Microsoft KB Archive/103530

Knowledge Base

Criteria for ActivateDrive Entry for Removable Media

Article ID: 103530

Article Last Modified on 11/22/1999

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APPLIES TO

• Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
• Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q103530

SYMPTOMS

This information applies to both Microsoft DoubleSpace and Microsoft DriveSpace. For MS-DOS 6.22, use DRVSPACE in place of DBLSPACE for commands and filenames.

Since MS-DOS 6.2 can automatically mount floppy disk and other removable media, it is not always necessary for DoubleSpace to put an ActivateDrive entry in the DBLSPACE.INI file for all removable media.

CAUSE

DoubleSpace creates an activation line for removable media (so they are available at boot time) if the media is 5 megabytes (MB) or larger. This design allows DoubleSpace to support bootable removable hard disk drives.

RESOLUTION

If you want to have compressed removable media (smaller than 5 MB) available at boot time, you can edit the DBLSPACE.INI file and add a ActivateDrive line. To do this:

1. Type dblspace /list at the MS-DOS command prompt (and then press ENTER) to determine which drives are available for DoubleSpace. Make a note of these drive letters.
   
   NOTE: If no drive letters are available, use the DBLSPACE /LASTDRIVE command to increase the last drive letter available to DoubleSpace and then restart your computer.
2. Change to drive C. If drive C is compressed, change to the host drive for C.
   
   To determine which drive is your host drive, type dblspace /list at the MS-DOS command prompt and then press ENTER.

3. Use the ATTRIB command to change the file attributes on the DBLSPACE.INI file. For example:

         attrib \dblspace.ini -s -h -r

4. Edit the DBLSPACE.INI file with a text editor, such as MS-DOS Editor.

5. Add the ActivateDrive line for your removable media drive as follows:

         ActivateDrive=<host>,<removable media>0
                           

   Use one of the drive letters you identified as available for DoubleSpace in step 1 for <host>. Use the drive letter of your removable media for <removable media>. The last value is a zero (0). For example:

         ActivateDrive=G,B0

6. Save the file and exit the text editor.
7. Ensure that the media is in the removable media drive and restart your computer.

Additional query words: 6.20 floptical

Keywords: KB103530

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