FIX: Incorrect Error Message While Writing to Write-Protected IDE Disk (331895)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition SP1
  • Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
This article was previously published under Q331895

SYMPTOMS

While copying a file to a write-protected IDE removable disk, you receive one of the following error messages:

Semaphore Timeout
- or -
Cannot copy <Filename>: The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error

CAUSE

The Atapi.sys driver incorrectly processes the status received from the device. This causes the Atapi driver to return incorrect status information.

RESOLUTION

To resolve this problem, use the updated version of the Atapi.sys driver. By using this update, the correct error message is displayed, as shown in the following:

The disk is write-protected

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional testing. Therefore, if you are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Windows XP service pack that contains this hotfix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information about support costs, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://support.microsoft.com/contactus/?ws=support

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The typical support costs will apply to additional support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in question.

The global version of this fix has the file attributes (or later) that are listed in the following table. The dates and times for these files are listed in coordinated universal time (UTC). When you view the file information, it is converted to local time. To find the difference between UTC and local time, use the Time Zone tab in the Date and Time tool in Control Panel.

Windows XP

   Date         Time   Version        Size    File name   Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   25-Oct-2002  00:40  5.1.2600.104   87,296  Atapi.sys   x86
   25-Oct-2002  00:40  5.1.2600.104  306,432  Atapi.sys   IA64

Windows XP Service Pack 1 (SP1)

   Date         Time   Version         Size    File name   Platform
   -------------------------------------------------------------------
   24-Oct-2002  23:59  5.1.2600.1135   87,040  Atapi.sys   x86
   24-Oct-2002  23:59  5.1.2600.1135  305,792  Atapi.sys   IA64

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is a problem in the Microsoft products that are listed at the beginning of this article.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:10/12/2005
Keywords:kbHotfixServer kbQFE kbDDK kbWinXPsp2fix kbWinXPpreSP2fix kbfix kbbug KB331895 kbAudOEM
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