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- _ _ _
- / / (_)
- _\ \ \ Summary of the Seagate 32-bit Windows disc access driver--
- (_)_/_/ SEG32BIT.386
-
- Copyright (c) 1995-1998 by Seagate Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
-
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
- SEG32BIT.TXT: Publication 36328-501 Rev. E: 3-25-98
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------
-
-
-
- Introduction
- ------------
- This text file answers common questions about the Seagate 32-bit
- Windows disc access driver. It contains the following sections:
-
-
- -Frequently-Asked Questions
-
- -Features of the SEG32BIT driver
-
- -SEG32BIT compatibility issues
-
- -Installing the SEG32BIT Driver
-
- -Obtaining updated drivers
-
- -License Agreement and Warranty Disclaimer
-
-
- ======================================================================
-
- Frequently Asked Questions
- --------------------------
-
- 1. What is a Windows driver?
- A Windows driver is a "translation program" that helps
- Microsoft Windows and Windows-for-Workgroups communicate with
- devices attached to your computer. Such devices may include
- modems, CD-ROMs, video cards, and hard drives.
-
- 2. What is the Windows 32-bit disk access driver?
- This is a driver that allows Windows to communicate with your
- hard disc directly (in protected mode) rather than going
- through DOS or through your system BIOS. This means that your
- CPU remains in 32-bit mode (if it supports this mode) rather
- than slowing to 16-bit mode.
-
- The 32-bit drive access driver that Microsoft created for
- Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 is named *WDCTRL.
- Unfortunately, this driver does not work with hard drives
- larger than 528 Mbytes.
-
- 3. What is SEG32BIT.386?
- SEG32BIT is Seagate's version of a Windows driver that
- replaces the generic driver, *WDCTRL. It is designed
- specifically to work with ATA (IDE) drives larger than 528
- Mbytes up to 8.4GB. It also configures your computer to take
- advantage of any high-speed or LBA data transfer modes
- supported by your computer and your hard drive(s).
-
- 4. Why should I use SEG32BIT.386?
- The Microsoft 32-bit disc access driver does not work with ATA
- (IDE) hard drives larger than 528 Mbytes. The Seagate driver
- does. SEG32BIT also supports advanced disc access features
- that may significantly improve the performance of your drive.
- These features are not supported by the Microsoft 32-bit
- driver.
-
- Note. If your computer and drive host adapter do not support
- 32-bit addressing or advanced data transfer modes, you
- do not need to use this driver.
-
- 5. Does SEG32BIT work with any hard drive?
- As long as your computer contains at least one Seagate ATA
- (IDE) hard drive, SEG32BIT can be used for 32-bit disc access
- with any ATA (IDE) hard drive attached to that computer.
-
- 6. How much will my disc performance improve if I use SEG32BIT?
- Once installed, SEG32BIT optimizes the data transfers to and
- from your drive, if your system and drive support high-speed
- data access features. The increase in performance will vary
- depending on many factors, including the system architecture,
- bus speed, interface chip manufacturer and version level.
-
- ======================================================================
-
- Features of the SEG32BIT driver
- -------------------------------
- * Supports 32-bit drive access - Speeds up data access by
- allowing the computer to choose the most efficient disc access
- method.
-
- * Supports drives larger than 528 Mbytes up to 8.4GB.
-
- * Supports Read/Write Multiple - Speeds up data access by
- allowing the drive and computer to send more than one sector
- of data for each system interrupt. This feature is drive-
- dependent and will be automatically detected by the driver if
- it is available. It is only supported by computers with '386
- and later CPU chips.
-
- * Supports PIO Modes 3 and 4 - Speeds up data transfers by
- minimizing the amount of time between blocks of data
- transferred to or from the drive.
-
- Note. PIO Modes 3 and 4 can only be implemented if they are
- supported by the drives, the drive controller, and the
- host computer. In addition, the host computer must have
- a PCI bus or VL (Local bus) architecture.
-
- * When Windows or Windows for Workgroups is loaded, SEG32BIT
- automatically determines which features can be implemented.
- SEG32BIT lists those features on the screen when Windows is
- booted up.
-
- ======================================================================
-
- SEG32BIT compatibility issues
- -----------------------------
- 1. Compatible system software:
- Microsoft Windows version 3.1
- Microsoft Windows for Workgroups version 3.11
-
- 2. Compatible bus types:
- ISA, EISA, VL and PCI bus architectures.
-
- 3. Compatible hard drives:
- SEG32BIT is compatible with most ATA (IDE) hard drives, but
- can only be installed if a Seagate drive has been attached to
- and recognized by the host computer.
-
- 4. Possible driver conflicts:
- CD-ROM Drives - You cannot attach a CD-ROM drive to the same
- ATA cable as your hard drive if you are using the SEG32BIT
- driver and have the 32 bit drive access option enabled (The
- CD-ROM is usable if the 32 bit drive access option is
- disabled).
-
- 5. Third-party disc access Drivers:
- Disk-access drivers provided by some vendors of ATA Host
- Adapters cannot be used in conjunction with SEG32BIT. These
- drivers may conflict with or disable SEG32BIT, resulting in
- lower system performance. Only one 32-bit disc-access driver
- may be run within a Windows session.
-
- 6. Drive Controller Interface Chips Supported:
- ADI/2 & 3 - VESA bus
- CMD 640B - PCI & VESA buses
- DTC 803 - VESA bus
-
- 7. I/O Port supported:
- The SEG32BIT driver only supports hard drives attached to the
- primary port address (1F0 hex)
-
- ======================================================================
-
- Installing the SEG32BIT Driver
- ------------------------------
- SEG32BIT may be installed using three possible methods:
-
- - using DiscWizard v2.4 or Disk Manager v9.44s+ select Advanced
- option menu then Maintenance
- - using STSETUP.EXE (see below)
- - manually by editing the Windows 3.1x SYSTEM.INI file (see
- below)
-
- If the file STSETUP.EXE exists on the floppy or in the download file,
- use it for a quick and easy installation.
-
- Install the SEG32BIT.386 driver as follows:
-
- 1. Start Windows.
-
- 2. From the Program Manager menu, select File.
-
- 3. Select Run.
-
- 4. Insert the Seagate software diskette into the diskette
- drive (assumed to be drive A).
-
- 5. In the command line box, type a:\stsetup.
-
- 6. Read the license agreement that appears on the screen. If you
- agree to the terms, select ACCEPT AGREEMENT to continue.
-
- 7. The next screen lists the features the SEG32BIT.386 driver
- supports. If your computer supports these features,
- SEG32BIT.386 will enable them in 32-bit disc access mode for
- all drives that support them. Select Install Driver to
- continue.
-
- 8. After the driver is installed, the program automatically
- re-enables 32-bit disc access in the Windows control panel.
- Alternatively, you can do this manually, after exiting the
- stsetup program.
-
- To manually install the SEG32BIT 32-bit disk access file:
-
- 1. Open the SYSTEM.INI file with a standard text editor such as
- NotePad or DOS Edit.
-
- 2. Go to the section [386Enh] and place a semicolon (;) in front
- of the line "device=*wdctrl" which is Windows' default 32-bit
- disk access driver.
-
- 3. Add a new line below (without quotes) the original driver as
- "device=seg32bit.386; Seagate 32 bit disk access driver"
-
- 4. Save the file and restart Windows. Windows will only allow
- one disk access driver to be installed. A startup error
- message will be displayed if there is another third party
- driver installed. Other third drivers may include the
- following: mh32bit.386, wdcdrv.386, pti13.386, ptictrl.386,
- eide2300.386, cpqint13.386, cpqwtl.386, flexidrv.386,
- optivic.386, wdctrl32.386, cmdint13.386, cmd640x.386.,
- adi2w102.386, wineide.386, shdrv.386, ide_win.386, sgat.386,
- ontrackw.386. If any of these drivers are present, contact
- their respective vendors for additional instructions that may
- be pertinent to your system configuration.
-
- 5. Start the Windows Control Panel and select the 386 Enhanced
- icon.
-
- 6. Select Virual Memory and then Change>>.
-
- 7. Check the selection box at the bottom of the panel "Use 32 Bit
- Disk Access"
-
- 8. Restart Windows by following the system message instructions.
-
- ======================================================================
-
- Obtaining updated drivers
- -------------------------
- The latest version of the SEG32BIT driver has been shipped on
- your drive. If this software is updated, the updated version
- will be posted at the following sources:
-
- * SeaBOARD-The Seagate electronic bulletin board systems
-
- United States 405-936-1600
- England 44-1628-478011
- France 33 1-48 25 35 95
- Germany 49-89-140-9331
- Singapore 65-292-6973
- Thailand 662-531-8111
- Australia 61-2-9756-2359
- Taiwan 886-2-719-6075
-
- * The Seagate www or ftp servers (on the internet):
- http://www.seagate.com or ftp://ftp.seagate.com
-
-
- ======================================================================
-
- License Agreement and Warranty Disclaimer
- -----------------------------------------
-
- Seagate reserves the right to change, without notice, product
- offerings or specifications.
-
- This is a legal agreement between you the purchaser and Seagate
- Technology, Inc. By accessing Seagate Technology SEG32BIT.386 driver
- (the "Software"), you agree to be bound by the terms of this
- agreement. If you do not agree, do not access the software.
-
- Seagate provides the accompanying object code of the Software and
- nonexclusively licenses its use to you on the following terms and
- conditions. The Software is Seagate's proprietary, copyrighted
- product. Seagate grants you a limited access to use one copy of the
- Software. You may not copy, distribute the Software for resale. You
- may not reverse engineer, modify, rent, or lease the Software. In
- addition, you may not disclose the information or data incorporated in
- the Software to others, in any format.
-
- You accept the Software "as is" without any warranty whatsoever.
- Seagate does not warrant that the Software will meet your
- requirements; that the Software is fit for any particular purpose or
- that the use of the Software will be error free.
-
- SEAGATE EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, WHETHER ORAL OR WRITTEN,
- EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION WARRANTIES OF
- MERCHANTABILITY, OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT
- WILL SEAGATE BE LIABLE TO YOU, YOUR CUSTOMERS OR OTHER USERS IN ANY
- WAY BASED ON USE OF THE SOFTWARE, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION FOR ANY
- LOSS OF PROFITS, LOSS OF DATA OR USE OF THE SOFTWARE OR INDIRECT,
- INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, SPECIAL, OR EXEMPLARY DAMAGES ARISING OUT
- OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OR INABILITY TO USE THE SOFTWARE.
-
- End of License Agreement.
-
-
- -=EOF: SEG32BIT.TXT=-
-