Hi guys. After my spring break i just built my new setup. There is one little issue though. I have read in the customer reviews on newegg regarding my motherboard having this issue. The mainboard has 2x IDE ports, thus being able to support a total of 4 IDE devices. The only thing this all of my 4 components are IDE 2x Opticals and 2 HDD. The problem is that according to a few reviews, only one of the IDE ports works unless a BIOS update is performed after OS is installed. Now that i am up and running yet the hassle of hoisting my hdd chassis with zip ties near the top by the cd drive to i could install the os, lolz. But nowhere on the EPoX webpage for bios updates does is specifically say that it enables the second IDE port.. And i dont have a floppy drive so would i still be able to perform BIOs updates? My point is that none of these state anything about 2nd IDE port being avail after update, and is it possible it can fix one of the following bios updates. do i need to dl each update or just most recent? sorry for so many questions. your help is appreciated. thanks,

From BIOS update portion of page: EP-MF570 SLI

UPLOAD DATES 2007-01-12

VERSIONS 06.12.22

m5sl6c22.zip

** Support AM2 65nm CPU.
** Patch system temperature too high.
** Added full screen logo.

2006-08-04
06.08.01
m5sl6801.zip

** Fixed GHOST BIOS can't update BIOS when winflash fail.
** Fixed System hang up at POST when winflash fail.
** Fixed CPU package information error in CPUZ.
** Solved Nvidia VGA driver v91.31 can't enabled SLI mode or hang up in OS except 7950 VGA card.
** Fixed to use two 7950 PCI-E VGA card will dispaly at second slot.
** Modified RTL883 Azalia codec BIOS table and remove SPDIF_In function.
** Fixed fail to boot by GHOST BIOS when use SPI.exe after update SPI BIOS.


2006-07-13
06.07.07
m5sl6707.zip

** Fixed item of Vdimm was disappear on CMOS.
** Fixed to use two 7950 PCI-E VGA card will hang up system during POST.
** modified AM2 CPU temperature is too low.
** modified CPU frequency can key in on CMOS.

2006-06-22
06.06.13
m5sl6613.zip

** Add Model name 'MF570SLI/G' to DMI.


2006-05-25
06.05.18
m5sl6517.zip

** First Release.

You can update to the newest firmware just to be sure. I don't know about your brand but some Mobos let you update from within Windows. If yours cannot, you can burn to a Bootable CD-RW or use a Bootable flash-drive if your BIOS supports those options.

U sure it's a BIOS update needed?
Maybe just driver update.

I just built a PC the other day and I needed to download the latest drivers from the site before it would enable the extra onboard IDE slots.

During XP install only the first 2 IDE slots worked (as well as the SATA). After installation of Windows XP, I visited the manufacturer's site & downloaded the proper IDE driver updates for my board. Now everything works just fine.

actually, i think i recall some IDE stuff being installed after i installed the EPoX device driver disc etc. do you think i dhould reconnect all my other devices now and try? or should i update bios first?

yeah, give it a try.
If still no go, visit the motherboard manufacturer's website and download the latest drivers for your motherboard and install them.

Ok. After installing all mobo drivers from disc and all updates etc, i tried setting my 2nd drive which will be slave, to master on the second channel to see if it recognized another device, but no luck b/c it still only shows the cd rom and drive that are on IDE channel 0. Do i most likely have to install a BIOs update? And do i just grab the most recent bios update or are all releases separate? Also, i have no floppy so is BIOS updateing still possible?

Keep it in 1 thread.

I answered your BIOS question in the 2nd post.

sorry about the double post. i found this is one of the customer reviews for my mobo.

"Second IDE channel is implemented via a different controller then the nforce chipset. Only drawback is that you have to flash the bios right away and play with some bios options to get it running perfectly."

Within the bios if the 2nd ide channel is read properly it should just show the devices there. im not too familiar with different bios options to get it working. ill try the most recent bios update.

one review also states that the 2nd ide channel doesnt work until it is enabled using bios. i cannot find anything in bios as far as enabling it..

I think you have a Phoenix AwardBIOS. That is what I have. I think under "Advanced Chipset Features" or "Integrated Peripherals" is a subsection for IDE devices. Make sure both channels and SATA are enabled.

According to their website you can flash from within windows. Do that, then enable SATA controller because that is what controls the 2nd IDE channel on your mobo.

This screen will show all 4 devices if working correctly:
http://www.computerhope.com/help/bios4.gif

ok after updating to the most recent BIOS through thunder flash in windows, i succesfully got both ide ports to read by enabling a JT? raid?? i dont remember exactly but everything seems fine. now i am having trouble partitioning and pointing the virtual page file to my secondary drive. after setting it i couldnt notice a change saying that is where the page file currently is.

Make sure you click "Set" before hitting "Apply" or "OK" or else it won't stick.

Well thanks lol i finally got the virtual page file properly placed on my D: drive and when the pc rebooted i immediately noticed how fast the taskbar loaded.. well im going to take a few pictures sometime soon. and thanks to everyone who helped make my first build possible (and newegg).