Microsoft KB Archive/171353

Computer with Ultra DMA IDE Controller May Hang

Q171353

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release, versions 2, 2.1

SYMPTOMS

When you are running Windows 95 on a computer with an IDE (ATA) hard disk and controller that support Ultra DMA mode, the computer may stop responding (hang) while the hard disk is being accessed.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if there is a hardware error while data is being read from the hard disk. When such an error occurs in Ultra DMA mode, the Windows device driver does not successfully recover from the error and retry the operation.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2 (OSR2). An update to address this problem is now available, but is not fully regression-tested and should be applied only to computers experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft does not recommend implementing this update at this time.

This issue is resolved by the following updated file for Windows 95 OSR2:

   Esdi_506.pdr version 4.00.1116 (dated 8/25/97) and later

To install this update, follow these steps:

Download the Remideup.exe file from the online service listed below to an empty folder.
In My Computer or Windows Explorer, double-click the Remideup.exe file you downloaded in step 1.
Follow the instructions on the screen.

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

Download Remideup.exe now]

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of posting to scan this file for viruses. Once posted, the file is housed on secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The following files are installed by Remideup.exe:

   File name     Version    Date/Time       Size    Destination folder
   ------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Esdi_506.pdr  4.00.1116  8/25/97 11:16a  24,426  Windows\System\Iosubsys
   Voltrack.vxd  4.00.954   3/6/96 9:54a    18,518  Windows\System\Iosubsys

NOTE: The Voltrack.vxd file is installed on Windows 95 computers only. This file is not installed on computers running OSR2.

MORE INFORMATION

Ultra DMA, also known as Ultra DMA/33, is an extension of the ATA hard disk interface that allows burst data transfer rates of 33.3 MB per second (double the ATA-2/ATA-3 standard of 16.6 MB per second).

This new standard is supported by controller chip sets such as the Intel PIIX4 chip set.

For additional information about issues resolved by updates to this component, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q161642 Auto Insert Notification May Prevent Automatic Suspend

Q160800 "Fatal Exception Error" with Iomega IDE Zip Drives

Q154976 Error Message Running Jet Database Engine Stress Test

Q154436 Errors Accessing Hard Disk with Spin-Down Enabled

Q154435 Windows 95 IDE Support for SMART, DMA, and ATAPI Tape Drives

Q153471 Problems with Removable IDE Drives in Windows 95

Additional query words: 95 w95hw

Keywords : kbhw osr2 win95 kbgraphxlinkcritical
Issue type :
Technology : kbWin95search kbOPKSearch kbWin95OPKOSR2 kbWin95OPKOSR210