Windows Hangs with Fast Tech Hard Drive Controller #1050

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.0, 3.0a

SYMPTOMS

You have a Fast Technologies #1050 hard drive controller card, and your system stops responding (hangs) at the Windows logo screen or exits to MS-DOS when you run Microsoft Windows 3.0 in the enhanced mode. Windows functions correctly in standard or real mode.

CAUSE

This hard drive controller card uses a utility called BKWRTOFF.COM. The BKWRTOFF.COM program turns off the deferred background and writes to the hard drive. The hard drive controller card can hold reads and writes in static RAM. Windows can go too fast for this utility and cause problems for the controller.

RESOLUTION

According to Fast Technologies Product Support, to run Windows 3.0 in enhanced mode with the Fast Technologies #1050 hard drive controller card, you must have the following lines must be in the [386Enh] section of your SYSTEM.INI file:

• VIRTUALHDIRQ=OFF
• EMMEXCLUDE= xxxxx-xxxxx

You must also run the BKWRTOFF.COM program before starting Windows.

MORE INFORMATION

If you are still having a problem and are running with a super VGA card, you might want to try resetting the hard drive controller card to the 8-bit mode. The command for this is:

   TNT setup/x

The product included here is manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft. We make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.