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Q153947: Problem Accessing Hard Drive After Running Optimizer

Article: Q153947
Product(s): Microsoft Exchange
Version(s): 4.0,5.0
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): kbusage
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Exchange Server, versions 4.0, 5.0 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



SYMPTOMS
========

After you run the Microsoft Exchange Optimizer program (Performance Wizard) on a
computer with a 9-GB Seagate (model ST19171N or ST19171W) or a 23-GB Seagate
(model Seagate ST423451N or Seagate ST423451W) or a 9-GB Hewlett Packard hard
disk drive, you may observe the following problems:


- You may no longer have access to the data on the hard disk drive.

- When you attempt to access the data, the following error messages may be
  displayed:

   - Lost Delayed Write Data error message or an Event ID 26 in the Windows NT
     Event Log.

   - STOP 0x7F or 0x77.

- Using the Microsoft Windows NT Disk Administrator, you may notice that the
  total size of the drive does not equal the originally created partition size.

This problem is not 100-percent reproducible and although there are reports that
other 9-GB drives may be affected, these reports have not been confirmed.

CAUSE
=====

The Microsoft Exchange Optimizer program can create this problem because it uses
low-level APIs to disable write caching on hard disk drives. Any program that
uses these APIs will run into the same problem.

RESOLUTION
==========

Exchange Server 4.0
-------------------

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to
correct the problem described in this article and should be applied only to
systems experiencing this specific problem. This fix may receive additional
testing at a later time, to further ensure product quality. Therefore, if you
are not severely affected by this problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait
for the next Microsoft Exchange Server version 4.0 service pack that contains
this fix.

To resolve this problem immediately, contact Microsoft Product Support Services
to obtain the fix. For a complete list of Microsoft Product Support Services
phone numbers and information about support costs, please go to the following
address on the World Wide Web:

  http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=fh;EN-US;CNTACTMS

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are normally incurred for support calls may
be canceled, if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific
update will resolve your problem. Normal support costs will apply to additional
support questions and issues that do not qualify for the specific update in
question.

The English version of this fix should have the following file attributes or
later:

Component: Performance Wizard
+-----------------------+
| File name   | Version | 
+-----------------------+
| Perfwiz.exe | 996.26  | 
+-----------------------+



Exchange Server 5.0
-------------------

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version
5.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange 5.0 Server U.S.
Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the
following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

  S E R V P A C K


The new Perfwiz.exe included in the Service Pack will not repair a hard disk
drive that has already been altered by the old Performance Optimizer tool. It
only prevents further problems on new hard disk drives.

WORKAROUND
==========

To work around this problem, do not run the Microsoft Exchange Optimizer
program.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server
versions 4.0 and 5.0.

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

Restoring from backup to a new hard disk drive is the best method for recovering
the data. Currently, the affected hard disk drive must be sent back to the
manufacturer to be reset.

After implementing this fix, administrators will have to disable write caching
themselves. Please contact your hardware manufacturer if you do not know how to
disable write caching.

The 9-GB Seagate and Hewlett Packard hard disk drives are manufactured by Seagate
and Hewlett Packard, vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty,
implied or otherwise, regarding this products performance or reliability.



Additional query words: perfwizcorruption delayed write

======================================================================
Keywords          : kbusage 
Technology        : kbExchangeSearch kbExchange500 kbExchange400 kbZNotKeyword2
Version           : :4.0,5.0
Issue type        : kbbug
Solution Type     : kbfix

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

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