XADM: Problem Accessing Hard Drive After Running Optimizer

Last reviewed: November 13, 1997
Article ID: Q153947

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Exchange Server, version 4.0
Microsoft Exchange Server, version 5.0

SYMPTOMS

After you run the Microsoft Exchange Optimizer program (Performance Wizard) on a computer with a 9-GB Seagate (model ST19171N or ST19171W) or a 23-GB Seagate (model Seagate ST423451N or Seagate ST423451W) or a 9-GB Hewlett Packard hard disk drive, you may observe the following problems:

You may no longer have access to the data on the hard disk drive.

When you attempt to access the data, you may receive:

       - Lost Delayed Write Data error message or an Event ID
         26 in the Windows NT Event Log.

       - STOP 0x7F or 0x77.

Using the Microsoft Windows NT Disk Administrator, you may notice that the total size of the drive does not equal the originally created partition size.

This problem is not 100-percent reproducible and although there are reports that other 9-GB drives may be affected, these reports have not been confirmed.

CAUSE

The Microsoft Exchange Optimizer program can create this problem because it uses low-level APIs to disable write caching on hard disk drives. Any program that uses these APIs will run into the same problem.

WORKAROUND

Do not run the Microsoft Exchange Optimizer program.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange version 4.0. A supported fix is now available, but has not been fully regression- tested and should be applied only to systems experiencing this specific problem. Unless you are severely impacted by this specific problem, Microsoft recommends that you wait for the next Service Pack that contains this fix. Contact Microsoft Product Support Services for more information.

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft Exchange Server version 5.0. This problem was corrected in the latest Microsoft Exchange 5.0 Server U.S. Service Pack. For information on obtaining the service pack, query on the following word in the Microsoft Knowledge Base (without the spaces):

   S E R V P A C K

The new Perfwiz.exe included in the Service Pack will not repair a hard disk drive that has already been altered by the old Performance Optimizer tool. It only prevents further problems on new hard disk drives.

MORE INFORMATION

Restoring from backup to a new hard disk drive is the best method for recovering the data. Currently, the affected hard disk drive must be sent back to the manufacturer to be reset.

After implementing this fix, administrators will have to disable write caching themselves. Please contact your hardware manufacturer if you do not know how to disable write caching.

The 9-GB Seagate and Hewlett Packard hard disk drives are manufactured by Seagate and Hewlett Packard, vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this products performance or reliability.

Additional query words: corruption delayed write
Keywords : kbbug4.00 kbbug5.00 kbfix5.00.sp1 XADM kbusage
Version : 5.0
Platform : WINDOWS winnt
Issue type : kbbug
Solution Type : kbfix

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Last reviewed: November 13, 1997
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