How do I enable DMA in Windows XP?

With Windows XP, there is no longer a DMA check box. To change PIO and DMA settings within Windows XP, you will need to access Device Manager.

  1. Right-click on My Computer and choose Manage. This will open Computer Management.
  2. In the left-hand window, click on Device Manager. This will bring up Device Manager in the right hand window.
  3. Click the plus sign next to IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers in the Device Manager window.
  4. Choose the controller that the drive is connected to (Primary or Secondary) and double-click it.
  5. Click the Advanced Settings tab from the window that appears. Here you will see settings for each device on the EIDE controller.
  6. Select the drop-down list labeled Transfer Mode and make sure DMA if available is selected.
  7. Below this drop-down you will see Current Transfer Mode. This displays the mode the device is currently using. This will be Ultra DMA Mode 2, 4, or 5 depending on your system and drive type.

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