DOCUMENT:Q90086 22-JUN-1993 [W_NT] TITLE :Q&A: Hardware and Compatibility Information PRODUCT :Windows NT PROD/VER:3.10 OPER/SYS:WINDOWS KEYWORDS: -------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Windows NT operating system version 3.1 -------------------------------------------------------------------- Summary: This article includes the following topics: - Full Screen MS-DOS Support on MIPS Machines - DELL Computer Only Recognizes 16 MB of Memory - Sharing Communication Port Interrupts - Changing Locally-Administered IBM Token Ring Card Addresses - DMA Speed on an Adaptec 154x SCSI Controller - Adaptec 154x SCSI Controller BIOS Versions - Cannot Print to LPT1 - Adding a CD-ROM After Installing Windows NT - SoundBlaster Pro Plays Mono Only - NEC CD-ROM Slow Downs More Information: Full Screen MS-DOS Support on MIPS Machines ------------------------------------------- Question: How do I get full screen MS-DOS support on my MIPS Machine? Answer: Full screen support will not be provided under Windows NT on MIPS systems. DELL Computer Only Recognizes 16 MB of Memory --------------------------------------------- Question: Why doesn't Windows NT recognize any memory above 16MB on my Dell machine? Answer: Some DELL machines have a BIOS problem which prevents it from seeing greater than 16MB of RAM under Windows NT. If your machine demonstrates this problem, please contact Dell to obtain their A08 BIOS upgrade. Sharing Communication Port Interrupts ------------------------------------- Question: Can I share communication port interrupts? Answer: Windows NT supports two communication ports sharing the same interrupt on non-MCA machines. However, only one port can be in use at a time. A communication port will not be created if another type of device is using the same interrupt. Changing Locally-Administered IBM Token Ring Card Addresses ----------------------------------------------------------- Question: Is there any way to change the locally-administered address on an IBM Token Ring card? Answer: There is a parameter, NetworkAddress, in the registry database in the IBM Tok section. This parameter sets the burned-in address of the Token ring card and it is called IBM TokMC01[Parameters] [NetworkAddress:REG_SZ:400000000203 DMA Speed on an Adaptec 154x SCSI Controller -------------------------------------------- Question: Can I set the DMA speed on an Adaptec 154x SCSI controller? Answer: Currently the AHA154X.SYS driver has a hard-coded DMA transfer rate of 5.0 MB. Even if you change jumper settings, the driver still transfers data at this rate. Adaptec 154x SCSI Controller BIOS Versions ------------------------------------------ Question: Are there any issues regarding Adaptec 154x SCSI controller BIOS versions? Answer: The 1988 version 3.08 Adaptec 154x BIOS has a problem with the Scatter/Gather feature. This problem is detected by the Adaptec driver and the feature is disabled. If you have this BIOS version a message is displayed informing you that the Scatter/Gather feature has been disabled. If you get this message, you can contact the Adaptec BBS (408-945-7727) and get the most recent version, 3.20, of the BIOS at no cost. BIOS versions after 3.08 do not have this problem. The latest 154x BIOS also supports drives that are larger than 1GB (even under MS-DOS). Cannot Print to LPT1 -------------------- Question: I cannot print to the LPT1 port. If I type MODE LPT1: it claims the device is not found. What is happening? Answer: Typically LPT1: uses interrupt 7 which is also the default setting of the SoundBlaster sound card. You may be experiencing an IRQ conflict with this or another device. If you are unable to resolve the conflict you can disable one of the devices in the registry database. Use REGEDIT to alter entries in the registry database. (Note: you may need to be logged on as Administrator to change some settings.) Hardware configuration settings can be altered under this registry branch: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services You can enable or disable the SoundBlaster by changing the Start value under the \Sndblst key to one of the following values: 0x4 to disable, 0x1 to enable. To enable or disable the parallel port driver, you can use the same values for the Start value under the \Parallel key. WARNING: RegEdit is a very powerful utility that facilitates directly changing the Registry Database. Using RegEdit incorrectly can cause serious problems, including hard disk corruption. It may be necessary to reinstall the software to correct any problems. Microsoft does not support changes made with RegEdit. Use this tool at your own risk. Adding a CD-ROM After Installing Windows NT ------------------------------------------- Question: What do I need to do to make Windows NT recognize my new CD-ROM? Answer: From the Services application in Control Panel, locate the Scsicdrm and Cdaudio entries. Set the Startup value for Scsicdrm to System so the service starts when the system boots. If your CD-ROM does not support SCSI-2 CD Audio, set Cdaudio Startup to System. Note: Some SCSI-1 CD-ROMs require the Cdaudio service as well. To start these services without restarting Windows NT, highlight them one at a time and press the Start button. SoundBlaster Pro Plays Mono Only -------------------------------- Question: My SoundBlaster PRO plays mono only. Why? Answer: Work is currently in progress on a Windows NT driver that supports SoundBlaster Pro in stereo. At this time there is no such driver available. NEC CD-ROM Slow Downs --------------------- Question: When my NEC CD-ROM plays audio CDs Windows NT slows down dramatically. Why? Answer: It was recently discovered that NEC Intersect CD-ROM readers have switches that enable disconnects during accesses to the reader. This switch is off by default, disabling disconnects. Because of this, while your CD-ROM is being read, no other devices on that SCSI bus can be accessed. Since reads from a reader can take a significant amount of time, having this switch off can noticeably degrade system performance. This slow-down may occur even if you are not using the CD-ROM reader. The switch is number 5 and should be set to ON. It can be found in a little box labeled SW1. Additional reference words: 3.10 FastTips ============================================================================= 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. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1993.