Hello I almost forgot. Here is some additional output from the VIA chipset proc file and the weirdness as reported by hdparm concerning this disk.
hdparm -i /dev/hda ------------------------------- /dev/hda: Model=FUJITSU MHT2020AT, FwRev=009B, SerialNo=NN11T451AP9S Config={ HardSect NotMFM HdSw>15uSec Fixed DTR>10Mbs } RawCHS=16383/16/63, TrkSize=0, SectSize=0, ECCbytes=4 BuffType=DualPortCache, BuffSize=2048kB, MaxMultSect=16, MultSect=16 CurCHS=16383/16/63, CurSects=16514064, LBA=yes, LBAsects=39070080 IORDY=yes, tPIO={min:240,w/IORDY:120}, tDMA={min:120,rec:120} PIO modes: pio0 pio1 pio2 pio3 pio4 DMA modes: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 UDMA modes: udma0 udma1 *udma2 udma3 udma4 udma5 AdvancedPM=yes: mode=0x80 (128) WriteCache=enabled Drive conforms to: ATA/ATAPI-6 T13 1410D revision 3a: * signifies the current active mode What is weird about this is that currently hdparm -d /dev/hda shows this: --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- /dev/hda: using_dma = 0 (off) hdparm -I /dev/hda ---------------------------------- /dev/hda: ATA device, with non-removable media powers-up in standby; SET FEATURES subcmd spins-up. WARNING: ID response incomplete. WARNING: Following data may be incorrect. Model Number: UFIJST UHM2T20A0 T Serial Number: NN114T15PAS9 Firmware Revision: 00B9 Standards: Supported: 14 13 12 11 Likely used: 14 Configuration: Logical max current cylinders 65343 0 heads 4096 0 sectors/track 16128 0 -- device size with M = 1024*1024: 2107703808 MBytes device size with M = 1000*1000: 2210087628 MBytes (2210087 GB) Capabilities: IORDY(may be)(cannot be disabled) Queue depth: 1 Standby timer values: spec'd by Vendor R/W multiple sector transfer: Max = 128 Current = ? Advanced power management level: unknown setting (0x8040) Recommended acoustic management value: 254, current value: 254 DMA: not supported PIO: unknown Security: Master password revision code = 65279 supported not enabled not locked not frozen not expired: security count not supported: enhanced erase Checksum: correct cat /proc/ide/via ----------VIA BusMastering IDE Configuration---------------- Driver Version: 3.37 South Bridge: VIA vt82c686b Revision: ISA 0x40 IDE 0x6 Highest DMA rate: UDMA100 BM-DMA base: 0xffd0 PCI clock: 33.3MHz Master Read Cycle IRDY: 0ws Master Write Cycle IRDY: 0ws BM IDE Status Register Read Retry: yes Max DRDY Pulse Width: No limit -----------------------Primary IDE-------Secondary IDE------ Read DMA FIFO flush: yes yes End Sector FIFO flush: no no Prefetch Buffer: no no Post Write Buffer: no no Enabled: yes yes Simplex only: no no Cable Type: 40w 40w -------------------drive0----drive1----drive2----drive3----- Transfer Mode: PIO PIO PIO PIO Address Setup: 30ns 120ns 120ns 120ns Cmd Active: 90ns 90ns 480ns 480ns Cmd Recovery: 30ns 30ns 480ns 480ns Data Active: 90ns 330ns 330ns 330ns Data Recovery: 30ns 270ns 270ns 270ns Cycle Time: 120ns 600ns 600ns 600ns Transfer Rate: 16.6MB/s 3.3MB/s 3.3MB/s 3.3MB/s cat /proc/dma ------------------------- 4: cascade