DMA on optical drive

[Michael Klinosky]

Mikkel:
> More information about your hardware would help. I know there is a
> problem with some SATA controllers that also the PATA controller for
> the optical drive.

No ATA involved here - only pure IDE. All of this hardware (all 3 
computers) are vintage 1999 - 2004 (I don't know if that matters).

Is there anything else to mention about the hardware?

> If that is not the problem, you may be able to use hdparm to turn on
> DMA. (It should have been turned on in the BIOS...)

Are you saying that my problem is more likely that DMA is *off* (and 
should be on)?