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Q154435: Windows 95 IDE Support for SMART, DMA, and ATAPI Tape Drives

Article: Q154435
Product(s): Microsoft Windows 95.x Retail Product
Version(s): 95
Operating System(s): 
Keyword(s): win95 kbgraphxlinkcritical
Last Modified: 08-MAY-2002

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The information in this article applies to:

- Microsoft Windows 95 
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SYMPTOMS
========

The ATAPI IDE driver in Windows 95 (Esdi_506.pdr) does not include functionality
for the following features:

- SMART support (the ability for certain programs to predict whether a hard
  disk failure may occur)

- DMA support for ATAPI devices

- ATAPI tape drive support

CAUSE
=====

The functionality for these features is not built into the Windows 95 IDE
driver. However, Microsoft has released an updated Esdi_506.pdr file that
supports these features as follows:

- SMART provides support for SMART programs, which will be able to predict some
  hard disk failures. The updated driver itself does not provide this
  functionality, but provides the support for SMART programs to implement this
  functionality.

- DMA (also called bus mastering) reduces CPU overhead by providing a mechanism
  for data transfers that do not have to be monitored by the CPU. Transfer rate
  for a particular transfer will not noticeably increase, but the CPU overhead
  should be significantly reduced in DMA mode. (For example, a 10 percent CPU
  overhead may be observed for DMA transfers versus a 30 percent CPU overhead
  for PIO transfers, in typical ATAPI CD-ROM transfers.)

- ATAPI tape drive support is included in the IDE driver, which will allow a
  backup program that supports ATAPI tape to be used.


RESOLUTION
==========

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.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix as instructed below or
contact Microsoft Product Support Services to obtain the fix. For a complete
list of Microsoft Product Support Services phone numbers and information on
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 following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

  Download Remideup.exe now
  (http://download.microsoft.com/download/win95upg/update2/1/w95/en-us/remideup.exe)

For additional information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click
the article number below to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft used the most current virus detection software available on the date of
posting to scan this file for viruses. After it is posted, the file is housed on
secure servers that prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

The following files are installed by remideup.exe:

 File name     Version    Date/Time       Size    Destination folder
 ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ESDI_506.PDR  4.00.1116  8/25/97 11:16a  24,426  Windows\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS
 VOLTRACK.VXD  4.00.954   3/6/96 9:54a    18,518  Windows\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS

NOTE: The Voltrack.vxd file is installed on Windows 95 (not OSR2 or later) only.


This issue is resolved in Microsoft Windows 98.

STATUS
======

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in the Microsoft products that are
listed at the beginning of this article.

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

For additional information about issues resolved by updates to this component,
please see the following articles in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  Q171353 Computer with Ultra DMA IDE Controller May Hang

  Q161642 Auto Insert Notification May Prevent Automatic Suspend

  Q160800 "Fatal Exception Error" with Iomega IDE Zip Drives

  Q154976 Error Message Running Jet Database Engine Stress Test

  Q154436 Errors Accessing Hard Disk with Spin-Down Enabled

  Q153471 Problems with Removable IDE Drives in Windows 95

Additional query words:

======================================================================
Keywords          : win95 kbgraphxlinkcritical 
Technology        : kbWin95search kbZNotKeyword3
Version           : :95
Issue type        : kbprb

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

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