NTVDM Error: There Is No Disk in the Drive

 Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
Article ID: Q102418

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5 and 3.51
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0

SYMPTOMS

When you log on to Windows NT, one of the following error messages appears:

  • NTVDM - No Disk There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive A:

    -or-

  • NTVDM - No Disk There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive <drive letter>

Windows NT 4.0 error:
  • <service> - No Disk There is no disk in the drive. Please insert a disk into drive <drive.letter>

    where <drive letter> is a logical CD-ROM drive and where <service> can be services that should be started automatically such as SPOOLSS, and SNMP.

CAUSE

This problem occurs when the PATH statement in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, Windows NT System Environment Variables, or User Environment Variables for <user name> references a floppy disk drive or CD-ROM drive.

If you reference a floppy disk or CD-ROM drive in the AUTOEXEC.BAT, Windows NT 4.0 does not display the error when you log on but will display the error when you run applications such as EDIT.COM, WRITE.EXE or NOTEPAD.EXE.

RESOLUTION

To work around this problem, either have a disk in the drive or remove the entry from the PATH statement.

The drive letter may not be entered in the PATH statement, but will be found in the following registry location: 

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\SETUP\WinntPath
Delete it here and log back in.

MORE INFORMATION

When a user logs into his or her account, Windows NT searches for an AUTOEXEC.BAT file in the root directory of drive C. If the file is found, NTVDM.EXE appends its PATH environment variable to the system PATH environment variable. Only the VDM PATH variable is affected.

NTVDM tests the PATH statement for validity. If the drive physically exits, NTVDM tests for the drive type (removable media or fixed). If the drive is a floppy disk or CD-ROM, it tests for the presence of valid media. If none is found, the error message is displayed. If invalid drives are used in the AUTOEXEC.BAT PATH statement, no error message is displayed, but the PATH variable in any VDMs that are opened will be invalid.

The same message may also be displayed if you try to start an application such as NOTEPAD.EXE in Program Manager by choosing Run from the File menu.

Additional query words: 3.10 3.50 3.51 4.00 prodnt Control Panel System
include
Keywords : kbenv ntconfig NTSrvWkst
Version : 3.1 3.5 3.51 4.0
Platform : WinNT

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Last reviewed: June 3, 1997
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