Microsoft KB Archive/103934

= How to Add More Than Two IDE or ESDI Drives in Windows NT =

Article ID: 103934

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 Workstation 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.5
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
 * Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q103934



IMPORTANT: This article contains information about editing the registry. Before you edit the registry, make sure you understand how to restore it if a problem occurs. For information about how to do this, view the "Restoring the Registry" Help topic in Regedit.exe or the "Restoring a Registry Key" Help topic in Regedt32.exe.



SUMMARY
If a computer has more than two IDE or ESDI hard disk controllers and needs an MS-DOS-based device driver to use the extra drives, Windows NT may not be able to use the extra drives by default.

To configure more than two IDE or ESDI hard disk controllers with Windows NT, the Windows NT Registry must be modified to add the information about the additional drives. You need technical information about your drives, which should be included in the manufacturer's documentation included with them.

NOTE: To make the necessary changes in the Registry, you must be logged on as an Administrator.



MORE INFORMATION
WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

Most new computers come with two built in IDE controllers. Each controller (or channel) can handle two IDE Hard drives. This procedure should only be necessary if you are trying to add a third or higher IDE or ESDI controller or if your secondary IDE or ESDI controller is at a non- standard memory address. If the drive is at a non-standard address, use the following procedure to add the correct address to the Windows NT registry. The registry key name in this case would be either 1 or 2.

NOTE: The information in this article applies only to Intel x86 architecture computers.

To add support for three or more IDE or ESDI controllers in Windows NT, follow these steps:

 Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and then locate the following registry key:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atdisk

 On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then create the following key:

Key Name: PARAMETERS

Class:

 Open the PARAMETERS key that you created in Step 2. On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then create the following key:

Key Name:

Class:

where is the number of the additional drive, such as 2 for the third drive. For each additional drive, increment the Key Name by 1. In general, you must specify the starting parameter as 2 or higher. This prevents a conflict with the primary or secondary controller that most BIOSs support. Open the key that you created in step 4. On the Edit menu, click Add value, and then add the following values:

BaseAddress

---

This is the physical address of the Data register for the controller.

DriveControl

This is the physical address of the drive control register of the controller. Often this is 0x206 off of the BaseAddress register.

Interrupt

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This is the interrupt that the controller will use.

NOTE: Set the Data Type of all three entries to REG_DWORD.

</li> Quit Registry Editor.</li></ol>

Here is what a sample registry entry looks like for adding a Quantum EZ hard disk onto a COMPAQ 486/33L. This computer has a simple ESDI drive as its primary controller.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atdisk \Parameters\2

BaseAddress = REG_DWORD 0x320

DriveControl = REG_DWORD 0x32e

Interrupt = REG_DWORD 0xa

NOTE: On an R4000 ARC computer, you should not have to add anything if you configure the IDE adapter for the 0x1f0 or 0x170 memory address.

Additional query words: 3.10 gateway multiple eide second tertiary

Keywords: kbhardware KB103934

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