Incorrect Drive Size with Promise Technologies Ultra DMA Card

ID: Q195898

The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Workstation version 4.0
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server version 4.0, Terminal Server Edition

SYMPTOMS

After you apply the updated Atapi.sys driver on a computer with a hard disk drive larger than 8 gigabytes (GB) that is connected to a Promise Technologies Ultra 33 PCI bus-mastering controller, the drive may still be reported as only 8 GB by Disk Administrator.


CAUSE

On computers configured to use a Promise Technologies Ultra 33 PCI bus- mastering controller, the following conditions must be true:

  • Version 1.3.5 or later of the Promise Technologies driver must be used.


  • The updated Atapi.sys hotfix must be installed.


  • The IDE channel must be disabled in the computer's BIOS so that the LBA EIDE feature in the BIOS on the Promise card can control access to the drive.



RESOLUTION

To see a hard disk drive that is larger than 8 GB and is connected to a Promise Technologies Ultra DMA PCI controller, the following conditions must be true:

  • The IDE channel to which the drive would otherwise be attached on the motherboard must be disabled in the computer's BIOS.


  • Use the latest driver for the Promise Technologies Ultra DMA bus- mastering card. For the entire drive to be accessible under Windows NT 4.0, version 1.3.5 or later of this driver must be installed.


  • The updated Atapi.sys driver must be installed as per the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

    Q197667 Installing Windows NT Server on a Large IDE Hard Disk


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


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.


MORE INFORMATION

The updated Atapi.sys file is included in Windows NT 4.0 Service Pack 4.

Additional query words:

Keywords : NT4SP4Fix ntdriver
Version : winnt:4.0
Platform : winnt
Issue type : kbprb


Last Reviewed: April 19, 1999
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