kens@hplsla.HP.COM (Ken Snyder) (09/06/89)
I have a strange problem that I hope some of you out there can shed some
light on.
The computer is a pc clone based on a Mylex 20Mhz 386 motherboard, 4 Megs
of memory and a Miniscribe 3180E (150Mbyte) drive with Western Digital ESDI
controller.
The software is PCKWIK (disc caching software that came with the system)
and QEMM/386 expanded memory manager.
The problem is that the system "hangs" occasionally when accessing the
hard disc. It is only during disc reads that the hang occurs. This is
demonstrated running Norton's Speed Disk program. It shows the sectors
being moved around and the "hanging" occurs during disc reads.
The results of the "hanging" can be:
1) The disc access light goes off after a few seconds, then comes
back on after several seconds and the system continues as normal.
2) The disc access light stays on but head movement stops (at least
it can't be heard) and after several seconds (10-30)
the head starts moving again and the system continues as normal.
3) The system hangs forever with the disc access light either on or
off. <ctrl><alt><del> will reboot the system. All other keys
are dead.
4) (This only happened twice) The system hangs forever with the kb
completely dead. Power cycle reboot is the only alternative.
This problem only occurs when PCKWIK and QEMM are installed at the same
time. It occurs whether or not PCKWIK is using expanded memory. I have
used the system with either program installed and never had the problem.
In working with the computer manufacturer the controller board and disc
drive have been replaced. Today they are coming to replace the motherboard
but I just got off the phone with the tech coming to replace it and he
says they have see this problem with two other machines recently and
swapping the motherboard didn't help. Swapping entire machines does
cure the problem. I've run the same software combination on other machines
without a problem and the company I bought the machine from cannot duplicate
this problem on their test system.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks in advance,
Ken `frustrated pc owner' Snyder