IDE Auto Detection

Click on any underlined word to see its meaning. Words with ** before and after, are downloadable links. 

 

The Problem

IDE stands for Integrated Drive Electronics. In your computer there will be at least a couple of IDE devices such as your Hard Disk and CD ROM drive. These IDE devices are connected to slots in the Motherboard (the main circuit board in your computer). While your computer is booting up, it will automatically try and detect new IDE devices. It will query (search out) all the slots in the motherboard even if there aren’t any devices connected to them. Yes! It is a waste of time and will slow the boot process down.

 

The Solution

You guessed it! Eliminate the unnecessary searching of empty slots.

 

The Method

Follow the steps given below to disable this automatic detection.

 

1. Locate the My Computer icon on your Desktop or in your Start Menu and Right Click on it.

2. Select Properties from the list by Left Clicking.

3.Click on the Hardware Tab, then click on the Device Manager button. You should see a screen similar to the one shown below.
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

4. Expand IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers by Double left Clicking on it.

 

5. Right Click the Primary IDE Channel and select Properties.

6. Make sure the Advanced Settings tab is at the front. You will now see a screen similar to the one shown below.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

7. Look at the two Device Type dropdown boxes. If both the Device Type boxes are 'grayed out' then just hit the cancel button and proceed to the next step. If one or both are NOT 'grayed out' then Select None from the dropdown box(es) by clicking on the down arrow next to each box and then Click OK.

8. Repeat steps 5 to 7 for all the remaining IDE devices that are listed under the IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers.