I currently only have the hdd as the master on controller one. On the second controller, i have 2 dvd burners. (ive been using only one at a time since I started this post). I tought a while ago that it might be the ide cable, so I bought another one. No change has been noticed since I replaced the cable with a new one. (I only switched the controller two cord because Im assuming the cables that came with my mobo for my hdd should be fine) the ones for the hdd are a different color at the tips. (red or blue i think) should I try putting the cable taken out of controller 2 (origional one) onto the primary controller for my hdd? Currently, my dvd drives are at ultra dma 2 and my hdd is set on pio mode. Theres some imrovement since I’ve been getting help on this forum, but not enough to make a difference. When I get home today, Im going to try to disconnect the slave on my secondary controller to see if it does anything. I tried this when I got my second dvd burner, but Im not sure if I had that old zip drive in at the time. I would like to be able to use both at full speed at the same time; as I make lots of dvds, but just having either of them go at full speed would be great.
also- the only other thing I would think to be wrong, is that possibly my hdd is not set ast he master on its jumper (hdd have jumper selectors right?) but i have never messed with that, and when I had my first dvd burner, it would always burn at 4x, no lower no less. when I got my second one (liteon not sure of model at the moment) it had trouble even going to 4x. it would usually burn at ~2x. I thought that the problem was my second dvd burner, so when I got my newest burner, nec 3500ag, I was sad it did not burn any faster even though it is a 16x dl drive.