Cannot Access Windows NT 4.0 FTDisk Volumes That Are Moved to a Windows Server 2003-Based Computer (331496)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Web Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Datacenter Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003, 64-Bit Enterprise Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Premium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2003, Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q331496

SYMPTOMS

If you have disks in Windows NT 4.0 that contain fault-tolerant disk (FTDisk) volumes, you cannot access these volumes in the following scenarios:
  • The disks are moved to a computer that is running Windows Server 2003.

    -or-
  • Windows Server 2003 is installed on the same computer in a dual-boot configuration.
Additionally, you cannot access the data on these volumes by using the FTOnline utility (Ftonline.exe) from Windows Server 2003 Support Tools. If you run FTOnline against these volumes to access them, the volumes may appear unformatted or corrupted, or you may receive the following error message:
The volume does not contain a recognized file system.

CAUSE

This behavior occurs because Windows Server 2003 does not support Windows NT 4.0 FTDisk volumes. Additionally, you cannot use the FTOnline utility to temporarily access these volumes because the Windows Server 2003-based computer system does not have the FTDisk configuration data that is required to bring these volumes online.

In Windows NT 4.0, the FTDisk configuration data is stored in the registry. When you upgrade a computer from Windows NT 4.0 to Windows Server 2003, the configuration data is migrated. However, if you move disks between computers, or in dual-boot configurations, the configuration data is not migrated. As a result, the volumes cannot be accessed under Windows Server 2003.

Windows Server 2003 does not include any supported method to import the Windows NT 4.0 FTDisk configuration data.

WORKAROUND

To work around this behavior:
  1. On the Windows NT 4.0-based computer, back up the data on the FTDisk volume sets.
  2. Create new volumes on the Windows Server 2003-based computer.
  3. Restore the data to the new volumes.

STATUS

This behavior is by design.

MORE INFORMATION

The behavior that is described in this article does not occur on basic FTDisk volumes that have been used previously under Windows 2000-based computers. This is because Windows 2000 migrates the FTDisk configuration data from the registry to hidden sectors on the disks themselves. Disks that contain FTDisk volumes that have been successfully imported by Windows 2000 can be temporarily accessed in Windows Server 2003-based computers by using of the FTOnline utility.

For additional information about moving Windows NT 4.0 FTDisk volumes to Windows 2000-based computers, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

253110 Moving Windows NT Basic Disk FT Sets to a Windows 2000 Computer

Modification Type:MajorLast Reviewed:12/19/2003
Keywords:kbbug KB331496
©2003 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.