Large IDE Hard Disk May Run In Compatibility Mode

ID: Q175629

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows 98
Microsoft Windows 95
Microsoft Windows OEM Service Release versions 1, 2, 2.1, 2.5

SYMPTOMS

If your computer contains an Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) hard disk that is 8 gigabytes (GB) in size or larger, the Performance tab in System properties may show that the hard disk is using MS-DOS Compatibility mode. MS-DOS Compatibility mode may be in use for either the file system or for virtual memory. You may receive the following message:


   Compatibility Mode Paging reduces overall system performance

In addition, the IDE hard disk controller that the drive is attached to may show an exclamation mark in a yellow circle in Device Manager, indicating a problem with the device.

CAUSE

This symptom described above may occur if all of the following conditions are met:

The IDE hard disk is 8GB in size and larger.

The IDE hard disk is not configured as the boot drive (C:).

RESOLUTION

A supported fix for Windows 98 and for Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, 2.1 and 2.5 that corrects this problem is now available from Microsoft, but has not been fully regression tested and should be applied only to computers experiencing this specific problem. To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Technical Support to obtain the fix. If you are not severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next service pack that contains this fix.

For a complete list of Microsoft Technical Support phone numbers and information on support costs, please go to the following address on the World Wide Web:

http://support.microsoft.com/support/supportnet/default.asp

This fix for Windows 98 should have the following file attributes (or later):


   File name     Version    Date      Time     Size
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   Esdi_506.pdr  4.10.2002  11/10/98  8:51pm   24,430 bytes

This fix for Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, 2.1 and 2.5 should have the following file attributes (or later):


   File name     Version    Date      Time     Size
   ---------------------------------------------------------
   Esdi_506.pdr  4.00.1119  11/13/98  7:48pm   24,426 bytes

NOTE: If you contact Microsoft to obtain this fix, a fee may be charged. This fee is refundable if it is determined that you only require the fix you requested. However, this fee is non-refundable if you request additional technical support, if your no-charge technical support period has expired, or if you are not eligible for standard no-charge technical support.

For more information about eligibility for no-charge technical support, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q154871
TITLE: Determining If Your Product Is Eligible for No-Charge Technical Support

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Windows 95 and Windows 98.

This problem was corrected in Windows 98 Second Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

For additional information about determining common causes of hard disks running in MS-DOS Compatibility Mode, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q130179
TITLE : Troubleshooting MS-DOS Compatibility Mode on Hard Disks

For additional information about issues resolved by updates to this component in Windows 98, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q193473
TITLE : Computer with IDE DMA Hard Disk Hangs When Resumed

For additional information about issues resolved by updates to this component in Windows 95 OEM Service Release 2, 2.1 and 2.5, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q171353
TITLE : Computer with Ultra DMA IDE Controller May Hang

ARTICLE-ID: Q161642
TITLE : Auto Insert Notification May Prevent Automatic Suspend

ARTICLE-ID: Q160800
TITLE : "Fatal Exception Error" with Iomega IDE Zip Drives

ARTICLE-ID: Q154976
TITLE : Error Message Running Jet Database Engine Stress Test

ARTICLE-ID: Q154436
TITLE : Errors Accessing Hard Disk with Spin-Down Enabled

ARTICLE-ID: Q154435
TITLE : Windows 95 IDE Support for SMART, DMA, and ATAPI Tape Drives

ARTICLE-ID: Q153471
TITLE : Problems with Removable IDE Drives in Windows 95

For additional information about Windows 95 updates, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q161020
TITLE : Implementing Windows 95 Updates

Additional query words:

Keywords : kbenv kbhw osr2 diskmem win95 win98
Version : WINDOWS:95
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbprb