DOCUMENT:Q96180 26-NOV-1999 [msdos] TITLE :VSafe Err Msg: Program Is Trying to Write to Hard Disk PRODUCT :Microsoft Disk Operating System PROD/VER:MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== The following pop-up dialog box may be displayed when you perform a disk operation that writes to the disk: VSAFE Warning Program is trying to write to hard disk Do you wish to continue? You can then choose one of three options: Stop, Continue, or Boot. If you choose Stop, the following error message is displayed: ATTENTION: A serious disk error has occurred while writing to drive C. NOTE: If you are running MS-DOS Prompt from Windows, this error message is displayed in a blue screen with the heading "Serious Disk Error." You can now choose to retry the operation. This causes the first VSAFE error to be displayed again. Until you choose Continue or Boot, you are not able to escape these recurring warning messages. If you choose Continue, the write operation is performed. If you choose Boot, the write operation aborts, your system restarts, and any information you were trying to save is lost. CAUSE ===== This problem occurs when VSafe is installed with the write-protect option enabled and SMARTDrive is installed with write caching enabled. STATUS ====== Microsoft has confirmed this to be a problem in MS-DOS versions 6.0, 6.2, and 6.21. We are researching this problem and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base as it becomes available. WORKAROUND ========== To work around this problem, do not simultaneously use SMARTDrive configured for write caching and VSafe configured for write protection. Additional query words: 6.22 6.00 6.20 write protect protected virus smartdrv.exe ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbMSDOSSearch kbMSDOS621 kbMSDOS622 kbMSDOS620 kbMSDOS600 Version : MS-DOS:6.0,6.2,6.21,6.22 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.