Windows 3.0 and Third-Party Hard Disk Partitioning Software (63625)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 3.0
  • Microsoft Windows 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows 3.11
This article was previously published under Q63625

SUMMARY

The Microsoft Windows development team, working closely with several hardware and software vendors, has identified two rare situations that could result in loss or corruption of data. These situations involve using third-party disk-partitioning software with Microsoft's SMARTDrive disk- caching utility. We have shipped several hundred thousand copies of Microsoft Windows version 3.0 and have only 12 customers with verified problems.

Microsoft Windows 3.0 itself works correctly on these systems. The conflict arises between the disk caching-utility SMARTDrive included with Windows and the listed third-party disk-partitioning software. Windows 3.0 is fully functional without the optional disk-caching utility.

MORE INFORMATION

SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK

Situation 1

Your system IS at risk if the following is true:

You are using third-party disk-positioning software, such as those listed below; a hard disk on your system has more than 1024 cylinders; and you are using the Microsoft Windows SMARTDrive disk-caching utility.

NOTE: This can only occur if you are running third-party disk-partitioning software, because the MS-DOS FDISK partitioning software does not support disks that have more than 1024 cylinders.

Situation 2

Your system MAY be at risk if the following is true:

You are using third-party disk-positioning software, such as those listed below; your system contains a hard disk that is not directly supported by the system's ROM BIOS; you are using Microsoft Windows' SMARTDrive; and you are using DOS version 3.30 or later.

The risk probability is greater if your system was customized with off-the-shelf parts. Name-brand computers ship with ROM BIOS versions that support the hard drives installed by the manufacturer.

DETERMINING THE RISK

Below is a list of known disk-partitioning systems that pose a risk when used in conjunction with SMARTDrive.

Each software package uses a device= line in the CONFIG.SYS file in your root directory. The device= entry tells your system that the software exists.

Open your CONFIG.SYS file with any text editor and see if one of the following device= lines exists: 
   Software:     Disk Manager from Ontrack Computer Systems
   CONFIG.SYS    device=DMDRVR.BIN

   Software:     SpeedStor from Storage Dimensions
   CONFIG.SYS:   device=SSTOR.SYS or device=HARDRIVE.SYS

   Software:     innerSpace from Priam Systems
   CONFIG.SYS:   device=EDVR.SYS

   Software:     Vfeatures Deluxe from Golden Bow Systems
   CONFIG.SYS:   device=FIXT_DRV.SYS
NOTE: At the end of this article, you'll find a procedure for using Disk Manager to diagnose the risk. Use that procedure if you have Disk Manager by Ontrack.

Removing the Risk

If you've identified your system to be at risk, you can either remove SMARTDrive or repartition your hard disk using the MS-DOS FDISK utility instead of third-party disk-partitioning software.

To remove SMARTDrive from your system:

  1. Open your CONFIG.SYS file with any text editor.
  2. Delete the following line: 
         device=smartdrv.sys
  3. Save the changes to CONFIG.SYS.
  4. Press CTRL+ALT+DEL to reboot your system (or turn off your system and then turn it back on).

IF YOU USE DISK MANAGER

The following procedure applies to Disk Manager users only. Use it to determine if your system is at risk.

To determine if you have a hard drive with more than 1024 cylinders. do the following:

  1. At the MS-DOS prompt, invoke Disk Manager in manual mode by typing DM /M.
  2. Type C: to display the disk configuration.
  3. If any of the disks displayed have an Actual Cylinder Count over 1024, you are at risk when using SMARTDrive.
To determine if your hard disk is not supported in the system BIOS, do the following:

  1. At the MS-DOS prompt, type VER to display the version of DOS you are running. If it is earlier than version 3.30, you are not at risk. Otherwise continue.
  2. At the MS-DOS prompt, invoke Disk Manager in manual mode by typing "DM /M".
  3. Type "C:" to display the disk configuration.
  4. If the display says "Parameters Are Standard," you are not at risk. If it says "Parameters Are Replaced," continue this process.
  5. For each disk in your system, compare the Setup Parameters to the Actual Parameters displayed. If all of the disks displayed have a Setup Head Count that matches the Actual Head Count, and a Setup Sector Count that matches the Actual Sector Count, then you are not at risk. Otherwise, that drive is referred to as nonhomogeneous, and you need to continue.
  6. From the Disk Manager Main menu, type "S" to select the nonhomogeneous drive.
  7. Type "P" to see the partition table for this drive.
  8. If the drive contains a partition with the Type "DOS", and one of the following

    Type "Write-Read" or "Read-Only" partitions

    then you are at risk.
  9. Repeat Steps 6 through 8 for each nonhomogeneous drive in your system.
Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:7/7/2005
Keywords:KB63625
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