Slow dvd read speed in windows 7

My config:
Mainboard: GA-MA69G-S3H
DVD drive : Pioneer DVR 116 (IDE )
Harddisk : Hitachi 2TB (Sata Ahci)

When I copy file (~1gb) from DVD to harddisk , the speed only range from 4mb to 10mb, never go above 10mb. The disc is clean and no scratch. Test on CD Speed shown the drive can go up to 16x. Confirmed the drive is run in UDMA mode, not PIO mode.

But it is absolutely normal in file transfer between harddisk and usb flash drive. Problem exist only in DVD read.

Tried command in dos mode like xcopy , robocopy, but speed is just the same as copy in windows explorer.

Also I tried the trick of uncheck the remote differentiate compression, uncheck superfetch, uncheck windows search, and close the index service. Cannot solve the problem.

Any one experience the same as me and is it a common problem that need Micorsoft to solve?

The 2TB harddisk is not OS drive and is just a separate disk for keeping some file. I also tested to move file from DVD to another harddisk (80gb size) which is on IDE port. But the result is still frustrating.

I remembered when I was using winxp there is no such problem and copying 1 dvd should always finish within several minutes. But now it need at least 8 minutes or more.

Victek said:

januaryabc said:

My config:
Mainboard: GA-MA69G-S3H
DVD drive : Pioneer DVR 116 (IDE )
Harddisk : Hitachi 2TB (Sata Ahci)

When I copy file (~1gb) from DVD to harddisk , the speed only range from 4mb to 10mb, never go above 10mb. The disc is clean and no scratch. Test on CD Speed shown the drive can go up to 16x. Confirmed the drive is run in UDMA mode, not PIO mode.

.
A quick google search suggests there may be a firmware upgrade for your drive.

If the drive behaves normally, no i/o errors, no strange clicks or buzzes... there is absolutely no reason to flash his firmware...

Flashing a drive (printer, bios, etc.) is a very risky thing to do. If it gets wrong in even the slightest way you've just converted a perfectly good device into landfill. Because of this risk --and it does happen!-- flashing firmware should be the absolute last resort before you trashcan the thing. It should never be the frontline advice given when nothing else has even been tried.

januaryabc said:

My config:
Mainboard: GA-MA69G-S3H
DVD drive : Pioneer DVR 116 (IDE )
Harddisk : Hitachi 2TB (Sata Ahci)

When I copy file (~1gb) from DVD to harddisk , the speed only range from 4mb to 10mb, never go above 10mb. The disc is clean and no scratch. Test on CD Speed shown the drive can go up to 16x. Confirmed the drive is run in UDMA mode, not PIO mode.

But it is absolutely normal in file transfer between harddisk and usb flash drive. Problem exist only in DVD read.

IDE is naturally a bit slower than SATA...

Ok that said... what's running in the background?
For example, do you have an Anti-Virus tool watching file creations? If so part of that slowness is probably the AV scanner checking files. The simple check for this is to temporarily disable the AV and see what happens...

Victek said:

I have to disagree. Certainly caution should be used when upgrading firmware, but I don't hesitate when it corrects problems or adds important functionality. Putting up with substandard performance because of fear of firmware flashing is unnecessary. Instead of telling people to be afraid I think it's better to tell them how to do things carefully.

That's all fine and good with *your own machine* but it's not a risk you want to take with someone else's hardware. When we give advice here we are absolved of the "punch in the face" responsibility for the screwups we cause and it's very easy to lose track of precaution in that scenario. When you have to replace someone's MOBO out of your own pocket because you flashed it for no other reason than a newer version is available... you'll get the idea.

Really... I don't mean to be argumentative or harsh with you (or anyone else) but after long experience in both electronics and computers I've learned that one BIG rule always holds true.... If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

The OP's speed issues are most likely due to the IDE interface and windows7 treating it as "backward compatibility" in a SATA world. There might be a better chipset driver he could install... there may be issues with cabling or power... He reports normal behaviour under XP so it's NOT the drive itself.

Victek said:

I understand what you're saying and don't mean to be argumentative either.

Excellent.

Regarding the OP's drive issue you may be right, but it's also possible a firmware upgrade was released to address performance/compatibility issues. I didn't check specifically - just suggested it was something to look at.

That's fine... but maybe next time we should look first...

I'm not scared to upgrade firmware, I do it once in a while... But as I say it remains my last option before the garbage can...

You're correct that when we give advice online we are removed from the consequences. We are also unable to assess the user's skill level. It's good to make an effort to "do no harm", but there's some risk no matter what. At the end of the day we have to remind people that the buck stops with them.

Absolutely! But still, it's safer and ultimately smarter to toss out a couple of lines of caution on any procedure where we can't trust the person's ability to pull it off...

Now to be crystal clear... I'm not challenging the advice itself. That may ultimately be what he needs to do. I'm just more concerned about offering such advice in a cavalier, up front manner... because, as you point out we cannot know their skill level without at least a bit of conversation first.

Anyhow... no worries here... I just wanted to make sure the OP (and you ) understood the risks involved.