Microsoft KB Archive/222871

= Err Msg: "Drive Is Not Ready for Use" with Removable Media Devices =

Article ID: 222871

Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition

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This article was previously published under Q222871



SYMPTOMS
When you use removable media devices (such as the Iomega Zip drive or the Iomega Jaz drive) with Windows NT, the following error message may be displayed after startup:

The drive is not ready for use; its door may be open. Please check drive \ \ \ and make sure that a disk is inserted and that the drive door is closed.

NOTE: The,  , and   values may be different, based on your configuration.



CAUSE
This behavior occurs because removable media can be reported as malfunctioning if a cartridge is not present in the removable media device.

When the disk controller BIOS queries a removable media device, it stores the device status information in memory. At startup, Windows NT sends a query to determine the status of devices connected to the disk controller. Depending on the firmware installed, the BIOS revision, or the characteristics of the disk controller, removable media can be reported as malfunctioning if a cartridge is not present in the removable media device.



RESOLUTION
To resolve this problem, place a cartridge in the removable media device and restart Windows NT.



MORE INFORMATION
This problem may occur on either IDE-based or SCSI-based systems.

