| |
| IBM PC - Flash diskettes fail after
viewing with "dir" command |
| Service Hints &
Tips |
Abstract: FLASH DISKETTES FAIL AFTER VIEWING
WITH "DIR" COMMAND
TEXT:
Performing a "DIR" command in the
Windows 95 environment on a Flash BIOS update diskette or a
PS/2 Reference Diskette may cause the diskette to become
inoperative. This affects ALL PS/ValuePoint, IBM PC 300/700
Series and PS/2 systems.
Microsoft uses an 8 byte block
on the diskette for labelling purposes in Windows95. When a
"DIR" command is executed, this 8 byte block is written to by
Windows 95.
The "Diskette Drive A:" Icon under the "My
Computer" folder in Windows95 has the same affect as the "DIR"
command.
IBM uses this same 8 byte block for Flash BIOS
updates and PS/2 Reference Diskettes to ensure that the Flash
is occurring in a stable environment. Once the 8 byte block
has been written to by the Windows 95 "DIR" command, the Flash
diskette or Reference Diskette will display an error
indicating that "This is not a valid Flash Diskette" or "This
is not the correct Reference Diskette for this
system."
Recent releases of Flash BIOS updates instruct
the user to read the "read me" file on the Flash diskette
BEFORE beginning the update process. With the number of ways
to name a "read me" file, the customer is likely to do a "DIR"
to get the actual file name before viewing the file with an
editor.
Inform Servicers and Customers to write-protect
their Flash diskettes to prevent this problem from
occurring.
Windows 95 is a trademark of the Microsoft
Corporation.
SAS KEYWORDS:
PSY2, PSVP, PSY2PROG, PSVPPROG,
IBMPC, PC 700, PC 300, PC700, PC300, D/T68XX, D/T65XX,
D/T6575, D/T6585, D/T6576, D/T6586, D/T6875, D/T6885, D/T6876,
D/T6886, D/T6384, D/T6382, D/T6387, D/T6381, D/T6472, D/T6482,
D/T6484, D/T6492, D/T6494, D/T6598, D/T8640, D/T6571, D/T6573,
D/T6581, D/T6583, PSY2DSKT, PSVPDSKT, SERVER, 95, 500, 520,
720, 310, D/T8641, D/T8642, D/T8639, D/T8595, D/T9595, 9595,
8642, 8641, 8590, 8595, 8639 |
| Document
ID: DDSE-3QZR6F |
| Last
Modified: 1999-09-13 |
| Copyright © 2000
IBM Corporation | |
