Windows Err Msg: WDCTRL Validation Failed at Phase <x, x>

 Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q119674
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
  • Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

This article lists the meaning of the various phases that are displayed in the following error message at Windows startup if 32-bit disk access is enabled 

   The Microsoft Windows 32-bit disk driver (WDCTRL) validation
   failed at phase <x, x>.
where <x> is a specific phase.

MORE INFORMATION

Below are the various phases that can appear in the above error message and a brief description of each:

Phase 0: Int 13h, AH=8, GetDriveParms results failed; compare with 

         FDPT (Fixed Disk Parameter Table, pointer got through int
         41h/46h-xxxx)
Phase 1: Number of heads differ

Phase 2: Number of sectors differ

Phase 3: Number of cylinders differ

The next phases are read: 

   Phases 4 - A   ->  HCS:0/0/1   (Head/Cylinder/Sector notation)
   Phases B - 11  ->  Sector #503 (to control sector mapping)
   Phases 12 - 18 ->  HCS:last-1/last-1/last-1
Phase 4/B/12: Read Sector 1/503/"last-but one" through int 13 failed

Phase 5/C/13: Status reg of Controller says failure

Phase 6/D/14: Wrong sector count

Phase 7/E/15: Wrong sector number

Phase 8/F/16: Wrong cylinder number

Phase 9/10/17: Wrong sector size (not equal to 512 bytes) or drive

Phase A/11/18: Wrong status from controller or difference in 

               direct read data from int 13 read data.

KBCategory: kbother kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win31 wfw wfwg winboot
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 err msg wdctrl fastdisk

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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