Files May Be Damaged During Windows 2000 Setup on Fujitsu MPG3102AT or Fujitsu MPG3204AT Hard Disks (311902)


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 Q311902

SYMPTOMS

When you try to install Windows 2000 on either a Fujitsu MPG3102AT or Fujitsu MPG3204AT hard disk on a computer that has the Intel 815 chipset, the installation procedure does not report damaged files after Setup copies the initial files and restarts the computer.

CAUSE

This problem occurs because the _STM method of the basic input/output system (BIOS) that sets the Ultra DMA (UDMA) speed for both the controller and the hard disk does not change speeds after being set. When this occurs, the controller and the hard disk run at different speeds, which clips the data flow and causes incorrect data to be written on large files. This problem typically occurs if you extend the BIOS to include ATA 100 features on a computer that has an earlier chipset.

WORKAROUND

To temporarily work around this problem, you can change the cable that connects the hard disk to the controller to the 40-channel cable that is used with ATA 33 drives. When you do this, the drive can run at ATA 33 speeds.

A longer-term solution for manufacturers is to flash the BIOS so that the BIOS initially sets the UDMA cycle time to 0x14 (20) when the computer starts for the first time. This causes the Atapi.sys file to leave the drive running at UDMA 100 timings so that the hard disk and the controller run at the same speed.

Windows 2000 accepts values less than 0x14 and remains at UDMA 100 speeds, but the drive and BIOS need this value to continue to work reliably.

The third-party products that are discussed in this article are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/5/2003
Keywords:kbfix kbprb kbsetup kbWin2000PreSP3Fix KB311902
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