Article ID: 178278
Article Last Modified on 10/31/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 4.0 Developer Edition
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 3.51
- Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 Standard Edition
This article was previously published under Q178278
SYMPTOMS
If you attempt to install Windows NT using a Compaq Array controller whose BIOS is disabled or to a boot partition that extends beyond 1024 cylinders, you may see one of the following errors after the text mode portion of setup reboots:
(NOTE: The type of error depends on if you are using a PCI Based Compaq Smart-2/P Array controller or an EISA based Compaq Smart-2/E Array controller)
If you are using a Compaq Smart-2/P Array controller (PCI based) or Fast and Wide-2 controller:
-or-
-or-
If you are using a Compaq Smart-2/E Array controller (EISA based):
CAUSE
If the boot partition extends beyond 1,024 cylinders or the boot partition is created on a drive attached to a SCSI controller whose BIOS is disabled, use the scsi() syntax in the Boot.ini file.
The scsi() syntax is not supported while using a Compaq Smart 2/P Array controller.
-or-
The Cpqarray.sys driver that ships with Windows NT does not support using the scsi() syntax for addressing a Compaq Smart 2/E Array controller.
RESOLUTION
- Install Windows NT to a boot partition that does not extend beyond the 1,024 cylinder limitation of Interrupt 13 BIOS calls.
- Use an updated Cpqarray.sys driver for Ntbootdd.sys when using scsi() syntax in the Boot.ini file and an EISA based Compaq Smart-2/E Array controller.
- Use a different SCSI Controller and driver that supports booting from a boot partition that extends beyond 1,024 cylinders.
- Contact Compaq Technical Support about this limitation when using scsi() syntax with the PCI based Compaq Smart-2/P Raid Controller.
STATUS
The products discussed here are manufactured by Compaq Corporation, A vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the products' performance or reliability.
MORE INFORMATION
Interrupt 13 compatibility is required so the master boot record (MBR) can locate the boot sector. The boot sector then finds and loads the NT boot loader (NTLDR) and continues to load the operating system. NT uses interrupt 13 calls until a disk driver is loaded.
If the boot partition can be accessed with Interrupt 13 BIOS calls then Windows NT will use the multi() syntax which does not load a driver for the disk controller until the Operating System starts loading from this partition.
When using the scsi() syntax in the BOOT.INI, Windows NT needs to load a SCSI device driver and uses that driver to access the boot partition. The SCSI controller driver is renamed NTBOOTDD.SYS and placed in the root of the system partition.
Two reasons for using scsi() syntax in the c:\boot.ini file:
- The BIOS is disabled on the disk controller that Windows NT is installed on, so Interrupt 13 Bios calls cannot be used.
- The boot partition extends beyond the 1024th cylinder on the drive which is a limitation of Interrupt 13 BIOS calls.
For more information about ARC Path Names, see NT 4.0 Server Resource Guide or NT 4.0 Workstation Resource Kit or refer to the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
Additional query words: Smart raid Array 2E 2P cpqfs.sys
Keywords: kbhardware kbprb KB178278