. Further down, is lists 10 items as Standard Dual Channel IDE Controller. All items are tagged as "OK", but it still seems quite strange that the numbers don't match.

EDIT: Oops! I missed one, there are two each of the ATA Channels, but that still doesn't add up to what the Device Manager says.

I didnt pay enough attention when I first read it - now I can see your concern - It certainly looks like you have 3 where you should have 1 - it should read :
ATA Channel 0
ATA Channel 1
Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controller

Try updating your bios and chipset drivers - I'll check your motherboard site and finish post shortly.
You can get your latest bios update at the Asus site - use the asus live update utility -its easy to use from inside the OS -DOWNLOAD the bios file then open the utility and locate the folder its in using browse. Use the search on the right side to select your board - motherboard -sockect 939 - A8N32-SLI Delux

http://support.asus.com/download/dow...Language=en-us
OR GO HERE and select download
http://www.asus.com/product.aspx?P_I...specifications

Its damn complicated and hard to figure - go into your bios and see how what sort of drive configuration you have .
Im not sure what to suggest there is limited drivers on the asus site -personally if it isnt causing you any problems I would just leave it - Windows 7 has loaded a driver for it - there are 3 entries - this seems wrong but if its working just ignore and think your lucky - post back about bios setup - to tell you the truth I have't any experience with these boards and I cant find anything on the nvidia site driver wise for NVIDIA nForce 4 SLI chipset.
The other thing is it says its a PCI controller have you a PCI Card for IDE?

Thanks, but I already have the latest BIOS, so I doubt that is the problem. I will have to look closer at the chipset drivers, because I had installed so many times between betas, RC and RTM, both x32 & x64, that I might not have gotten them installed properly.

Do you suppose that this would be like with other items in the Device Manager, that if something is deleted, that it would reinstall it on a reboot? Something that isn't as clear for me as it was previously, is if there are ghost devices or not? When I have selected for it to show hidden devices, if there were any I couldn't tell, because everything was still listed at the same darkness.

EDIT: I take that back. Non-plug and play drivers only appear when showing hidden devices.

I found the reason for the irregular controller listings...I had my head up and locked and forgot to install the Nforce4 driver. Now I have 1 ATA Channel 0, 1 ATA Cnannel 1, 2 Nvidia nForce sertial ATA controllers and 1 standard dual channel PCI IDE controller.

Cheers have a good one now with Windows 7