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95.TXT
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INSTALLATION GUIDE FOR THE SDMS DRIVER SYMC8XX.MPD V2.02.00
This file describes the features and use of the Symbios Logic SDMS device
driver for the Windows 95 operating system environment. It is divided
into the following sections:
Introduction for Windows 95
Features
Description
Installing Your SYMC8XX.MPD Driver
Preparing a Symbios Driver Diskette
New System Installation
Existing System Installation
Existing System Using ASPI8XX.SYS DOS ASPI Driver
Verifying Correct Driver Installation
Command Line Options
Troubleshooting
Important Additional Information
Enabling/Disabling Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) Support
Multiple Symbios Logic Host Adapter Considerations
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***************** Introduction for Windows 95 *******************
Windows 95 is an operating system designed to run on Intel processors
using current technology. It provides a graphical user interface
environment incorporating many high-level features
(refer to the Microsoft Windows 95 documentation for details).
I/O requests in Windows 95 are handled by an I/O manager. To
address a SCSI peripheral, the I/O manager goes through the
appropriate drivers. Class drivers for hard disk, floptical, CD-ROM,
printer, and scanner peripherals are provided in Windows 95. Other
class drivers, provided by peripheral manufacturers, are added to
support new devices. Symbios Logic/Microsoft provides a miniport
driver, called SYMC8XX.MPD, to complete the path to a Symbios Logic
controller or processor with an optional SDMS SCSI BIOS. The following
sections describe this driver and its installation.
* Features *
Synchronous negotiation (including Fast/Ultra SCSI)
Wide negotiation
Auto Request Sense
Supports multiple host adapters
Supports multiple Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs)
Disconnect/Reselect
Scatter-Gather
Differential Support
Supports SCSI pass-through functionality
BUS device reset
Scan order change (scans the bus from SCSI ID 0 to MAX SCSI ID [7 or 15])
Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) Support (20 MB/s narrow, 40 MB/s wide)
SCAM Support (SCSI Configured AutoMatically)
* Description *
SYMC8XX.MPD is designed to Microsoft's specification for miniport
drivers. This driver allows connection of SCSI devices including
disk drives, CD-ROMs, and tape drives for PCI-based machines.
To support a new SCSI device the Windows 95 architecture requires
that a class driver for that type device is present (usually
supplied by Microsoft, or possibly by the peripheral manufacturer).
No changes to SYMC8XX.MPD are required. This driver is only supported
under Windows 95.
SCSI commands are passed directly from a Windows application to the
SCSI devices by using the SCSI pass-through facility (refer to the
Microsoft Windows 95 documentation for details). This facility
allows applications to directly control and access SCSI devices by
filling in a data structure and calling in to the port driver.
The SYMC8XX.MPD driver supports Ultra SCSI protocol, providing twice the
raw data transfer rate of Fast SCSI for disk drives and Symbios Logic
host adapters that support Ultra SCSI. However, Ultra SCSI requires more
stringent SCSI bus cabling setups than Fast SCSI.
************** Installing Your SYMC8XX.MPD Driver ****************
* Preparing a Symbios Driver Diskette *
Copy the files listed below (supplied to you on diskette) to the root directory
of a clean floppy diskette, and use this Symbios Driver diskette during
installation.
SYMC8XX.MPD
SYMC8XX.INF
* New System Installation *
This procedure installs the SYMC8XX.MPD driver onto a Windows 95
system. Use this procedure when initially upgrading to Windows 95.
Windows 95 automatically adds the driver to the registry and
copies the driver to the appropriate directories.
NOTE: Some Symbios Logic PCI SCSI host adapters are supported by a
driver bundled in Windows 95. For these adapters, the bundled driver
is automatically installed during Windows 95 Setup. To change to
the SYMC8XX.MPD driver, follow the instructions for Existing System
Installation after Windows 95 installation is completed.
1. Initiate Windows 95 Setup according to the Microsoft instructions.
2. Setup enters the hardware detection phase after a system reboot.
("Setting up Hardware" message box is displayed.) If the message
"NCR PCI SCSI Host Adapter" is displayed, then the host adapter is
supported by the bundled driver, and it is installed
automatically. After Windows 95 installation completes, you can install
the SYMC8XX.MPD driver according to the "Existing
System Installation" instructions.
3. If the host adapter is not supported by the bundled driver, Setup
displays a New Hardware Found - PCI SCSI Bus Controller dialog box.
Select "Driver from disk provided by hardware manufacturer" and
click OK.
NOTE: If ASPI8XX.SYS (the Symbios Logic SDMS 4.0 DOS ASPI driver) is loaded
when beginning the Windows 95 installation, no messages about PCI SCSI
Bus Controllers is displayed. The installation completes, but
real-mode disk drivers are used. See Verifying Correct Driver
Installation below. To install the SYMC8XX.MPD driver (which disables
loading of the ASPI8XX.SYS driver under Windows 95), see Existing System
Using ASPI8XX.SYS DOS ASPI Driver below.
4. Insert the Symbios Driver diskette into drive A: (or B:) and click OK. If
using drive B:, you must select it from the pick list.
5. Windows 95 automatically copies the appropriate driver files and rebuilds
its driver database.
6. A "System Settings Change" dialog box is displayed. Remove the flex
disk from the drive and click Yes to restart the computer.
At this point, Windows 95 Setup completes and the new driver is
operational. To verify this, see the section "Verifying Correct Driver
Installation"
NOTE: At driver installation, the Symbios Logic PCI (53C8XX) Miniport
driver defaults to Ultra SCSI support turned OFF. To enable Ultra SCSI
support, see Enabling/Disabling Ultra SCSI Support below.
* Existing System Installation *
This procedure installs the SYMC8XX.MPD driver onto an existing
Windows 95 system.
1. Boot Windows 95.
2. Click Start. Move to Settings, Control Panel, and click.
3. Double-click on the System icon.
4. Click on the Device Manager tab.
NOTE: If the SCSI controllers entry, or the PCI NCR C8xx SCSI Host Adapter
entry do not exist, the system is probably using the ASPI8XX.SYS DOS
ASPI driver. See the section Existing System Using ASPI8XX.SYS DOS
ASPI Driver below.
5. Either double-click on the SCSI controllers entry, or click once on
the plus sign to the left of it.
6. Select the PCI NCR C8xx SCSI Host Adapter entry. Click the Properties
button.
7. Click the Driver button. The version of the currently active driver
should display in the File details section.
8. Click the Change Driver... button.
9. Even though you may have previously installed the SYMC8XX.MPD driver,
click the Have Disk... button to install a newer version.
10. Insert the Symbios Driver diskette in drive A: (or B:) and click OK. If
using drive B:, you must select it from the pick list.
11. The Select Device dialog box should display "Symbios Logic 8xxxx PCI
SCSI Host Adapter", where 8xxxx matches the installed adapter.
Click OK.
12. The Driver tab is updated to display the new driver files.
To install these driver files, click OK. [Do NOT click the Change
Driver... button.] The driver files are copied and a new
driver database is built.
13. A "System Settings Change" dialog box is displayed. Remove the flex
disk from the drive and click Yes to restart the computer.
At this point, the new driver is operational. To verify this, see
the section "Verifying Correct Driver Installation"
NOTE: At driver installation, the Symbios Logic PCI (53C8XX) Miniport
driver defaults to Ultra SCSI support turned OFF. To enable Ultra SCSI
support, see Enabling/Disabling Ultra SCSI Support below.
* Existing System Using ASPI8XX.SYS DOS ASPI Driver *
This procedure installs the SYMC8XX.MPD driver onto an existing Windows 95
system which is using the ASPI8XX.SYS DOS ASPI driver. You can check
this by using the Verifying Correct Driver Installation instructions below.
1. Boot Windows 95.
2. Click Start. Move to Settings, Control Panel, and click.
3. Double-click on the System icon.
4. Click on the Device Manager tab.
5. Either double-click on the Other entry, or click once on
the plus sign to the left of it.
6. Select the PCI SCSI Bus Controller entry. Click the Properties
button.
7. Click the Driver button. A message should state that no drivers are
installed for this device.
8. Click the Change Driver... button.
9. In the Select Hardware Type dialog box, select SCSI Controllers.
10. In the Select Device dialog box, click the Have Disk button.
11. Insert the Symbios Driver diskette in drive A: (or B:) and click OK. If
using drive B:, you must select it from the pick list.
12. The Select Device dialog box should display "Symbios Logic 8xxxx PCI
SCSI Host Adapter", where 8xxxx matches the installed adapter.
Click OK.
13. The Driver tab is updated to display the new driver files.
To install these driver files, click OK. [Do NOT click the Change
Driver... button.] The driver files is copied and a new
driver database is built.
14. A "System Settings Change" dialog box is displayed. Ignore the message
saying to turn off your conputer and change hardware settings. Remove
the flex disk from the drive and click Yes to shut down the computer.
Press Ctrl-Alt-Delete or the system reset button to restart the system.
At this point, the new driver is operational. To verify this, see
the section "Verifying Correct Driver Installation"
NOTE: At driver installation, the Symbios Logic PCI (53C8XX) Miniport
driver defaults to Ultra SCSI support turned OFF. To enable Ultra SCSI
support, see Enabling/Disabling Ultra SCSI Support below.
* Verifying Correct Driver Installation *
After installing/updating with the SYMC8XX.MPD driver, you should verify
proper operation of the driver.
1. Check that all devices on the SCSI bus are available via My Computer.
Double-click on the My Computer icon. Check that all logical SCSI hard
drives and CD-ROM drives are shown.
2. Click the Start button, move to Settings, Control Panel, and click.
Double-click on the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab.
Check that no host adapter is displayed with a yellow or red symbol under
the SCSI controllers entry. If there is, continue with the
steps below to help determine the problem.
3. Either double-click on the SCSI controllers entry, or click once on
the plus sign to the left of it. One entry for each host adapter
installed in the system is displayed. Select an entry, then
click the Properties button. The Device Status message should read
"This device is working properly." If any other messages appear,
continue with the steps below to get more information on the problem.
4. Click the Driver tab. Two entries should appear, one for SYMC8XX.INF
and one for SYMC8XX.MPD. The INF file does not contain embedded
version information, so the File Details are all Not Available.
Select the SYMC8XX.MPD file. The file version of the driver is
displayed.
5. Click Cancel to leave the Host Adapter Properties dialog box. Click on
the Performance tab. A list of performance attributes is displayed.
Below the list, you should see the message "Your system is
configured for optimal performance." If any other messages appear,
select each message and click the Details button. This provides
more information on why the system is not performing optimally and
methods to correct the problem.
If no problems are encountered in the above steps, the new driver is
operating properly. Otherwise, consult the section on Troubleshooting
for additional information.
* Command Line Options *
There are no command line options with the Windows 95 device driver.
* Troubleshooting *
DURING INSTALLATION, NO SCSI DEVICES ARE FOUND.
a. Insure that all devices are powered on and terminated correctly.
b. Check that no devices have duplicate SCSI IDs.
c. Make sure INT A is assigned for the PCI slot(s) where your
SCSI host adapter(s) are installed.
SYSTEM CRASHES DURING INSTALLATION WITH A MESSAGE
INDICATING INACCESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE.
a. This error is usually associated with an IRQ, DMA channel, I/O (chip)
address, or BIOS address conflict. Set the SCSI host bus adapter
board to use a different interrupt.
PROBLEMS WITH ULTRA SCSI DEVICES USING ULTRA SCSI PROTOCOL
a. If the system is configured with a Symbios Logic host adapter that
supports Ultra SCSI, an Ultra SCSI device is on the SCSI bus, and Ultra SCSI
support by the SYMC8XX.MPD driver is enabled, intermittent problems
and possible system crashes can occur if the SCSI bus cable and
terminators do not conform to the Ultra SCSI specification.
b. If the system is bootable, disable Ultra SCSI support using the procedure
described above.
c. If the system is not bootable to Windows 95, hold down F8 when Starting
Windows 95... is displayed. At the menu, select Safe Mode. Once the
system is booted, disable Ultra SCSI support using the procedure
described below.
d. If the system operates properly without Ultra SCSI enabled, it is highly
likely that the SCSI bus cable and terminators are not configured
correctly for Ultra SCSI. See the Symbios Logic host adapter hardware
manual for information on Ultra SCSI cabling requirements.
*************** Important Additional Information ********************
* Enabling/Disabling Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) Support *
Once the SYMC8XX.MPD driver is installed, support for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) is
enabled or disabled using the Device Manager. Ultra SCSI is enabled/disabled
on a per adapter basis.
Use this procedure for enabling/disabling Ultra SCSI Support:
1. Click the Start button, move to Settings, Control Panel, and click.
Double-click on the System icon. Click the Device Manager tab.
2. Either double-click on the SCSI controllers entry, or click once on
the plus sign to the left of it. One entry for each host adapter
installed in the system is displayed. Select the adapter
desired, then click the Properties button. Click the
Settings tab.
3. The Adapter settings entry will display "Fast20_Support=x;", where
x is 0 or 1. Do not change anything but the number just to the
right of the equal sign. Set this number to:
1 for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) enabled
0 for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) disabled
4. Click OK to exit the Settings tab.
5. Click OK again. If the entry was changed, the "System Settings
Change" dialog box is displayed. Click Yes to restart the
computer.
After the system reboots, the new setting for Ultra SCSI (Fast 20) is in effect.
* Multiple Symbios Logic Host Adapter Considerations *
If multiple Symbios Logic PCI SCSI host adapters are installed in the
system, special actions are sometimes required to install or change drivers.
This is due to the fact that some Symbios Logic host adapters are
supported by the bundled driver, and also that one Symbios driver
supports all Symbios host adapters installed in the system.
With multiple Symbios adapters, it is possible to have a situation
where one adapter is assigned to one driver, and another is assigned to
a different driver. This can cause conflicts which may cause the system
to switch to real-mode drivers, affecting performance and access to
CD-ROM or tape drives.
There are two methods for ensuring that all Symbios Logic host adapters
are controlled by only one driver (when installing additional boards or
updating drivers).
Method 1
Using the Device Manager, change the driver for a particular host adapter
to the desired driver, but when asked to reboot the system for the new
settings to take effect, click No. Change drivers for all
Symbios Logic host adapters in the system to the new driver, and reply
No to rebooting until the final adapter is changed. If booting
from a SCSI device, check that the adapter controlling this device is
the last one changed.
Method 2
Determine which driver file is active for all adapters through the
Properties tab in Device Manager. Go to the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS
directory and rename the driver file to an extension other than MPD.
Reboot the system. While booting, the system may ask to load the
bundled driver file from the Windows 95 installation disk. Click OK,
then when the system says it can't find the file, click Skip File. Do
this for all adapter messages while booting. After the system is
booted, use the Device Manager to change the driver for each adapter
to the desired driver. Do not reply Yes to reboot the system until
the final adapter has been changed.
Download Driver Pack
After your driver has been downloaded, follow these simple steps to install it.
Expand the archive file (if the download file is in zip or rar format).
If the expanded file has an .exe extension, double click it and follow the installation instructions.
Otherwise, open Device Manager by right-clicking the Start menu and selecting Device Manager.
Find the device and model you want to update in the device list.
Double-click on it to open the Properties dialog box.
From the Properties dialog box, select the Driver tab.
Click the Update Driver button, then follow the instructions.
Very important: You must reboot your system to ensure that any driver updates have taken effect.
For more help, visit our Driver Support section for step-by-step videos on how to install drivers for every file type.