ARCHIVED: In Microsoft Windows 3.x, what do I need to consider when using a SCSI controller?

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If you have a bus-mastering SCSI adapter such as the Adaptec 1542, you should be installing the aspi4dos.sys ASPI driver as the first device in your config.sys file. This driver is provided with your controller or available from Adaptec's BBS at 408-945-7727. Using the ASPI driver drops the requirement for SmartDrive described below. Updates to Adaptec's SCSI drivers and install utilities are available at:

  http://www.adaptec.com/

Normally, in 386 Enhanced mode, Windows 3.x supports only ST-506, ESDI, and IDE disk controllers. If you have a SCSI controller, you need to load SmartDrive in order to allow Windows to recognize your hard disk. (With Windows 3.1, you should use the /double_buffer option.) Do not disable double buffering in a bus-mastering SCSI drive unless you're using the ASPI driver described above.

As a third alternative, you may insert the following line in your system.ini file, in the "[386enh]" section:

  VirtualHDIRQ=off

Finally, some people report having problems with permanent swap files on SCSI drives using Windows 3.0.

Note: This information originally came from the Microsoft Windows 3.x FAQ maintained by Tom Haapanen and Software Metrics, Inc. This FAQ is no longer available. If you have problems with Windows 3.1, visit the Windows 3.1 FAQ sponsored by Logical Sky Corporation.