Err Msg: The Compression Driver Cannot Be Set Up Correctly... (187218)

SYMPTOMS

When you start your computer using a Windows 98 Startup disk, or when you restart your computer after upgrading to Windows 98, you may receive the following error message:

The compression driver cannot be set up correctly. Get a version from your vendor that is compatible with this version of Windows.

Or, after you start your computer using a Windows 98 Startup disk, you may be unable to gain access to a hard disk compressed with DriveSpace.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows 98 Setup does not update the DriveSpace compression files (Drvspace.bin and Dblspace.bin) in the root folder of compressed drive C. When you create a Windows 98 Startup disk, the older compression files from compressed drive C are copied to the Startup disk.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this issue, copy the updated compression files to drive C and then create a new Startup disk. To do so, use the following steps.

Update the Compression Files on Drive C

Click Start, point to Programs, and then click MS-DOS Prompt.
Check the date of the Dblspace.bin and Drvspace.bin files in the root folder of drive C by typing dir /a c:\d??space.bin at the command prompt, and then pressing ENTER.

If the files are not dated 5/11/98, type the following commands, pressing ENTER after each command:

   c:
   cd\ 
   attrib -s -h -r c:\d??space.bin
   ren c:\d??space.bin *.old
   copy windows\command\drvspace.bin c:\ 
   copy windows\command\drvspace.bin c:\dblspace.bin
   attrib +r +s +h c:\d??space.bin
   exit

Restart your computer.

Create a New Startup Disk

Click Start, point to Settings, and then click Control Panel.
Double-click Add/Remove Programs.
On the Startup Disk tab, click Create Disk.

MORE INFORMATION

Typically, the Drvspace.bin and Dblspace.bin files in the root folder of a compressed drive C are not used. When you start a computer with a compressed hard disk from the hard disk, the Drvspace.bin or Dblspace.bin file is loaded from the host drive (typically drive H). Windows 98 Setup does correctly update the compression files in the root folder of the host drive.

The older compression files in the root folder of compressed drive C become a problem only when you create a Startup disk, because the system files are generally copied from the root folder of drive C rather than the root folder of the host drive for compressed drive C.