BUG: Insert Floppy Disk Error Running SQL Server on Alpha

• Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5

SYMPTOMS

When you attempt to create a new database device using SQL Enterprise Manager, you may receive a dialog box that prompts you to insert a disk in drive A.

CAUSE

Dtccm.dll calls SetErrorMode on Alpha builds with a value of SEM_NOALIGNMENTFAULTEXCEPT (0x04). This causes the operating system to automatically fix memory alignment faults and makes them invisible to the application. However, Dtccm.dll should call SetErrorMode with a value of SEM_NOALIGNMENTFAULTEXCEPT | SEM_FAILCRITICALERRORS which suppresses both types of errors; SEM_FAILCRITICALERRORS prevents the operating system from displaying the critical-error-handler message box when such an error occurs.

WORKAROUND

There are currently three workarounds available for this problem. Use any of the following:

• If you do not need MSDTC for Distributed Transactions or Microsoft Transaction Server, shut down this service and restart SQL Server.
  
  -or-



• If you need MSDTC, do not use SQL Enterprise Manager to create disk devices using the graphical interface and do not call xp_fixeddrives. You can still create disk devices for SQL Server by using the Transact- SQL DISK INIT command.
  
  -or-



• Create an extended stored procedure that only calls SetErrorMode with the proper values and set this stored procedure to be called by the autostart sequence.

STATUS

Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in Microsoft SQL Server version 6.5. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available.

Additional query words: prodsql risc SEM hang shutdown stop halt device

Keywords          : SSrvDTC SSrvEntMan SSrvGen kbbug6.50 
Version           : WINNT:6.5
Platform          : winnt 
Issue type        : kbbug 

Last Reviewed: April 21, 1999