IBM Models 90 and 95 Require an XBIOS Partition to Boot
Article ID: 102022
Article Last Modified on 11/1/2006
APPLIES TO
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Workstation 3.1
- Microsoft Windows NT Advanced Server 3.1
This article was previously published under Q102022
SYMPTOMS
After installing Windows NT on an IBM PS/2 Model 90 or 95, the system
may no longer boot if the XBIOS partition is removed or converted to
NTFS.
CAUSE
The IBM model 90 and 95 machines use the first section (usually about
3 megabytes) of hard drive space for their XBIOS partition. IBM uses a
segment and offset system to keep this information from being
overwritten. During installation of Windows NT, if you remove the
XBIOS partition or all of the existing partitions and have Windows NT
set up new partitions, the XBIOS information will be overwritten. Once
Windows NT is installed and tries to reboot, the machine will hang
because the XBIOS partition is unreadable.
RESOLUTION
If the XBIOS partition is removed or converted to NTFS, it must be
re-created. Use the Configuration disk that was shipped by IBM with
the machine to reinstall the XBIOS partition onto the drive. Then
reinstall Windows NT and do not delete or convert the existing XBIOS
partition.
For specific information on how to use the Configuration disk, contact
IBM Technical Support.
Additional query words: prodnt lock hang MB
Keywords: kbhardware KB102022