 To
avoid possible data loss, back up your existing data and make
sure all hardware is configured correctly before switching
your disc drive into Ultra ATA/66 mode.
What is Ultra ATA/66?
Ultra ATA/66, also known as Ultra DMA/66, enhances existing
ATA
(IDE)
technology by increasing both performance and data integrity.
This new high-speed interface
doubles the Ultra ATA/33 burst data
transfer rate to 66.6 Mbytes/sec. The result is maximum
disc performance using the current PCI local bus
environment. For more in depth information, see our ATA to Ultra
ATA/66 Technology Paper.
How does Ultra ATA/66 attain those faster transfer
rates?
Ultra ATA/66 removes bottlenecks associated with data
transfers, especially during sequential operations. Ultra
ATA/66 requires a special 40-pin, 80-conductor cable that
reduces noise
bleed-over and improves signal integrity by providing 40
additional ground lines between each of the standard 40-pin
ATA signal lines and ground lines.
Who is developing Ultra ATA/66 Drives?
Ultra ATA/66 is endorsed by all leading hard drive
manufacturers including Seagate, Fujitsu, IBM, Maxtor,
Quantum, Toshiba, Western-Digital, and others. The Ultra
ATA/66 protocol
is also endorsed by Intel with full industry support expected
in 1999.
Is Ultra ATA/66 backward compatible with my current
Ultra ATA/33 system?
Yes. Ultra ATA/66 hard drives are 100 percent backward
compatible with both Ultra ATA/33 and DMA
and with existing ATA hard drives, CD-ROM drives, and host
systems. The Ultra ATA/66 protocol and commands are designed
to be compatible with existing ATA devices and systems.
Although a new 40-pin, 80-conductor cable is required for
Ultra ATA/66, the system board chip set pin connector remains
the same at 40. Hard drives that support Ultra ATA/66 also
support Ultra ATA/33 and legacy ATA specifications.
What is required to run in Ultra ATA/66 Mode?
There are basically four requirements:
-
An Ultra ATA/66-capable system board and BIOS.
(External Ultra ATA/66 cards are available.)
-
An Ultra ATA/66-capable 80-conductor
cable.
-
An operating
system capable of DMA transfers. (Windows 95 (OSR2)
and Windows 98 are capable.)
-
An Ultra ATA/66-capable device. (Seagate
drives require an activation utility for each device.)
Ultra ATA/66 technology is defined such that the PC and the
hard drive can both detect the presence of the required
80-conductor cable. The system board must have a special
capacitor on pin 34 to detect the cable. The cable must have a
notch cut in line 34 to correctly detect an Ultra ATA/66
device.
Where can I get the utility to activate Ultra ATA/66 on
my drive?
Eventually, all Ultra ATA/66 drives will be shipped with
the utility either on diskette
or CD-ROM. In the interim, the utility (UATA100d.EXE)
can be downloaded from our Drivers and Utilities
page.
The version available on the web is a self-extracting zip
file and must be unzipped and placed on a bootable diskette.
How can I run the Ultra ATA toggle utility using Windows
Millennium (WinMe)?
Because WinMe does not offer a way to Restart in MS-DOS
Mode, you can use a WinMe Startup Disk to boot the system to
the A:\> Prompt. A WinMe Startup Disk can be made using
Control Panel-Add/Remove Programs-Startup Disk Tab-Create
Disk. After downloading and expanding the toggle utility (UATA100d.exe),
copy UATA100d.exe and UATA100.txt onto the WinMe Startup Disk.
Boot to the WinMe Startup Disk and type UATA100 <enter>
at the A:\> prompt to configure the drive.
Why is there a blue, a black, and a gray connector on my
Ultra ATA/66 cable?
The 40-pin, 80-conductor cables support the Cable Detect
feature. The blue (end) connector should be connected to the
system board. The black (end) connector is known as the master
position. The gray (middle) connector can be used for slave
devices. Although an Ultra ATA/66 device should work fine in
either the black or the gray connector, if you are having
difficulty, consider troubleshooting with the drive in the
black connector.
Can I mix Ultra ATA/33 and Ultra ATA/66 drives on the
same cable?
Yes, a legacy ATA specification drive can coexist with an
Ultra ATA/66 drive, and both devices can attain their maximum
performance. However, for the Ultra ATA/66 device to attain
Ultra DMA 4 mode, an Ultra ATA/66 capable cable is required.
What operating systems support Ultra ATA/66?
Primarily because the operating system is not the
controlling factor, most operating systems, including all
current Windows versions (Windows 95 (OSR2) and Windows 98),
support Ultra ATA/66. Ultra ATA data transfer rate is
determined by your hard drive, your controller,
and the BIOS. The only requirement on the operating system is
to be able to support DMA transfers.
Do I need a special Ultra ATA/66 device driver?
Not necessarily. Because the operating system (Windows
95/98) handles Ultra ATA and Ultra ATA/66 the same as DMA,
there should be no special device drivers. However, as with
Ultra ATA, not all system boards and BIOSs will correctly
interface with the operating system. In these cases, a special
device driver or patch will have to be provided by the system
board manufacturer to make the system capable of attaining
Ultra ATA/66.
What are some common troubleshooting steps?
-
Make sure the cable is Ultra ATA/66
capable. An Ultra ATA/66-capable cable is a 40-pin,
80-conductor cable with a black connector on one end, a
blue connector on the other end and a gray connector in
the middle. In addition, line 34 on the cable should be
notched or cut (this may be difficult to see with the
human eye).
-
Make sure the system board is capable of
Ultra ATA/66. An Ultra ATA/66 capable system board has a
detect circuit with a capacitor for detecting line 34
missing on the cable. If there is no capacitor, the system
can wrongly detect the presence of an Ultra ATA/66 cable
and therefore try to configure the device for a higher
transfer rate.
-
Some system boards may not successfully
handle Ultra ATA/66 on both ATA channels. If you have
difficulty, consider troubleshooting with the device in
the Primary Master position.
-
Contact the system board manufacturer for
the latest BIOS upgrade and any Ultra ATA/66 special
device drivers or patches.
-
Make sure the operating system is DMA
capable and that the DMA mode is activated. (For Windows
95/98, check Device Manager | Drive Settings tab for a
check box.)
-
Make sure the drive is Ultra ATA/66
capable and has been configured to run at Ultra ATA/66
transfer rates. (Seagate drives require an Ultra ATA/66
activation utility.)
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