Information about Microsoft support policy for large-sector drives in Windows

Over the next few years, the data storage industry will be transitioning the physical format of hard disk drives from 512-byte sectors to 4,096-byte sectors (also known as 4K or 4KB sectors). This transition is driven by several factors. These include increases in storage density and reliability. This transition causes incompatibility issues with existing software (including operating systems and applications). 

This article describes the current Microsoft support policy for these new drive types on Windows operating systems. Applications and hardware devices may have reliability and performance issues when they are connected to these new kinds of drives. Contact your application and hardware vendors about their support policies for these new drive types. 

There are three drive types that we will discuss here. Because Microsoft support policy differs for each, you should verify the drive type that you have installed before you read any further.

To verify what type of disk you have do the following:

1. Install http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982018 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982018)
2. Run the following command from elevated command prompt:
3. Then use the values for “Bytes Per Sector” and “Bytes per Physical Sector” to determine the type of drive you have

Specific requirements for Microsoft support by operating system version

Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008

• Install the hotfix that is described in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
  2553708  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2553708/ )  A hotfix rollup that improves Windows Vista and Windows Server 2008 compatibility with Advanced Format disks
• Make sure that the drivers and firmware for your storage controller and for your other hardware components are updated. Also, make sure that the drivers and firmware support large-sector drives.

Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2

• Install Service Pack 1 (SP1), or install the update that is described in the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:  
  982018  (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/982018/ ) An update that improves the compatibility of Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 with Advanced Format Disks is available
• Make sure that the drivers and firmware for your storage controller and for your other hardware components are updated. Also, make sure that the drives and firmware support large-sector drives.
• Use the updated Windows Preinstallation Environment (Windows PE) for SP1 that will be released as part of the updated pieces of the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1 and of the Windows OEM Preinstallation Kit (OPK). Or, embed update 982018 into Windows PE.
  
  To download the Windows Automated Installation Kit (AIK) Supplement for Windows 7 SP1, visit the following Microsoft website:
  http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=0aee2b4b-494b-4adc-b174-33bc62f02c5d (http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/en/details.aspx?FamilyID=0aee2b4b-494b-4adc-b174-33bc62f02c5d)

Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP

Any large-sector disks, such as 4K native, 512e, or any non-512 native disks, are not supported by Microsoft on any Windows XP-based version of the operating system including but not limited to Windows Home Server 1.0, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Small Business Server 2003, and Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2. Please contact your application and hardware vendor for their support policies for these types of drives in these environments.

Application support requirements for large-sector drives

In addition to Windows operating system support, administrators and users should make sure that their applications support these large-sector drives. Scenarios and issues to be aware of include performance, reliability, backup, and recovery. Support statements for some Microsoft applications and products are listed here:

• Hyper-V: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2515143 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2515143)
• Microsoft SQL Server: http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2011/01/13/sql-server-new-drives-use-4k-sector-size.aspx (http://blogs.msdn.com/b/psssql/archive/2011/01/13/sql-server-new-drives-use-4k-sector-size.aspx)
• Windows Home Server v1: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2385637 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2385637)
• Microsoft Exchange Server: http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee832792.aspx#Phys (http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee832792.aspx#Phys)
• Third-party applications and hardware: Applications and hardware devices may have reliability and performance issues when they are connected to these new drives. Please contact your application and hardware vendors about their support policy for these drives.

Known compatibility issues

The following are known compatibility issues that may occur when you use large-sector drives:

• On Windows 7 and on Windows 2008 R2, installation will fail with the error "Windows Setup could not configure Windows on this computer's hardware" if the conditions that are outlined in http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2466753 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/2466753) apply.
• If you are using a logical sector drive of a size other than 512 bytes, Windows system image backup and restore operations may fail, and you receive the following error message:
  
  
  One of the backup files could not be created.
  Details: The request could not be performed because of an I/O device error.
  
  Error code: 0x8078002A
  
• If you create a virtual hard disk (VHD) on a native 4K sector drive by using Disk Management or Hyper-V in Windows Server 2008 R2, the operation fails with an "Incorrect Function" error.
  
  
  • In Disk Management, the following error message is generated: 
    Virtual Disk Manager Incorrect function
  • In Hyper-V, the following error message is generated when the New Virtual Hard Disk Wizard is used:
    The server encountered an error trying to create the virtual hard disk. The system failed to create ‘I:\Disk0.vhd.’ Error Code: Incorrect function.
  • In Hyper-V, the following error message is generated when the New Virtual Machine Wizard is used:
    
    The server encountered an error while configuring hard disk on TestVM. The system failed to create 'I:\TestVM\TestVM.vhd.' Error Code: Incorrect function.

• If fsutil.exe continues to display "Bytes Per Physical Sector : <Not Supported>" after you apply the latest storage driver and the required hotfixes, you should make sure that the following registry path exists: 
  
  HKLM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<miniport’s service name>\Parameters\Device\
  
  Name: EnableQueryAccessAlignment
  Type: REG_DWORD
  Value: 1: Enable

Unsupported Scenarios

If your storage device and operating system are noted as unsupported, Microsoft Support will offer troubleshooting tips if the customer requests them. Microsoft does not guarantee that a resolution will be found for problems that involve unsupported storage devices. If no resolution is found, the cost of investigating the incident is not refunded. If it is not agreed that a solution is not guaranteed, Microsoft Support will not troubleshoot the issue and will refund the cost of investigating the incident. 

Microsoft Support will use standard troubleshooting processes to isolate the storage issue. Some typical troubleshooting methods that Microsoft Support will use include the following: 

• Consulting the Microsoft Knowledge Base. The Microsoft Knowledge Base is available to customers through Microsoft TechNet and through the following Microsoft website:
  http://support.microsoft.com/support/ (http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx)
• Determining whether the problem can be replicated on supported storage (when you can).
  
  Note If the storage is unsupported, there is no hotfix support available. Microsoft Support will be unable to determine whether the problem is caused by a hardware incompatibility or by unwanted software behavior.

If there is no solution to the problem, Microsoft Support may recommend some constructive alternatives. These may include the following:

• Having the customer reproduce the problem on a supported storage device.
• Having the customer work with the storage provider for a solution.