KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q123456: BUG: MSCDEX May Not Detect Disk Change

Article: Q123456
Product(s): Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit
Version(s): 2.0,2.1,2.2,2.21,2.22,2.23; WINDOWS:3.1
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kb3rdparty kbmm
Last Modified: 12-JUN-2001

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

- Microsoft CD-ROM Extensions (MSCDEX) for MS-DOS, versions 2.0, 2.1, 2.2, 2.21, 2.22, 2.23 
- Microsoft Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) 3.1 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

If a GetAttributes function call is the first MS-DOS API call made following a
CD-ROM disk change, MSCDEX doesn't detect that the disk is changed, so the
function call reflects the contents of the previous disk. The next Open, Search,
or Change Directory function call will cause MSCDEX to detect the disk change.

CAUSE
=====

The MSCDEX driver fails to issue a Media Check call to the Hardware Dependent
Device Driver when the GetAttributes call is made.

WORKAROUND
==========

You can check for a CD-ROM ID file by using the C-Runtime access() function or
by making direct calls to the MS-DOS Interrupt 21h. Function AX=4300h should be
changed to use a file open call. Windows Applications that use the SDK
OpenFile() function to detect a key file should be changed to use _lopen().

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the MSCDEX versions listed at
the beginning of this article. We are researching this problem and will post new
information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

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

The OpenFile() function in the Microsoft Windows version 3.1 SDK makes a
GetAttributes function call prior to opening a file for reading if the system is
running with Novell Netware loaded. The OpenFile() function fails if the
GetAttributes() function fails to find the requested file. As a result, if the
OpenFile() function is used to detect which CD-ROM is in the drive by opening a
key file, the wrong CD-ROM may be detected following a disk change.

NOTE: Some products mentioned in this article are manufactured by vendors
independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding
these products' performance or reliability.

Additional query words: buglist2.00 buglist2.10 buglist2.20 buglist2.21 buglist2.22 buglist2.23

======================================================================
Keywords          : kb3rdparty kbmm 
Technology        : kbAudDeveloper kbSDKSearch kbMSCDEXSearch kbWinSDKSearch kbWinSDK310 kbMSCDEX200DOS kbMSCDEX210DOS kbMSCDEX220DOS kbMSCDEX221DOS kbMSCDEX222DOS kbMSCDEX223DOS
Version           : :2.0,2.1,2.2,2.21,2.22,2.23; WINDOWS:3.1
Issue type        : kbbug

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

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.