WINMSD, NTDETECT and AMI BIOS Information (108028)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q108028

SUMMARY

Windows NT WINMSD reports incomplete information on some systems using AMI BIOS. When you use WINMSD, select the Hardware icon. Notice that the system BIOS date is displayed in the appropriate field. However, the System BIOS Version information is blank.

CAUSE

Most system BIOS and adapters have ROM, which has a recognizable signature. At startup, NTDETECT scans upper memory for these ROM signatures. When NTDETECT finds a recognized ROM signature, it puts it into the Windows NT Registry. If it cannot find any signatures in this area, the Registry does not get updated. WINMSD gets all of its information about the system from the Registry. Windows NT NTDETECT is unable to detect the AMI BIOS ROM and therefore the information is blank in the Registry and WINMSD.

RESOLUTION

There is no known resolution for this problem at this time. There are no known functional difficulties due to this situation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT and Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbHardware KB108028
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.