This problem appears to be a kernel issue. When I select kernel 2.6.22-14-generic from the grub menu during boot up, the IDE addressing behaves normally, and I can access all my hard drives. When I select kernel 2.6.24-16-generic the IDE addressing is screwed, and I can only access some of my hard drives.
Note also that at no time was there a sdc or sdd. When running the 2.6.24-16-generic kernel, there is at most just sda and sdb. I have three hard drives, and with the 2.6.22-14-generic kernel there is hda hdb and hdc.
This problem appears to be a kernel issue. When I select kernel 2.6.22-14-generic from the grub menu during boot up, the IDE addressing behaves normally, and I can access all my hard drives. When I select kernel 2.6.24-16-generic the IDE addressing is screwed, and I can only access some of my hard drives.
Note also that at no time was there a sdc or sdd. When running the 2.6.24-16-generic kernel, there is at most just sda and sdb. I have three hard drives, and with the 2.6.22-14-generic kernel there is hda hdb and hdc.