How to Add More Than Two IDE or ESDI Drives in Windows NT

• Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server version 3.1
• Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0
• Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0

SUMMARY

If a computer has more than two IDE or ESDI hard disk controllers and needs an MS-DOS-based device driver to use the extra drives, Windows NT may not be able to use the extra drives by default.



To configure more than two IDE or ESDI hard disk controllers with Windows NT, the Windows NT Registry must be modified to add the information about the additional drives. You need technical information about your drives, which should be included in the manufacturer's documentation included with them.

NOTE: To make the necessary changes in the Registry, you must be logged on as an Administrator.

MORE INFORMATION

WARNING: Using Registry Editor incorrectly can cause serious problems that may require you to reinstall your operating system. Microsoft cannot guarantee that problems resulting from the incorrect use of Registry Editor can be solved. Use Registry Editor at your own risk.

For information about how to edit the registry, view the "Changing Keys And Values" Help topic in Registry Editor (Regedit.exe) or the "Add and Delete Information in the Registry" and "Edit Registry Data" Help topics in Regedt32.exe. Note that you should back up the registry before you edit it.

Most new computers come with two built in IDE controllers. Each controller (or channel) can handle two IDE Hard drives. This procedure should only be necessary if you are trying to add a third or higher IDE or ESDI controller or if your secondary IDE or ESDI controller is at a non- standard memory address. If the drive is at a non-standard address, use the following procedure to add the correct address to the Windows NT registry. The registry key name in this case would be either 1 or 2.

NOTE: The information in this article applies only to Intel x86 architecture computers.

To add support for three or more IDE or ESDI controllers in Windows NT, follow these steps:

1. Start Registry Editor (Regedt32.exe), and then locate the following registry key:
   

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atdisk




2. On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then create the following key:
   

   Key Name: PARAMETERS
   Class: <blank>




3. Open the PARAMETERS key that you created in Step 2.



4. On the Edit menu, click Add Key, and then create the following key:
   

   Key Name: <number>
   Class: <blank>

   
   where <number> is the number of the additional drive, such as 2 for the third drive. For each additional drive, increment the Key Name by 1. In general, you must specify the starting parameter as 2 or higher. This prevents a conflict with the primary or secondary controller that most BIOSs support.



5. Open the key that you created in step 4.



6. On the Edit menu, click Add value, and then add the following values:
   

   BaseAddress
   -----------
   This is the physical address of the Data register for the controller.
   
   DriveControl
   ------------
   This is the physical address of the drive control register of the controller. Often this is 0x206 off of the BaseAddress register.
   
   Interrupt
   ---------
   This is the interrupt that the controller will use.
   
   NOTE: Set the Data Type of all three entries to REG_DWORD.




7. Quit Registry Editor.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atdisk \Parameters\2

BaseAddress = REG_DWORD 0x320
DriveControl = REG_DWORD 0x32e
Interrupt = REG_DWORD 0xa

Additional query words: 3.10 gateway multiple eide second tertiary

Keywords : kbhw nthw
Version : winnt:3.5,3.51,4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type :