Slow disk detection by BIOS
The BIOS for my server doesn't have the option of "remembering" the disks on the IDE channel. The only option is "Auto", which causes it to probe the disks each time.
Having swapped a few disks around, I've noticed that certain combinations of disks causes the probe to stall, after identifying the primary disk, for around 30 seconds, before finding the secondary.
It's always when the primary drive is an "older" disk than the secondary. Switching the disks around on the channel cures it. I've tried with a number of disks, and also cables, so it's not that causing it. Both drives are jumpered for Cable Select, and the cables are all 80-wire.
Currently, I have a 20Gb IBM Deskstar, ATAPI-4, as the primary. And a 250Gb Maxtor, ATAPI-7, as the secondary. Previously, I had the Maxtor as the primary, and a 500Gb Seagate as the secondary, and this also exhibited the same symptoms.
Does anyone have any suggestions, other than switching the drives on the channel, that might stop this "delay".
Cheers.
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