Major IDE problems

OK...we have an IBM Aptiva we bought around 98.  Here's whats been happening...

First sign of problems is when the screensaver locked up.  When we restarted the computer, our DVD ROM and Zip drive wouldn't show up.  My dad asked me to look at it, and I couldn't see anything wrong.  With in a day, a friend and I were going to play a game over our network, but when I looked at the computer, the screensaver had locked up again.  I restared it, and I got an error in the bios saying that my system proporties had changed(it was saying it didn't see any IDE devices on either controler...)  I cut it off, the back on, and it was fine.  Just last night, the DVD and Zip quit showing up, even after we shut it down...  The system proporties didn't show but the primary controler, and the bios showed the secondary controler was empty...  We've checked the cables, and they are fine.  It show no conflict between the controlers or anything else, but I cant really see the secondary controler any more.  The computer has not been changed hardware wise sence we got it(except the RAM we added about 1 year ago...)  So what could be the problem?

[Keefe]

Check your bios battery.  Your BIOS may be resetting everytime you turn off your computer.

[Omega]

Yeah, sounds like it's definately something hardware related (or BIOS, if you consider that sofware).  I'd also make sure you have the jumper settings correct for primary/secondary devices, because I couldn't really think of anything else that would make BIOS not recognize them.  Also, do you have the devices set for auto detect in BIOS, or manual selection?  I suppose theoretically manually specifying them could help as well.

But, yes, check the battery.

I would suspect that You have an IDE Drive going out, Pos CD,or Zip.. The fact that the system is Booting, and not running IDE Detection all the time would shy me from a CMOS battery, usually just redetects IDE devices on Boot, and works normally. Sounds like when Windows trys to access the device, it locks.. If you have not already figured it out, I would ... Be sure to Unplug, and Ground Youself before opening System.

Unhook the Data Ribbon Cable from the ZIP, reboot, go into BIOS, reset defaults, reboot, and go back into BIOS, see if the CD-ROM shows up. If so then Check the ZIP for problems, if Not then Power down, Unhook the CD-ROM, and Rehook the ZIP, Boot back into BIOS, reset defaults, and reboot, go back into BIOS, check to see if the ZIP is shown.  Do this for each, usually when the problem device is unhooked, and system is rebooted, the working device will show up again. If Both make no Change, Unhook the HD, and try the ZIP and CD then. Have seen a device on the Primary IDE, kill the Sec IDE chain also.. That would be my shot at it..

ZeitGeist

[wizbones]

Ditto the above suggestion, always check the ribbons by disconnecting and reconnecting them all making sure to blow out any dust bunnies taking up residence.

Also check the Device Manager and esnure there are no splats on the Bus Master Drivers as well. When you run into glitches sometimes the drivers get hosed as well.

I think it's been fixed...  My dad sent it back to Best Buy(our warenty was going to run out in about a week)  And they replaced the mother board.  It seems to work fine now...

Maybe it'll break again though...we need another computer.  Everyone wants to use my Athlon 1.4 now ;D