Microsoft KB Archive/120139

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Cannot Interactively Boot Windows 95 with Hardcard Drives

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Q120139

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The information in this article applies to:


 * Microsoft Windows 95

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SYMPTOMS
After you press the F8 key at the "Starting Windows" message or choose Previous Operating System from the Windows Startup menu, Windows 95 still loads.

CAUSE
If a hard disk drive requires that device drivers (such as a hardcard driver) load from the CONFIG.SYS file, an interactive boot is not possible. Such devices are read-only until their drivers are loaded.

WORKAROUND
To work around this situation, use a system disk from the previous operating system and boot from the floppy disk drive.

MORE INFORMATION
Most hardcards must load drivers from the CONFIG.SYS file to provide read and write capabilities. If these device drivers do not load, you can only read information from the hard disk. Without the ability to write information to the hard disk, Windows 95 cannot rename the CONFIG.DOS, AUTOEXEC.DOS, IO.DOS, and MSDOS.DOS files to boot to MS-DOS. (Other operating systems may use different filenames.) This forces Windows 95 to boot using the Windows 95 IO.SYS file. Because the file-rename process occurs before the CONFIG.SYS file is read, the device drivers are not yet loaded; therefore, the files cannot be renamed.

Additional query words: plusdrv.sys atdoshc2.sys atdosxl.sys plus quantum development hard card

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Technology : kbWin95search kbWin95