Installing NT on a Ultrastor 22CA ESDI Controller (114087)



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 Q114087

SYMPTOMS

When you install Windows NT on some machines with an UltraStor 22CA ESDI caching controller, the emergency repair disk is not created and you receive the error "Unable to provide floppy support." If you continue, you may or not be able to get the system to boot. Booting from the 5.25" disk and then using the 3.5" disks to install fails with the same message. Disabling disk caching and 1024-cylinder truncation does not help. This problem was reported with the ALR 486/33. The UltraStor 22CA ESDI caching controller installed and worked correctly on a Compaq, however.

CAUSE

Only ESDI cards that are Western Digital 1003 compatible are supported. Since each vendor implements caching differently, there is no way to write a generic hardware abstraction layer to handle ESDI controllers from all vendors.

RESOLUTION

Install an ESDI card that is compatible with the Western Digital 1003.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:11/20/2003
Keywords:kbHardware kbsetup KB114087