KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q119674: Windows Err Msg: WDCTRL Validation Failed at Phase <x, x>

Article: Q119674
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): WINDOWS:3.1,3.11
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): 
Last Modified: 01-OCT-1999

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

- Microsoft Windows versions 3.1, 3.11 
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY
=======

This article lists the meaning of the various phases that are displayed in the
following error message at Windows startup if 32-bit disk access is enabled

  The Microsoft Windows 32-bit disk driver (WDCTRL) validation failed at phase
  <x, x>.

where <x> is a specific phase.

MORE INFORMATION
================

Below are the various phases that can appear in the above error message and a
brief description of each:

Phase 0: Int 13h, AH=8, GetDriveParms results failed; compare with FDPT (Fixed
Disk Parameter Table, pointer got through int 41h/46h-xxxx)

Phase 1: Number of heads differ

Phase 2: Number of sectors differ

Phase 3: Number of cylinders differ

The next phases are read:

  Phases 4 - A -> HCS:0/0/1 (Head/Cylinder/Sector notation)
  Phases B - 11 -> Sector #503 (to control sector mapping)
  Phases 12 - 18 -> HCS:last-1/last-1/last-1

Phase 4/B/12: Read Sector 1/503/"last-but one" through int 13 failed

Phase 5/C/13: Status reg of Controller says failure

Phase 6/D/14: Wrong sector count

Phase 7/E/15: Wrong sector number

Phase 8/F/16: Wrong cylinder number

Phase 9/10/17: Wrong sector size (not equal to 512 bytes) or drive

Phase A/11/18: Wrong status from controller or difference in direct read data
from int 13 read data.

KBCategory: kbother kberrmsg
KBSubcategory: win31 wfw wfwg winboot

Additional query words: 3.10 3.11 err msg wdctrl fastdisk

======================================================================
Keywords          :  
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbWin3xSearch kbWFWSearch kbZNotKeyword3 kbWin310 kbWin311 kbWFW310 kbWFW311
Version           : WINDOWS:3.1,3.11

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

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.