Microsoft KB Archive/124795

= Cannot Start Windows NT on Notebook with Docking Station =

Article ID: 124795

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5

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This article was previously published under Q124795



SYMPTOMS
After you install Windows NT on a notebook computer outside of the docking station and place the notebook computer in the docking station, the following error message may appear:

The system did not load because it cannot find the following file: \SYSTEM32\NTOSKRNL.EXE

Please reinstall a copy of the above file.

Boot failed.



CAUSE
This problem occurs due the limitation of the computer BIOS. The docking station may have another hard disk controller and hard disk which may be set as the master hard disk. If the docking station equipped notebook computer is placed in the station, the hard disk on the notebook computer may be assigned as a slave hard disk. When the notebook computer is placed in the docking station, the boot sector read is the one on the notebook computer, and the ARC path specified in its BOOT.INI file is the first hard disk (hard disk on the docking station).



RESOLUTION
In the CMOS setup of the notebook computer, set the hard disk controller from Internal/Docking Station to Internal Only. This disables the access to the hard disk on the docking station and reads the hard disk on the notebook computer.

Additional query words: prodnt 3.10 rom rdisk ntldr

Keywords: KB124795

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