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- UATA66.TXT Rev C 25-Jun-1999
- _____________________________________________________________________
- _ _ _
- / / (_)
- _\ \ \ UATA66.EXE version 2.01 (p/n 22800061-002)
- (_)_/_/ Utility to Enable and Disable Ultra ATA/66 Support
- _____________________________________________________________________
-
- Copyright (c) 1999 by Seagate Technology, Inc. All rights reserved
-
- The new Ultra ATA/66 interface doubles the speed of data transfers on
- the ATA (IDE) bus, providing up to 66.6 Mbytes/second transfer rates
- using Ultra DMA mode 4.
-
- Table of Contents
- -----------------
- --Requirements
- --Current Supported Seagate Drive Models
- --Command Line Usage
- --Background
- --Frequently Asked Questions
- --UATA66 Revision History
- --Obtaining Updated Versions
- --LICENSE AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Requirements
- ------------
- There are four requirements for attaining Ultra ATA/66:
-
- * The drive must support Ultra ATA/66.
-
- * The motherboard and system BIOS (or an add-in controller) must
- support Ultra ATA/66.
-
- * The operating system must support Direct Memory Access (DMA);
- Microsoft Windows 98 and Windows 95b (OSR2) support DMA.
-
- * The cable must be 80-conductor; the length should not exceed 18
- inches.
-
- If all the above requirements are met, the drive can be re-configured
- to support Ultra ATA/66.
-
- Utilize the enclosed utility to re-configure certain Seagate
- Technology disc drives to support Ultra ATA/66. This utility will
- also support resetting the configuration back to support the Ultra
- ATA/33 configuration.
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Current Supported Seagate Drive Models
- --------------------------------------
- This utility will switch the maximum reported Ultra ATA mode between
- Ultra ATA/33 and Ultra ATA/66 on the following Seagate Technology
- Barracuda ATA, Medalist and U4 series disc drives:
-
- ST32112A ST38421A ST315330A
- ST34311A ST38422A ST317242A
- ST34312A ST310220A ST320430A
- ST35110A ST310221A ST320440A
- ST36421A ST310232A ST327240A
- ST36424A ST313032A ST328040A
- ST36810A ST313620A
-
- This utility will scan both the primary and secondary ATA (IDE) ports
- and report all drives found up to 4 drives total. The above list
- includes all current Seagate drives that can be re-configured using
- this utility. The list will be updated and a new utility released to
- include future Ultra ATA/66 capable models as they become available.
- Though drives not listed above will be reported in the list of drives
- found, the mode will only be updated on the Seagate drive models
- listed above.
-
- Note. This utility will _not_ scan for drives on Promise Technology
- Ultra66 adapters; drives must be attached to a traditional ATA
- system bus for this utility to work. To use Seagate drives in
- Ultra ATA/66 mode with a Promise Technology Ultra66 adapter,
- 1) make sure the drive is _not_ hooked to the Promise
- Technology Ultra 66 adapter, 2) attach the drive to a
- traditional ATA (IDE) system bus, 3) run this utility to switch
- the drive into Ultra ATA/66 mode, then 4) attach the drive to
- the Promise Technology Ultra66 adapter card.
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Usage
- -----
- This utility may not be executed while Microsoft Windows is active.
- To use this utility, create a bootable MS-DOS diskette that contains
- a copy of this utility and boot from the diskette.
-
- From a command prompt, type
-
- uata66
-
- and press ENTER.
-
- Use the up and down arrow keys to select the drive to re-configure.
- Press the ENTER key to toggle between Ultra ATA/66 and Ultra ATA/33.
- The utility will only allow selection of supported devices (if only
- one supported device is present, the arrow keys will appear to have
- no effect).
-
- Alternatively, the program can be used from the command line (useful
- for batch automation). To enable Ultra ATA/66 support:
-
- From a command prompt, type
-
- uata66 on
-
- and press ENTER.
-
- To disable Ultra ATA/66 or to revert to Ultra ATA/33 support:
-
- From a command prompt, type
-
- uata66 off
-
- and press ENTER.
-
- The MS-DOS errorlevel can be used to validate completion (a non-zero
- return level indicates an error occurred).
-
- After the utility has completed, reboot the system.
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Background
- ----------
- Ultra ATA/66-capable devices from Seagate and others are currently
- shipping; however, few systems currently support this protocol.
- Furthermore, some BIOSs do not operate correctly with drives set to
- run in Ultra ATA/66 mode.
-
- For example, some BIOSs check for Ultra ATA (also called Ultra DMA)
- support and subsequently set the mode to the maximum speed supported
- by the drive, regardless of the system support. These systems may
- only provide support up to Ultra ATA/33, but they set the drive to
- operate in Ultra ATA/66 mode, causing the system and drive to attempt
- to communicate at different speeds.
-
- Current Seagate Technology Ultra ATA/66-capable drives are configured
- to support Ultra ATA/33 when shipped. This shipping configuration
- ensures maximum compatibility with systems available today. If the
- requirements noted above are met, then the drive may be re-configured
- to support Ultra ATA/66 by running the UATA66.EXE utility.
- This utility will also support resetting the configuration to support
- the original Ultra ATA/33 configuration.
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Frequently Asked Questions
- --------------------------
- Ultra ATA/66 enhances existing Ultra ATA/33 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.
-
- --What is Ultra ATA/66?
- --How does Ultra ATA/66 attain faster transfer rates?
- --Who is developing Ultra ATA/66 drives?
- --Is Ultra ATA/66 backward compatible with my current Ultra ATA/33
- system?
- --What is required to run Ultra ATA/66?
- --Where can I get the utility to activate Ultra ATA/66 on my drive?
- --Why is there a blue, black and a gray connector on my Ultra ATA/66
- cable?
- --Can I mix Ultra ATA/33 and Ultra ATA/66 drives on the same cable?
- --What operating systems support Ultra ATA/66?
- --Do I need a special Ultra ATA/66 device driver?
- --What are some common troubleshooting steps?
-
- What is Ultra ATA/66?
- ---------------------
- Ultra ATA/66 enhances existing Ultra ATA/33 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.
-
- How does Ultra ATA/66 attain 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 (IDE) 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 is backward compatible with all Ultra ATA/33
- systems, but it will be limited in its transfer mode to the Ultra
- ATA/33 (Ultra DMA Mode 2 - 33.3 Mbytes/sec) or PIO Mode 4
- (16.6 Mbytes/sec). Ultra ATA/66 hard drives are 100 percent backward
- compatible with both Ultra ATA/33 and DMA and with existing ATA (IDE)
- 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 chipset pin count remains the same at
- 40. Hard drives that support Ultra ATA/66 also support Ultra ATA/33
- and legacy ATA (IDE) 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.
- * An Ultra ATA/66-capable 80-conductor cable.
- * An operating system capable of DMA transfers.
- (Win95 (OSR2) and Win98 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
- (UATA66.EXE) can be downloaded from
- ftp://ftp.seagate.com/techsuppt/seagate_utils/uata66-d.exe. The
- version available on the web is a self-extracting zip file and must
- be unzipped and placed on a bootable diskette.
-
- Why is there a blue, black and a gray Connector on my Ultra ATA/66
- cable?
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
- The 40-pin, 80-conductor cables will 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 a slave device as needed.
- Although an Ultra ATA/66 device should work fine in either the black
- or the gray connector, if your 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 (IDE) specification drive can coexist with an Ultra
- ATA/66 drive. 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 (Win95/98) handles
- Ultra ATA and Ultra ATA/66 the same as DMA, there should be no
- special device drivers. However, as with Ultra ATA (IDE), 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?
- -------------------------------------------
-
- 1. 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 hard to see with the
- human eye).
-
- 2. 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.
-
- 3. Some system boards may not successfully handle Ultra ATA/66 on
- both ATA (IDE) channels. If you have difficulty, consider
- troubleshooting with the device in the Primary Master position.
-
- 4. Contact the system board manufacturer for the latest BIOS
- upgrade and any Ultra ATA/66 special device drivers or patches.
-
- 5. 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.)
-
- 6. 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.)
-
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- UATA66 Revision History
- -----------------------
- v1.02 01-Apr-1999 Initial public release
- v2.01 25-Jun-1999 Adds interactive mode and Barracuda ATA
- family
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- Obtaining Updated Versions
- --------------------------
- UATA66 may be updated to add new models and features and maintain
- compatibility with changes in technology. The latest copy can always
- be obtained from the Seagate web site at www.seagate.com or from your
- nearest Seagate Technical Support BBS:
-
- * SeaBOARD - Seagate electronic bulletin board systems
- --United States +1-405-936-1600
- --Germany +49-89-140-9331
-
- =====================================================================
-
-
- LICENSE AGREEMENT AND WARRANTY DISCLAIMER
- -----------------------------------------
- Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product
- offerings or specifications.
-
- This is a legal agreement between you the purchaser and Seagate
- Technology, Inc. By accessing UATA66.EXE, (the "Software"), you
- agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. If you do not
- agree, do not access the software.
-
- Seagate provides the accompanying object code of the Software and
- nonexclusively licenses its use to you on the following terms and
- conditions. The Software is Seagate's proprietary, copyrighted
- product. Seagate grants you a limited access to use one copy of the
- Software. You may not copy or distribute the Software for resale.
- You may not reverse engineer, modify, rent, or lease the Software.
- In addition, you may not disclose the information or data
- incorporated in the Software to others, in any format.
-
- You accept the Software "as is" without any warranty whatsoever.
- Seagate does not warrant that the Software will meet your
- requirements, that the Software is fit for any particular purpose,
- or that the use of the Software will be error free.
-
- SEAGATE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN,
- EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF
- MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT
- WILL SEAGATE BE LIABLE TO YOU, YOUR CUSTOMERS, OR OTHER USERS IN ANY
- WAY BASED ON USE OF THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION FOR
- ANY LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA, OR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
- CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN
- CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE.
-
- (C) 1999 Seagate Technology, Inc. End of License Agreement.
-
- -=End of File: UATA66.TXT Rev.C=-
-