Michal 'hramrach' Suchanek wrote:

imho it did not query it, it is simply bogus. afaict the drive does not
produce write errors so the code cannot query it whatever it does.
But i do not know anything about ata or the kernel ata drivers, I did
not even try to look.

Currently I have another drive attached to the sata dongle and neither
bios nor Linux can see it. Perhaps it is because  the drive is switched
to slave or it does not like the drive rack.

ahhhhhh, that may be a clue.  If you are attaching a PATA drive via a 
bridge, that is very different from attaching a SATA drive, in terms of 
field behavior across the controller spectrum.

There are limitations on bridges.  Does Brad Campbell's patch (attached) 
work for you?

	Jeff