Greetings: If I do: # hdparm -d /dev/hda /dev/hda: using_dma = 0 (off) But if I do: # hdparm -i /dev/hda ATA device, with non-removable media powers-up in standby; SET FEATURES subcmd spins-up. Model Number: IBM-DTLA-307030 Serial Number: YKEYKM70956 Firmware Revision: TX4OA60A [output snipped] DMA: mdma0 mdma1 mdma2 udma0 udma1 udma2 udma3 *udma4 udma5 [output snipped] * READ/WRITE DMA QUEUED [output snipped] The asterisks in the info output indicate what, that the feature is enabled, or just available? Available doesn't make sense, because they are all available in the drive. The asterisks seem to indicate what is enabled. There appears to be a contradiction. What is really goind on? Note that if I do: # hdparm -d1 /dev/hda the system locks. My read timings look like: # hdparm -t /dev/hda /dev/hda: Timing buffered disk reads: 64 MB in 7.73 seconds = 8.28 MB/sec # hdparm -T /dev/hda /dev/hda: Timing buffer-cache reads: 128 MB in 0.86 seconds =148.84 MB/sec -- ____________________________________ Christopher R. Carlen Principal Laser/Optical Technologist Sandia National Laboratories CA USA crcarle@sandia.gov