Windows 95 File System Questions and Answers

Last reviewed: October 24, 1995
Article ID: Q132993
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows 95

SUMMARY

This article contains questions and answers about the Windows 95 file system.

MORE INFORMATION

  1. Q. I am experiencing problems accessing a floppy disk drive in Windows

           95. What can I do to fix this?
    

        A. There are many possible causes for floppy disk drive problems. To
           troubleshoot the problem, please see the following article in the
           Microsoft Knowledge Base:
    

              ARTICLE-ID: Q131690
              TITLE     : Troubleshooting Floppy Disk Drive Problems in
                          Windows 95
    
    

  2. Q. Why do I not see a device that is connected to a controller in

           Device Manager?
    

        A. The device may not appear because there are no protected-mode
           drivers for it, or because Windows 95 did not detect it. Try the
           following steps:
    

           1. Determine if the device works at in MS-DOS or with its Windows
    
              3.1 drivers. If it does, Windows 95 is not able to detect the
              device or there are no protected-mode drivers for it.
    
           2. Use the Add New Hardware tool in Control Panel. Let Windows
              detect the hardware in your computer. If the device is not
              detected, run the Add New Hardware Wizard again and choose the
              specific device.
    
    

  3. Q. How do I resolve device conflicts that Device Manager indicates?

        A. Device Manager may display an exclamation point in a yellow circle
           or an "X" in a red circle next to a device. An exclamation point in
           a yellow circle indicates that the device is not present, is not
           working properly, or does not have all its drivers installed.
    

           An "X" in a red circle indicates that the device has been disabled.
           You can enable the device by clicking the Original Configuration
           (Current) check box in the properties for the device.
    

  4. Q. I have a CD-ROM drive connected to my sound card but I cannot

           access the drive. Why?
    

        A. Windows 95 includes drivers for CD-ROM drives on SoundBlaster,
           MediaVision, and Aztech sound cards. If Windows 95 does not support
           your sound card or CD-ROM drive, you must use real-mode drivers to
           access the CD-ROM drive.
    

  5. Q. Why can't I access my ATAPI CD-ROM drive in protected mode?

        A. Some ATAPI CD-ROM drives require real-mode drivers to be loaded in
           order for Windows 95 to activate the CD-ROM drive in protected
           mode. Such drivers need to be installed before Windows 95 Setup can
           detect or enable the drive.
    

  6. Q. Why does the Performance tab in System properties indicate that the

           MS-DOS compatibility mode is in use on my large IDE hard disk?
    

        A. Any of the following conditions can cause the file system to use
           the MS-DOS compatibility mode:
    

            - You use OnTrack Disk Manager version 6.02 or earlier. Disk
              Manager 6.03 is supported in protected mode on hard disks on the
              primary IDE channel and when DriveSpace disk compression is not
              installed. For drives on the secondary IDE channel, Disk Manager
              7.0 or later is required. When using the DriveSpace compression
              software that is included with Microsoft Windows 95 and Microsoft
              Plus!, Disk Manager 7.04 or later must be used. For information
              about upgrading your version of Disk Manager, please contact
              OnTrack.
    
            - You use any MicroHouse EZ driver version. If you use any
              MicroHouse EZ driver version, contact MicroHouse for information
              about version updates and compatibility with Windows 95.
    
            - The presence of a virus may force the file system into the
              MS-DOS compatibility mode.
    
            - There is no Windows 95 protected-mode driver for your hard disk.
              Contact the hard disk manufacturer about a Windows 95 protected-
              mode driver.
    
    

  7. Q. My removable-media device does not work in Windows 95. How can I

           fix this?
    

        A. To correct the problem, try these steps:
    

           1. Verify that the removable-media device works in MS-DOS.
    

           2. Make sure that a cartridge is in the device before you start
    
              Windows 95.
    
           3. Load the removable-media device's real-mode drivers in the
              Config.sys file.
    
           4. Try to format a new cartridge in Windows 95. If you can access
              the drive, the original cartridge may be formatted with a format
              that Windows 95 cannot use.
    
    

  8. Q. Windows 95 can read a data CD-ROM but cannot play an audio CD. Why?

        A. This behavior can be caused by either of the following conditions:
    

            - You may have a CD-ROM drive with outdated firmware. In order to
              use this drive properly, you must load its real-mode drivers.
              The Hardware.txt file included with Windows 95 may provide
              additional information.
    
            - If you are loading real-mode drivers for your sound card,
              make sure the audio settings in Windows 95 match the audio
              settings for the real-mode driver.
    
    

  9. Q. What can prevent my SCSI device from working properly?

        A. Most SCSI problems are due to hardware termination issues. Refer to
           the hardware manual for the proper termination settings.
    
    10. Q. Device Manager displays an entry for an unknown device. What is
           this?
    
        A. Unknown devices are enumerated devices without a class. These
           devices consume resources (such as interrupt lines or input/output
           addresses) but they do not have protected-mode drivers.
    


KBCategory: kbenv
KBSubcategory: wpp95 win95
Additional reference words: 95 win95q&a win95faq w95tlc


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Last reviewed: October 24, 1995
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