KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q93679: Setup Is Unable to Read Uninstall Disk on a COMPAQ

Article: Q93679
Product(s): Microsoft Disk Operating System
Version(s): MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 23-NOV-1999

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If you are using SMARTDrive to cache a floppy disk on a COMPAQ machine, MS-DOS 6
and later Upgrade may be unable to read the Uninstall disk during installation.
Setup also may also repeatedly ask you to insert MS-DOS Upgrade Setup Disk 1
after you select the Windows-based and/or MS-DOS-based optional utilities.

CAUSE
=====

These problems are caused by a problem in the COMPAQ BIOS. They occur when
SMARTDrive is loaded in upper memory because all floppy disk data transfers go
through the upper memory blocks (UMBs).

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, edit your AUTOEXEC.BAT file as follows so that it
loads SMARTDrive in conventional memory:

  smartdrv /l

If loading SMARTDrive low does not correct the situation, either configure
SMARTDrive for read-caching only (no write-cache) on the floppy disk drives, or
restart your computer without loading SMARTDrive before you run MS-DOS Upgrade
Setup.

Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6.20

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600
Version           : MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22

=============================================================================

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY.