Intel(R) Corporation
Intel® Chipsets and Graphics
Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver

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THESE PRODUCT SUPPORT DOCUMENTS ARE PROVIDED FOR HISTORICAL REFERENCE ONLY AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE TERMS SET FORTH IN THE "TERMS OF USE" INFORMATION.

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Software and drivers
Download drivers
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Known issues and solutions
Known compatibility issues
This document contains known compatibility issues with the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver. Upon investigation, Intel has determined the root cause not to be the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver.

icon Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver Compatibility Issues List

Write cache (or write caching) is not enabled
This is by design.

Start menu shortcuts do not function properly

Description
After installing the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver, the Start menu shortcuts do not appear to function properly.

Solution
There may be a special character, such as an apostrophe, in the installation path.

To resolve this issue, uninstall and reinstall the software without specifying a special character in the installation path name. You can also manually correct the path using the shortcut properties.


Issues recognizing master/slave drives with 40-pin, 80-conductor cable
Description
My system does not seem to recognize master/slave devices that are installed on the same 40 pin, 80-conductor IDE cable.

Solution
This issue could be due to incorrect cable attachment. The 40 pin, 80-conductor IDE cable requires the master device to be installed at the end of the cable and the slave device to be installed on the middle connector.

Most 40 pin, 80-conductor IDE cables are color-coded to ensure correct device placement and attachment. The typical color-coding for a 40 pin, 80-conductor IDE cable is:

  • Blue - attach to the IDE Controller (on motherboard or Ultra DMA PCI adapter card)
  • Black - attach to the master device
  • Gray - attach to the slave device

The jumper settings for each device must be correctly configured for this configuration. Please contact the device manufacturer for the correct jumper settings for your specific device.


Utility reports 40-conductor IDE cable instead of 80-conductor
Description
The Intel® Ultra ATA Companion utility reports that I have a 40-conductor IDE cable when an 80-conductor IDE cable is installed.

Solution
This may be caused by one of the following issues:

  • BIOS - update to the latest BIOS for your motherboard
  • Hardware -update to the latest firmware for your IDE device
  • Older version of the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver on your system - update to the latest version
  • Non-UDMA device - they are not meant to report an 80-conductor IDE cable (they do not operate in a mode that requires one)

Blue screen with Adaptec Easy CD Creator*
Description
A blue screen error will occur when installing the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver after installing Adaptec Easy CD Creator* version 4.02c_s10 on systems with Microsoft Windows 2000*. After the blue screen error, the system will no longer boot and will report an "Inaccessible Boot Device" error at each subsequent reboot.

Solution
You can prevent this issue by upgrading to version 4.02e (or later) of Adaptec Easy CD Creator before installing the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver. This issue is not related to the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver.


HD Tach* reports high CPU utilization
Some customers have reported that version 2.61 of HD Tach* (utility created by TCD Labs*, Inc.) reports high 'CPU utilization' when the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver is installed. After further investigation of HD Tach version 2.61, the producers of HD Tach indicated to Intel that the tool is targeted as a disk and driver tuning tool and not necessarily as a benchmark for grading the real-life 'CPU utilization' of a storage driver. Listed below is the technical explanation of why the 'CPU utilization' is reported as higher in HD Tach version 2.61 when the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver is installed:

The HD Tach utility (version 2.61) measures how much the processor is utilized during a timed disk Input/Output (I/O) transfer loop by comparing how many loops of an integer math routine are run when the I/O transfer is taking place versus how many of the same integer math loops are run in a similar timed run without the disk I/O operating. The HD Tach utility then generates a processor overhead percentage based on the difference of the two idle loop count runs. The HD Tach 'CPU utilization' results are a worst-case scenario based on continuous drive operation, which in real-world situations happens quite rarely. Even during the running of highly disk-intensive benchmarks, such as WinBench* Disk WinMarks*, the disk is only accessed around 30% during the timed test. As a result, the HD Tach utilization report truly is a worst-case scenario.

Note however that this is not indicative of the actual processor usage of the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver compared to typical operation where application and driver time are factored in. The 'CPU utilization' for Business Winstone*, or other business application-based benchmarks, report a much lower 'CPU utilization' number. When 'CPU utilization' for the rest of the operating system and applications are factored in, the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver accounts for a much smaller increase in 'CPU utilization' than the HD Tach utility reports.

The Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver does implement features in the driver that, while it may show higher 'CPU utilization' in utilities such as HD Tach, does enhance performance on the system by working more effectively with hard drives to reduce the overall latency and bandwidth required to do the required disk I/O.


Common issues and solutions with Iomega Zip* drives
Common issues and solutions with Iomega Zip* drives

Description
You may experience one of the following issues with Iomega Zip* drives:

  • Iomega Zip drive does not read media
  • Unable to format Iomega Zip disk
  • Iomega Zip drive appears as a floppy drive
  • Iomega Zip drive takes a drive letter that I didn't give to it
  • Zip 250* and Zip 100* do not resume from S4 hibernation mode

Solution
Upgrade to the latest version of IomegaWare*. [please link "the latest version of IomegaWare* to https://iomega-na-en.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/iomega_na_en.cfg/php/enduser/cci/product.php?p_sid=mxx_YrAj ]

If you are experiencing an issue with Zip 250 and Zip 100 drives in S4 hibernation mode, make sure that you have the latest version of the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Drive on your system.

For issues that are not resolved with the information above, the following steps can help narrow down the problem:

  • Test with and without the latest version of the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver.
  • Test with and without the Iomega device installed.
  • Test with and without the latest version of IomegaWare installed.

Installation and use
How to install

  1. Download the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver from the Intel website. Save the file to a known location on your computer's hard drive.

  2. The installation program will automatically launch from this location.
  3. Click "Next" at the Welcome screen.
  4. Read the license agreement and click "Yes" to continue.
  5. Click "Next" to install the driver in the default folder location.
  6. Click "Next" to create the default Program Folder.
  7. The driver files will now be installed. When finished installing, choose the "Yes" to reboot option and click "Finish" to restart your computer. The driver should now be loaded.

Verify that the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver is installed
The verification of the driver installation is different on a per operating system basis. Please refer to the correct operating system subsection for details.

  • Microsoft* Windows* 98, Windows 98 Second Edition, and Windows Millennium Edition
    • Run 'Start', 'Settings', then 'Control Panel'
    • Double-click 'System' Control Panel Applet
    • Select the 'Device Manager' tab
    • Select the "Intel 82801XX Ultra ATA Controller' listed, where XX in 82801XX represents AA, AB, or BA, depending on your chipset
    • Select the 'Properties' button
    • Select the 'Driver' tab
    • Select the 'Driver File Details' button
    • 'INTELATA.MPD' and 'INTELVSD.VXD' should be displayed

  • Microsoft Windows* XP (Note: The following instructions assume classic mode)
    • Run 'Start', 'Settings', then 'Control Panel'
    • Double-click 'System' Control Panel Applet
    • Select the 'Hardware' tab
    • Select 'Device Manager...' button
    • Expand the 'IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers' entry
    • Select the 'Intel 82801XX Ultra ATA Controller' listed, where XX in 82801XX represents AA, AB, or BA, depending on your chipset
    • Select the 'Properties' button
    • Select the 'Driver' tab
    • Select the 'Driver Details...' button
    • 'IdeBusDr.sys' should be displayed

  • Microsoft* Windows* 2000
    • Run 'Start', 'Settings', then 'Control Panel'
    • Double-click 'System' Control Panel Applet
    • Select the 'Hardware' tab
      * Select 'Device Manager...' button
    • Expand the 'IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers' entry
    • Select the 'Intel 82801XX Ultra ATA Controller' listed, where XX in 82801XX represents AA, AB, or BA, depending on your chipset
    • Select the 'Properties' button
    • Select the 'Driver' tab
    • Select the 'Driver Details...' button
    • 'IdeBusDr.sys' should be displayed

  • Microsoft* Windows NT* 4.0
    • Run Start/Settings/Control Panel
    • Double-click SCSI Adapters
    • Select the Devices tab
    • 'IntelATA' or 'Intel Ultra ATA Controller' should be displayed

How to uninstall
Microsoft Windows XP*:
  1. Click Start >> Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add or Remove Programs.
  3. Click Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver and then click Change/Remove.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Restart the system when prompted.

Microsoft Windows 2000*:

  1. Click Start >> Settings >> Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove programs.
  3. Click Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver and then click Change/Remove.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Restart the system when prompted.

Microsoft Windows 98*, Microsoft Windows 98 Second Edition*, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition*, and Microsoft Windows NT* 4.0:

  1. Click Start >> Settings >> Control Panel.
  2. Double-click Add/Remove programs.
  3. Click Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver and then click Add/Remove.
  4. Click OK.
  5. Restart the system when prompted.

How to verify IDE and ATAPI device transfer speed
Use the Intel® Ultra ATA Companion to verify IDE and ATAPI device transfer speeds. Click on the desired device in the Intel Ultra ATA Companion to view the device parameters.

General information
End of Interactive Support announcement
Intel no longer provides interactive support for this product via e-mail or telephone.

Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver was replaced with the Intel® Application Accelerator
The Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver was replaced with a product called the Intel® Application Accelerator. You can install the Intel Application Accelerator over the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver or you can uninstall the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver and then install the Intel Application Accelerator.

Do I need the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver?
The Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver is designed to take advantage of devices supporting ATA DMA/Ultra DMA technologies and improve system performance. It is not a requirement for your operating system to work properly.

Chipset support
  • Intel® 810 Chipset
  • Intel® 810E Chipset
  • Intel® 810E2 Chipset
  • Intel® 815 Chipset
  • Intel® 815E Chipset
  • Intel® 815EP Chipset
  • Intel® 815P Chipset
  • Intel® 820 Chipset
  • Intel® 820E Chipset
  • Intel® 840 Chipset
  • Intel® 845 Chipset
  • Intel® 850 Chipset
  • Intel® 860 Chipset

Operating system support
  • Windows* 98
  • Windows* 98 Second Edition(SE)
  • Windows* Millennium Edition(Me)
  • Windows NT* 4.0 (any Service Pack)
  • Windows* 2000 operating systems

Language support
  • Chinese (Simplified)
  • Chinese (Traditional)
  • Danish
  • Dutch
  • English
  • Finnish
  • French (Canadian)
  • French (Standard)
  • German
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Norwegian
  • Polish
  • Portuguese (Brazilian)
  • Portuguese (Standard)
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Swedish
  • Thai

Microsoft Windows XP* upgrade information
If you have version 6.10 or earlier of the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver installed on your system, you should uninstall the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver before you upgrade to Microsoft Windows XP*.

After the upgrade, there will still be a shortcut to the Intel® Ultra ATA Companion located under Start / Programs but clicking on the shortcut will result in an error message because the driver is no longer loaded. Any attempts to uninstall the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver after the upgrade may result in an error message after the system has been rebooted.

After Windows XP is installed, you can reinstall the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver.

The table below contains additional information on what will happen with various versions of the Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver after you have successfully upgraded to Microsoft Windows* XP.

Windows XP Upgrade Scenarios

Upgrading Microsoft Windows* Me and Microsoft Windows* 98 SE to Microsoft Windows* XP

Intel® Ultra ATA Storage Driver Version

Status of Driver After Upgrade

Status of Program Files Shortcut

Uninstalling Driver After Windows XP Upgrade

6.03 Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver will be replaced with Microsoft's* native driver Shortcut to Intel® Ultra ATA Companion utility still available. Error message1 will be displayed when attempting to access utility An error dialog message2 will appear upon reboot after the driver has been uninstalled. The driver will also still appear in the Program Files folder
6.10 same as above same as above same as above
6.20 same as above same as above No error should appear


Upgrading Microsoft Windows* 2000 to Microsoft Windows* XP

Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver Version

Status of Driver After Upgrade

Status of Program Files Shortcut

Uninstalling Driver After Windows XP Upgrade

6.03 Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver will be replaced with Microsoft's native driver Shortcut to Intel Ultra ATA Companion utility still available. Error message1 will be displayed when attempting to access utility An error dialog message2 will appear upon reboot after the driver has been uninstalled. The driver will also still appear in the Program Files folder
6.10 same as above same as above same as above
6.20 same as above same as above No error should appear

1 An error dialog message will be displayed if you try running the Intel Ultra ATA Companion utility stating that the driver was not detected and to verify that the driver is properly installed.

2 The following error dialog message will appear upon reboot after the Intel Ultra ATA Storage Driver has been uninstalled in Microsoft Windows XP (immediately following an upgrade):

“Error loading IPrtCnst.dll
The specified module could not be found.”

©Intel Corporation