"Fatal Exception Error" with Iomega IDE Zip Drives (160800)


The information in this article applies to:

  • Microsoft Windows 95
This article was previously published under Q160800

SYMPTOMS

When you are using an Intel motherboard with an AMI/Intel BIOS or an Iomega IDE Zip drive installed on the secondary IDE channel, you may receive a "Fatal Exception Error" error message when you start the computer without a disk in the Zip drive or you eject the disk from the Zip drive.

CAUSE

This problem can occur if the following conditions exist:
  • The computer has an IDE removable drive that uses Media Status Notification (the Iomega IDE Zip drive is one such drive).
  • The computer's BIOS unmasks the PIC for the IRQ on the controller on which the drive is located.
  • The drive is accessed with no disk in the drive.
  • The BIOS touches the Alt Status register when an interrupt is vectored to it.
When these conditions exist, an interrupt may be reflected to the BIOS, which can cause a fault.

RESOLUTION

A supported fix is now available from Microsoft, but it is only intended to correct the problem that is described in this article. Apply it only to computers that are experiencing this specific problem.

To resolve this problem immediately, download the fix by clicking the download link later in this article or 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, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

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

NOTE: In special cases, charges that are ordinarily incurred for support calls may be canceled if a Microsoft Support Professional determines that a specific update will resolve your problem. The usual 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

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

119591 How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online Services

Microsoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help to 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 computers only. This file is not installed on computers running OSR2. This issue is resolved in Microsoft Windows 98.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed that this is 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:

171353 Computer with Ultra DMA IDE Controller May Hang

161642 Auto Insert Notification May Prevent Automatic Suspend

154976 Error Message Running Jet Database Engine Stress Test

154436 Errors Accessing Hard Disk with Spin-Down Enabled

154435 Windows 95 IDE Support for SMART, DMA, and ATAPI Tape Drives

153471 Problems with Removable IDE Drives in Windows 95

Modification Type:MinorLast Reviewed:8/9/2004
Keywords:kbdownload kberrmsg kbgraphxlinkcritical kbHardware kbprb KB160800
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