If change-line support is not working properly, accessing a distribution
media format (DMF) floppy disk fails.
Change-line support informs MS-DOS when a disk and/or the format of a disk
has changed. If MS-DOS determines the format of the first disk but does
not realize that the formatting of the second disk is different, the
second disk cannot be read.
It is also possible that a virus can cause this problem.
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Before beginning the following steps, consult with your computer
manufacturer to ensure that your CMOS settings are correct.
The following steps help you determine whether change-line support is
the cause of your problem:
| 1. | Start your computer with a clean boot. For more information about clean booting, please query on the following words in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
clean and boot and windows
NOTE: On a Windows 95-based machine, return to the earlier version of MS-DOS by pressing the F4 key when you see the message "Starting Windows." |
| 2. | Insert a non-DMF disk in drive A or drive B and then type the
following commands at the MS-DOS prompt:
a: (or b:)
dir
|
| 3. | If the above commands work successfully, insert a DMF disk and type the following command:
dir
|
| 4. | If the second DIR command fails, garbage characters appear on the screen, or subsequent reads of the floppy disk fail (during Setup or otherwise), insert the following statement at the end of the Config.sys file and reboot your computer:
For a 1.44-MB A: drive For a 1.44-MB B: drive
-------------------------------------------------
DRIVPARM=/d:0 /f:7 DRIVPARM=/d:1 /f:7 NOTE: Since the /c switch is not included, MS-DOS is instructed to not depend on change-line support. If your CONFIG.SYS file contains a DRIVER.SYS line, disable it by placing the REM command immediately preceding the line. |
| 5. | Repeat steps 2 and 3.| • | If the above steps work successfully, change-line support is not functioning properly--leave the DRIVPARM statement in your Config.sys file. | | • | If the above steps fail, remove the DRIVPARM statement from your Config.sys file and consult with your computer manufacturer to ensure that your CMOS settings are correct. |
|
You should also run a virus detection utility to determine if your
computer is infected with a virus.
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For information about problems that can occur with disk 2, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
136111 (http://support.microsoft.com/kb/136111/EN-US/) Windows 95 Customer Advisory for Virus on Disk 2 Problems
The Windows 95 ScanDisk utilities recognize and do not damage DMF disks.
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