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Installing NT Workstation 4.0:
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I encountered problems when installing with the original version of NT 4.0. Soon after the install had completed, I started seeing random STOP errors, even during periods of system inactivity, and in a variety of modules. Since I was running a basic, VGA, non-networked NT install, I deduced that something on the hardware side was not happy, so I disabled PCMCIA.SYS. The errors went away. Due to the restricted hard drive space, I did not have the chance to install a ServicePack onto the machine.
I have since retried the installation with a SP1 version of NT 4.0, and it is fine. PCMCIA support is loading, and seeing the hard drive, but not causing any problems. I suspect I may have seen this on the original attempt if I'd have had the drive space to install a ServicePack...
The following two sections illustrate how disable the PCMCIA device support if you do not have access to a newer NT 4 CD - if you have a more recent CD, that gives a SP1 installation, don't worry about them!
If the system is stable long enough to boot, log in, and twiddle with a few applications, disable the PCMCIA device from within Control Panel - Devices.
If the above method is not possible, or you want to take precautions before installing (very wise!), boot to DOS, and issue the command
PS2 _@PCIC DISABLE
to disable the PCMCIA socket controller. The BIOS point enablers still allow the PCMCIA drive to be seen as an IDE device, as long as it's included inthe start up sequence.
If you do this before you install NT, it won't install PCMCIA support. If you do it
after the installation, the PCMCIA driver will fail to load, and you can then go into Devices
and disable PCMCIA support in software if you wish (i.e. allowing you to re-enable the
PCMCIA controller.)