philba@microsoft.UUCP (Phil BARRETT) (07/05/90)
This article was placed on CIS and I believe it is of importance to
this group as well.
phil
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Microsoft Windows and third-party hard disk partitioning software
The Microsoft Windows development team, working closely with
several hardware and software vendors, has identified two rare
scenarios that might result in loss or corruption of data. The
scenarios involve using third-party disk-partitioning software
with Microsoft's SMARTDrive disk caching utility. We have shipped
several hundred thousand copies of Windows 3.0 and have only 12
customers with verified problems.
Microsoft Windows 3.0 itself works fine on these systems. The
conflict arises between the disk caching utility included with
Windows called "SmartDrive" and the listed third-party disk-
partitioning software. Windows 3.0 is fully functional without
the optional disk caching utility.
SYSTEMS THAT MIGHT BE AT RISK
-----------------------------
Scenario 1
----------
Your system IS at risk if:
* You are using THIRD-PARTY disk positioning software, such
as those listed below AND
* A hard disk on your system has more than 1024 cylinders, AND
* You are using Microsoft Windows' SMARTDrive disk caching utility
This scenario can only occur if you are running third-party disk
partitioning software, because the DOS Fdisk partitioning software
does not support disks that have more than 1024 cylinders.
Scenario 2
----------
Your system MIGHT be at risk if:
* You are using THIRD-PARTY disk positioning software, such
as those listed below AND
* Your system contains a hard disk whose type is not directly
supported by the system's ROM BIOS AND
* You are using Microsoft Windows' SMARTDrive AND
* You are using DOS version 3.30 or higher
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 which when used
in conjunction with SMARTDrive pose a risk.
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 communication 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 at risk, you can either
remove SMARTDrive or repartition your hard disk using the
DOS Fdisk utility instead of third part 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).
Microsoft is working on making SMARTDrive aware of these disk
partitioning packages, and will provide a free update to affected
users in the near future.
If you have additional questions, contact Microsoft Product
Support at (206) 454-2030.
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:
1. At the 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:
1. At the 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 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.
Otherwise, if it says Parameters Are Replaced, continue.
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 which matches the Actual Head Count, and a Setup
Sector Count which matches the Actual Sector Count, then you are
not at risk. Otherwise, that drive is referred to as "non-
homogeneous", and you will need to continue.
6. From the Disk Manager main menu, type "S" to select the non-
homogeneous 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
more Type "Write-Read" or "Read-Only" partitions, then you are at
risk.
9. Repeat steps 6 through 8 for each non-homogeneous drive in your
system.