Access Violation Formatting a Sony 561 Magneto-Optical Drive Cartridge (304908)

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server SP2
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP1
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional SP2

This article was previously published under Q304908

SYMPTOMS

The Sony 561 magneto-optical drive cartridge uses a 4,096-byte sector size. When you format such a cartridge (by using Windows Explorer, Disk Management, or a command prompt), you may receive an "Access violation" error message, or the format process may stop responding (hang).

CAUSE

This behavior is caused by a buffer overflow. The Window 2000 format process uses a maximum sector size of 2,048 bytes.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows 2000. For additional information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

260910 How to Obtain the Latest Windows 2000 Service Pack

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or later:

   Date         Time    Version        Size    File name
   ------------------------------------------------------
   23-Jul-2001  07:37p  5.0.2195.3895  17,680  Fmifs.dll 
   23-Jul-2001  07:37p  5.0.2195.3895  34,064  Format.com

WORKAROUND

There is a 1,024-byte-sector emulation mode that you can use to allow the drive to work, but this mode slows the drive's performance. You can also use cartridges that have a smaller sector size.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article. This problem was first corrected in Windows 2000 Service Pack 3.

MORE INFORMATION

After you install this hotfix, you can format the cartridge and use the device as a storage device. You cannot install Windows 2000 on a cartridge with 4,096-byte sectors with this device. You also cannot select this type of media during Windows Setup. This device is recognized but is not interpreted correctly. For additional information on how to install multiple hotfixes with only one reboot, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

296861 Use QChain.exe to Install Multiple Hotfixes with One Reboot

For additional information about how to install Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 hotfixes at the same time, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

249149 Installing Microsoft Windows 2000 and Windows 2000 Hotfixes

Modification Type:	Minor	Last Reviewed:	9/26/2005
Keywords:	kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbbug kbfix kbOSWin2000fix kbWin2000PreSP3Fix kbWin2000sp3fix KB304908