KnowledgeBase Archive

An Archive of Early Microsoft KnowledgeBase Articles

View on GitHub

Q126423: STOP: 0x0000007B "Inaccessible_Boot_Device" - during setup disk2

Article: Q126423
Product(s): Microsoft Windows NT
Version(s): 
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbhw kbsetup kbHardware
Last Modified: 08-AUG-2001

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

- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
- Microsoft Windows NT Server versions 3.5, 3.51, 4.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------

SYMPTOMS
========

Many computers are equipped with both the 5.25-inch and 3.5-inch floppy drives
in one single unit. When you install Windows NT on a computer with this floppy
drive unit, the following error message may appear during Windows NT Setup Disk
2.

  STOP: 0x0000007B
  Inaccessible_Boot_Device

CAUSE
=====

This problem occurs if the original path of the floppy drives has changed
through the BIOS configuration of the computer. Some computers that include the
two floppy drives in a single unit have a BIOS option to swap the floppy drives
logically without changing the hardware jumpers. This allows any one of the
floppy drives to become the "boot" floppy drive. When you install Windows NT,
this BIOS setting is ignored and the Windows NT kernel addresses the floppy
drives as configured with the jumpers.

RESOLUTION
==========

To correct this problem, do the following:

1. Do not use the DRIVE SWAPPING option in the computer system BIOS to change
  the logical configuration of the floppy drive letters. If you have changed
  the configuration, change it back to the original settings.

2. Make sure the jumpers on the floppy drive unit matches the drive types
  defined in the computer system BIOS.

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

This error may also occur on systems with a LS/120 floppy disk drive installed.

For additional information, see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge
Base:

  Q172773: Problems Using LS/120 Floppy Disk Drive with Windows NT Setup

Additional query words: cmos stop 0x7B
======================================================================
Keywords          : kbhw kbsetup kbHardware 
Technology        : kbWinNTsearch kbWinNTWsearch kbWinNTW400 kbWinNTW400search kbWinNT351search kbWinNT350search kbWinNT400search kbWinNTW350 kbWinNTW350search kbWinNTW351search kbWinNTW351 kbWinNTSsearch kbWinNTS400search kbWinNTS400 kbWinNTS351 kbWinNTS350 kbWinNTS351search kbWinNTS350search

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

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.