Strange problem - win 3.11 can't read/write/open disk - dos can...

[dracul]

Hi,

At my work (a school) we have several computers (different types/brands) that start to have this same problem:
they have problems reading/writing/opening to drive a:\ . If you go to DOS then it's no problem... Sometimes however, after restarting the problem is fixed for a few days or so, and then is back again... No regular time-interval though... Can be even months that it doesn't occure...

I've tried several options:

*checking bios
*checking cables
*replaced disk drive

But still, the same problems occure. Only thing that the computes have in common is that they're all running win 3.11

Does anyone have a clue what this could be? I checked bios settings and such, because sometimes our fine youngsters will get in there and f**k things up, but that seems all all right...

Any help is really appreciated!

Thx!

Niels Hamelink.

[dracul]

Eh, to be more precise: this concerns only the floppy drive. HD is no problemo...
And it is while accessing/reading/writing/opening files...

Thx!

Niels.

[Vernon Frazee]

Microsoft KB: Floppy Disk Drive Problems in 386 Enhanced Mode (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q75/4/88.ASP)
Microsoft KB: DRIVER.SYS Incompatible with Windows File Manager (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q82/2/24.ASP)
Microsoft KB: MS-DOS Err Msg: Not Ready Reading Drive A (http://support.microsoft.com/support/kb/articles/Q85/6/85.ASP)

?

[PCSolutions]

Vern
Looks like you have it pretty well covered.
I thought about the drvparm issue with 3.1. In certain instances drvparm was needed in the config.sys to get 3.1 to read floppies correctly even thought DOS could? Thats an old issue. Do you recall it?
There was also an issue with power.exe (causes more problems than its worth) and formatting floppies in 3.1 it would cause the system to hang
Thats not the issue the poster is having.

Ahh, things were so much simpler in the old 3.11 DOS 6.22 days! I miss them ! http://discussions.virtualdr.com/smile.gif

[dracul]

Thanks! I have the day off today, but tomorrow I'll check it right away! Hope it works... thanks for your time and efforts!

Niels.

[Vernon Frazee]

PCSolutions> In certain instances drvparm was needed ... Do you recall it?

Sure do. Had to use drvparm (http://vernon.frazee.net/ms-dos/6.22/help/drivparm.htm) quite often on older XT/AT systems.