Sony IDE CD-ROM Drive and 32-Bit Disk Access

Last reviewed: June 6, 1995
Article ID: Q131188
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

SYMPTOMS

When you start Windows or Windows for Workgroups on a computer with a Sony CDU 55e IDE CD-ROM drive installed, you may receive a blue screen with the following error message:

   This program tried to access your hard disk in a way that is
   incompatible with Window's 32-bit disk-access feature (*wdctrl).

CAUSE

When the Sony CDU 55e IDE CD-ROM drive is installed as a "slave" to the "master" hard disk and 32-bit disk access is enabled, the CD-ROM drive uses the same primary IDE channel as the hard disk. The CD-ROM drive shares the hard disk's cable, interrupt, and port (IRQ 14, 1F0h).

Because this CD-ROM drive does not meet the WD1003 specification, the master hard disk loses 32-bit disk access capabilities and the WDCTRL driver does not load.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, use either of the following methods:

  • Move the CD-ROM drive to a secondary IDE channel on the controller card. Note that this method requires using separate cables for the hard disk and CD-ROM drive.

    For information about configuring the hardware in your computer, please consult the hardware documentation or manufacturer.

  • Disable 32-bit disk access. To do so, double-click the 386 Enhanced icon in Control Panel, click the Virtual Memory button, click the Change button, then clear the 32-Bit Disk Access check box.

MORE INFORMATION

The Sony CDU 55e CD-ROM drive is typically bundled with a Future Domain 16003 IDE controller and is installed on the secondary IDE channel by default using IRQ 15 and port 170h.

Sony's Setup program puts the ATAPI_CD.SYS driver in the CONFIG.SYS file and Corel's CORELCDX.EXE CD-ROM extension in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The CD-ROM drive works with either CORELCDX.EXE or MSCDEX.EXE, but both will fail if the CD-ROM drive is installed as a slave and 32-bit disk access is enabled.

Using an enhanced IDE controller instead of a standard IDE controller does not solve the problem under current versions of MS-DOS and Windows. Also, using third-party 32-bit disk access drivers (such as those from OnTrack, Western Digital, or MicroHouse) does not solve the problem.

The third-party products discussed in this article are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.


KBCategory: kbhw kb3rdparty kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win31 wfw wfwg
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11


THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.

Last reviewed: June 6, 1995
© 1998 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Terms of Use.