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linux moving ide devices master slave

Message-ID: <399B0736.707A5DD7@jothal.uklinux.net> 
Date: Wed, 16 Aug 2000 22:27:18 +0100
From: Jo Hallel <jo@jothal.uklinux.net>
Newsgroups: comp.os.linux.help,comp.os.linux.misc
Subject: Re: HD LED permanently on
References: <399668EC.44DF2F0C@beeb.net> 
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X-Original-Trace: 16 Aug 2000 22:29:55 +0100, ppp-1-116.cvx6.telinco.net

Jo Hallel wrote:
> 
> In windows my HD LED behaves normally. However in Linux (SuSE 6.4) it
> now remains permanently on. The only time that it does behave "normally"
> is if I cause the CDROM to fail. Previous advice (thanks Hal) suggested
> that there may be CD applets running, but I see no evidence of this.
> 
> (Trivial, but important, as it was the first thing a mate commented on
> when showing him Linux. If I can get this sorted, I may be able to
> convince him to load Linux himself).
> 
> Any answers?
> 
> Thanks
> 
> Jo

Thanks to all who have replied regarding this problem. My HD LED is now
working properly.

It would seem that the CD-ROM does need to be Master on the second IDE
port rather than Slave. (Achieved by moving the jumper on the CD drive).
I originally discounted this as a possibility, given that Smart and
Friendly (the manufacturers) state categorically that "The optimum
configuration for the CD.SpeedWriter RW on most systems is alone as
Slave on the Secondary IDE port". This is clearly not correct for Linux.

(Incidentally, it still works OK under windows, both reading and
writing. I haven't yet tried writing under Linux).

Other issues (that may trap the unwary). Clearly, when changing from
Slave to Master on the Secondary IDE port, the Device needs to be linked
to /dev/hdc (rather than /dev/hdd). This can be done with SuSE using
YaST (which presumably just changes the link from /dev/cdrom). This
allows the CD to be mounted. However, to get YaST to recognise it (on
loading, rather than having to select installation medium), one will
also need to amend /etc/install.inf (hdd to hdc).

Thanks to those who suggested that software running and continually
trying to access either the CD to the HD might be a contributory factor,
in my case this can certainly be discounted. But it might be worth
considering for others where the above solution does not seem to work.

Jo

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