MSDOS COMPATABILITY MODE

[Brangwen]

COLLEAGUES:

I INSTALLED SECOND HDD AS SECONDARY SLAVE AND IT'S RUNNING IN THE ABOVE MODE? ANY SOLUTIONS?

THX.

BRANGWEN http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Fingers]

Q130179 - Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q130/1/79.asp?LN=EN-US&SD=gn&FR=0&qry=compatibility%20mode&rnk=3&src=DHCS_MSPSS_gn_SRCH&SPR=W98SE)

[Brangwen]

Thx, Fingers. I'll take a look and post reply. I just noticed there is a yellow exclam next to Hard Disk Controller Secondary on witch HDD in question is connected...

In the Performance Tab: <u>Drive is using MS-DOS compatibility mode file system.</u>

Interestingly, I don't recall seeing this before today. Last evening I installed a Scrabble game, but that as the problem causer seems a bit far-fetched.....

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-08-2001).]

[Brangwen]

^bump^

[Brangwen]

So, this is how I fixed it (or it fixed itself!): I had earlier attempted to uninstall a Plextor 2000 software program. It did not properly uninstall. I then noticed the yellow exclam on my secondary controller <u>and</u> drives running in msdos compatibility mode. I reinstalled Plextor and <u>all</u> my problems resolved. How come?

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Brangwen]

Update:

The above described solution was short lived. After downloading Media Player v.7.1, the MS-DOS Compatibility Mode File System for my Secondary Disk Controller reappeared. I tried w/o success the Windoze solutions from their "problem solving" archives: see <u>Link</u> generously provided by Moderator Fingers.

[I'm running Win98se, VIA chipset, SBLive Value. I've read of the difficulties many have had with SB LIVE and the VIA chipsets but have never before had this problem through 3 mobos, all Iwill.]

In any event, this morning I removed my Plextor2000 software <u>and</u> switched SB Live to different PCI slot, utilizing IRQ 10. The problem has resolved. Any ideas why? Or is this one of the top ten (or five) trial and error mysteries in computer related compatibility history?

Thx for your thoughts.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[Fingers]

No real ideas ... just wanted to let you know that you're not talking to yourself. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

The main reasons for Compatibility mode are incompatible real mode drivers and IRQ conflicts. What other devices are sharing with the your Secondary IDE controller?

Start&gt;Run&gt;msinfo32&gt;Hardware Resources&gt;IRQ's

[Brangwen]

Fingers & Other Interested Members:

I am still having MS-DOS COMPATIBILITY FILE problems for my Secondary BusMaster IDE Controller. I followed the Microsoft Troubleshooting link (above) and reviewed my Bootlog.txt. Lo and behold, I found the following failed driver loads:

[0017FD3C] Loading Vxd = ndis2sup.vxd
[0017FD3C] LoadFailed = ndis2sup.vxd

<u>[0017FDE5] Initing esdi_506.pdr</u>
<u>[0017FDE6] Init Failure esdi_506.pdr</u>

I'm uncertain what the first is.

I believe the second (underlined) may be the most on point, as that is a driver for the
Secondary BusMaster IDE Controller!

Hmm. Okay, so the driver is not loading. Why? Corruption? Any ideas?

Thz.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-09-2001).]

[Brangwen]

Fingers:

The IRQs are as follows:

0 System timer
1 Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural Keyboard
2 Programmable interrupt controller
3 Communications Port (COM2)
4 Communications Port (COM1)
5 Creative Modem Blaster Flash56 DI5601-1
6 Standard Floppy Disk Controller
7 Printer Port (LPT1)
8 System CMOS/real time clock
9 SCI IRQ used by ACPI bus
10 Creative SB Live! Value (WDM)
10 Matrox Millennium G450 DualHead - English
10 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
11 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
11 VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller
11 ACPI IRQ Holder for PCI IRQ Steering
12 PS/2 Compatible Mouse Port
13 Numeric data processor
14 Primary Bus Master IDE controller (dual fifo)
14 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller
15 Secondary Bus Master IDE controller (dual fifo)
15 VIA Bus Master PCI IDE Controller


Thanks for your attention!

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-09-2001).]

[Fingers]

The only thing I see of any consequence there is the double entry for VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller Does it show up twice under Device Manager also. Also my preference is to move the sound card to a different IRQ than the video card, but if IRQ steering is working properly that may not matter either.

Have you reinstalled your Plextor software yet to see if your system is now OK with everything installed?

[Brangwen]

Fingers:

There is the double entry for VIA Tech 3038 PCI to USB Universal Host Controller and it does show up twice under Device Manager. Been like that for some time as I recall. FYI: I have a USB hub, external HDD, scanner and External Zip.

Yeah, when I noticed the IRQ being shared with the Matrox I shuddered briefly! Apparently <u>good</u> <u>ole</u> IRQ Steering is working.

I removed my Plextor CDRW about a week ago. It was RMA'ed as it was displaying symtoms of defectiveness. Kind of out of the blue.

No, I did not reinstall any Plextor2000 software. I expect I'll do that when I get the CDRW back. By then I should have multiple anti-depressant 'scripts! http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Thanks for your continued interest and follow-up.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

PS: The Matrox IRQ sharing reminded me of a previous SysOpt post (circa 2000) wherein Peter Missile was having a helluva argument with other SysOpt members before Socalgal shut down the thread as it was getting into a flame war! Peter really PO'ed the Canadian members with a remark that was likely misunderstood. I read it with great interest and amusement last evening when I performed a search on IRQ compatibility / conflicts.

I really miss Socal http://www.sysopt.com/forum/frown.gif She sure brought a certain je ne sais qua to this forum, ya know?

[Fingers]

Do you have an up-to-date virus scanner? My very first encounter with a virus was discovered when I realized my drives were running in Compatibility mode.

Restart in SafeMode and delete the IDE controllers in Device manager. Windows will detect them on startup an hopefully install them properly. Also, you could try re-installing your Via mobo drivers.

Try searching the forums for "compatibility mode".

[Brangwen]

Fingers:

Do you have an up-to-date virus scanner?

Yes, I ran updated Norton immediately upon detecting problem (latest definitions) as I do every week.

Restart in SafeMode and delete the IDE controllers in Device manager. Windows will detect them on startup an hopefully install them properly.

Unless I was doing something wrong, IDE Controllers <u>cannot</u> be deleted in Safe Mode.

Also, you could try re-installing your Via mobo drivers.

This may be a good idea, and I noticed new VIA drivers were just released.

Of particular interest: After booting in Safe Mode, then unsucessfully attempting to remove drivers, I booted normally. The conflict (yellow exclam) was gone, and all HDDs appeared in Device Manager. Hmm. Perhaps there is a program or peripheral device that when I launch or turn on it initiates a incompatible driver? Or causes a conflict by trying to use same memery address, etc? Very interesting.

Thx a lot Fingers. I'm open to any ideas!

Try searching the forums for "compatibility mode".

I have read <u>every</u> search query result for this on the forums. Fascinating topic. Seriously. If I wasn't so busy with my law practice, I'd do computer related work most of each day http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif


Again, thx!

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[PatrickL]

are you out of PCI slots? Try installing the NIC/modem beside your AGP port if you are. It may be a simple IRQ confict

I haven't run into a compatability mode problems for a long time but if I remember correctly I re-installed the OS

This is based on your SB and Video adaptor sharing IRQ 10. I am assuming you put your SB right next to your AGP slot.

[This message has been edited by PatrickL (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Brangwen]

Actually, Patrick, I have used only one PCI slot: SB Live Value. My modem is ISA and my graphics is AGP. Three cards - that's it, and <u>only</u> one is PCI!

What I find interesting is the driver load failure referenced above from my bootlog.txt file.

Finally, I have tried my SB Live in every PCI slot with the same results. Hmm.

Any ideas? Anyone? Other than reloading my OS?

Thx.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

[SPEEDO]

Check to see if you have any atapi drivers installed in your system!!

SPEEDO

[Fingers]

Here's another blind shot in the dark http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Are there any drivers loading in autoexec.bat or config.sys?. Try running Windows without processing either of these two files by going to:
Start&gt;Run&gt;msconfig&gt;General, tick "Selective startup" and uncheck autoexec.bat and config.sys... Windows doesn't need either of these files. Perhaps one of these is trying to load a real mode driver?

[surrealchereal]

I had that problem and with the grace and finesse I usually show. (shotgun)
I just went into the old control panel and tossed the secondary and primary IDE controller and then rebooted and reloaded.
It worked er the CD player worked no more MS-DOS Compatibility Mode probs.. OK, I'll go back to my knitting... http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

(oh and I mention mine was a cd but it was still a slave,, same config i guess)

[This message has been edited by surrealchereal (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Brangwen]

surrealchereal: Thx. I tried that from Device Manger, reloaded, same ms-dos compatibility message.

Fingers: I'm not running autoexec.bat or config.sys.

Speedo: Why no ATAPI drivers?

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif

Thx everybody as the saga continues. Interestingly, I was running normally today and tried to replicate problem. I tried everything but nothing woukd do it. Then I rebooted and the HDD involved (Slave HDD on Seconday - no Master on Secondary presently... Master CDRW in shop: make a difference?) came back as MS-DOS COMPATIBILITY MODE FILE SYSTEM (Secondary Busmaster IDE Controller with yellow exclam).


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Fingers]

No master? I thought that if you were running only one drive on a channel, it had to be configured as the master. At the very least, when you remove the master from the channel, you have to rejumper the slave as either "single" or "master"

[This message has been edited by Fingers (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Brangwen]

No. My Plextor CDRW was RMA'ed (was master on seconday) which left slave HDD when I yanked out CDRW. Does this make a difference? I don't know! I'm <u>new</u> here http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif My slave HDD is jumpered as slave...

Meanwhile, I installed the Windoz fix for large HDDs / Cache (I think a delay to give cache chance to dump data to avoid corruption?) and either that SW install or blind coincidence came up with this:

<IMG SRC="http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1663681&a=12748497&p=54034558" border=0>

Don't get too comfortable... I'm by no means certain next shut down and reboot won't result in MS-DOS Compatibility Mode File System!

Meanwhile, Fingers, does the HDD <u>jumped</u> as slave on channel by itself make a difference vis-a-vis ms-dos compatibility mode?

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif



[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-10-2001).]

[Fingers]

Brangwen, I'm almost certain that you're not supposed to have a single drive on a channel configured or jumpered as "slave"

Rejumper it as "master" or "single" if it has that setting (all WD's do) and make sure the Bios detects it as Secondary Master.

[Brangwen]

Okay, Fingers, I'll give it a go tomorrow morning. Thx for all your help and advice so far. Interesting theory, but I wonder why that would matter? Hmm. Again, I'm still learning. BTW: it's an IBM HDD with many jump settings.

Thx.

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif


[This message has been edited by Brangwen (edited 09-10-2001).]

[PatrickL]

So is the SB live PCI card right beside the AGP slot?

[SPEEDO]

Atapi drivers are for dos and 16 bit and 32 bit doesn't get along well with them!!

SPEEDO

[Brangwen]

Fingers:

I jumped the HDD (secondary) as master: problem solved. Lesson I shan't forget....soon.

Thx everybody for your input!

Brangwen http://www.sysopt.com/forum/wink.gif