Adaptec 2940 Series 1.2x BIOS Rev Adapters Fail on NT 3.51

ID: Q149177

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51
Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51

SYMPTOMS

A computer with an Adaptec 2940 controller with BIOS version 1.2x fails to be recognized as a mass storage device in Windows NT Setup. If the AIC78xx.sys driver supplied with Windows NT 3.51 is used, the computer returns a Stop 7B - INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE error.

CAUSE

Starting with the Adaptec 2940 BIOS revision 1.20, the product ID reported by the BIOS has changed. This caused the Microsoft-supplied Aic78xx.sys driver not to find the adapter.

RESOLUTION

To install Windows NT 3.51, use the Adaptec-supplied driver for the 2940 series adapters.

When Mass Storage Detection fails to find an Adaptec 294x/AIC 78xx, type "S" to specify an additional adapter. Choose "Other" from the list and insert your Adaptec 2940/7800 driver diskette when prompted.

If you attempt a "WINNT /B" installation, you may receive a STOP 0x7B error before mass storage detection takes place. To work around this, when the computer restarts after the initial file copy, press F6 as soon as "Setup is inspecting your computer[ASCII 146]s hardware configuration" is displayed. This will allow you to add a mass storage device at the very beginning of text mode setup.

For more information on applying the Adaptec-supplied driver and related problems during setup, see 2940xwnt.txt on Adaptec[ASCII 146]s BBS or Web site.

If Service Pack 2 or later is being applied to an existing version of Windows NT 3.51 running the Adaptec-supplied driver, perform one of the following steps:

Upon updating with Service Pack 2 or later, do not restart the system. Copy the Adaptec-supplied driver (aic78xx.sys) into \%Systemroot%\System32\drivers before rebooting.

If the system has been restarted, restart your system with DOS if Windows NT is on a FAT partition, or do a parallel install if on NTFS, and copy the Adaptec-supplied driver into \%Systemroot%\System32\drivers.

The third-party products discussed here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.

For information about how to contact Adaptec, please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

ARTICLE-ID: Q65416
TITLE : Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, A-K

ARTICLE-ID: Q60781
TITLE : Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, L-P

ARTICLE-ID: Q60782
TITLE : Hardware and Software Third-Party Vendor Contact List, Q-Z

Additional query words: 2940W 2940U 2940UW ultra wide Compaq Deskpro 6000

Keywords : kbhw kbsetup ntsetup nthw NTSrvWkst
Version : WinNT:3.5,3.51
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb