OK...HDD is dying. Winxp dictates that after 6 write errors total within a session the drive steps down to PIO mode....reeeeeeeeaaaaaal slow in PIO mode. I've changed my reg values to make it step down after 6 CONSECUTIVE write errors (yeah, I need a new drive but it'll take a couple of weeks to free up the cash to get the one I want) but I'd REALLY like to find a way to totally disable PIO mode in my primary IDE channel....any suggestions?