ENABLING THE SECONDARY IDE CONTROLLER
ON 2159 SPLIT SYSTEMS

If you have a 2159 S-series Aptiva with media console, you are familiar with the Yellow Exclamation point present in Device Manager for the Secondary IDE Controller.  According to IBM, this conflict exists because Windows sees three IDE controllers (the media console's controller counts as one) where there normally are only two.  This is a screenshot from an Aptiva, model 2159 S78, preloaded with Windows 95 OSR1 (Windows 95a):

Moreover, if you install Windows 95 (any build) or Windows 98 clean, the Secondary IDE is enumerated, but NOT displayed in the Device Manager.    It is possible, however to allow the Secondary IDE Controller to co-exist with the media console's STANDARD IDE controller, if you have a free IRQ in the 9-11 range.   

As you can see below, I have all IDE controllers listed in device manager... this is a screenshot from a 2159 running Windows 95B after performing the steps below.  Windows 95/98/ME users can start with step 1 below.  Windows 95a (OSR1) users can start with step 2.

1.  Double-click on INTEL 82371SB PCI BUS MASTER IDE CONTROLLER. Choose the SETTINGS tab, and select BOTH IDE CHANNELS ENABLED.  Click OK twice and RESTART when prompted. Do not worry if you see a conflict in Device Manager when you reboot.

2.  Double-click on STANDARD IDE/ESDI HARD DISK CONTROLLER.

3.  Uncheck "Use Automatic Settings"

4.  Change "Settings Based On... to Basic Config 0002

5.  Double-click on Interrupt Request. Try and change the IRQ to 9 or 11, whichever is free.

6.  Click OK twice and reboot the computer.

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Applying IBM’s latest BIOS UPDATE will help with ATAPI drive detection issues, and may fix “disappearing” drives in Windows.

For Windows 95a (OSR1) preloaded-systems, you MAY NEED to upgrade your Hard Drive Controller drivers with a patch from Intel.  Please try the enable instructions first before you apply this patch, because the patch may cause problems with certain CD-ROM/CD-RW drives.  

Intel® Chipsets-Drivers and Utilities
BUS MASTER IDE DRIVERS & README

Follow the instructions in this update EXACTLY! Windows 95B CAN use this patch to enhance USB support, but it is not necessary. Windows 98 and Windows ME users CANNOT use this update. If you plan to UPGRADE to Windows 98 and have this update installed, you must UNINSTALL IT BEFORE YOU UPGRADE.  If you forget, and later have problems, Intel's setup program will detect Windows 98/ME and offer you the opportunity to uninstall the update.

Information updated August 9, 2001  *  Thanks to the UAMB!
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