Write Cache on IDE/ATAPI Disks Is Not Flushed on Shut Down

ID: Q153296

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.51, 4.0
Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

If your computer supports the shut down and power down feature, you may experience one of the following problems:

CHKDSK runs as your computer starts and reports a dirty volume.

A blue screen appears and displays the following message:

STOP 0x0000007B (parameter, parameter, parameter, parameter)
INACCESSIBLE_BOOT_DEVICE

CAUSE

Recent versions of IDE/ATAPI hard disk drives include a write cache. This cache is normally flushed automatically depending on an algorithm by the hard disk manufacturer. On computers that support the shut down and power down feature, the power may turn off before the write cache is flushed.

RESOLUTION

Windows NT 4.0

To resolve this problem, obtain the latest service pack for Windows NT 4.0 or Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. For additional information, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

Q152734 How to Obtain the Latest Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack

For your convenience, the English version of this post-SP3 hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location. However, Microsoft recommends that you install Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4 to correct this problem.

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT40/ hotfixes-postSP3/ide-fix

NOTE: The above link is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

Windows NT 3.51

To resolve this, apply the fix mentioned below or wait for the next service pack.

This hotfix has been posted to the following Internet location:

ftp://ftp.microsoft.com/bussys/winnt/winnt-public/fixes/usa/NT351/ hotfixes-postSP5/ide-fix

NOTE: The above link is one path; it has been wrapped for readability.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition. This problem was first corrected in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.0 and Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition Service Pack 4.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Windows NT version 3.51. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression-tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Technical Support for more information.

MORE INFORMATION

The IDE/ATAPI specification does not define a command to determine if a write cache is present or to explicitly flush the cache. The Windows NT file system drivers modify the boot sector on startup to indicate a dirty volume. On shut down, the last operation is to modify the boot sector again to mark the volume clean. This last write is cached in the cache of the disk. If the power is removed too early, this sector is not written at all and the volume is still marked dirty. If the power disappears during the physical write to the disk, the boot sector is corrupt and the blue screen occurs.

Additional query words: 3.51 4.00

Keywords : kberrmsg NT4SP4Fix ntstop kbbug4.00 kbfix4.00.sp4 NTSrvWkst
Version : 4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbbug