What is a Windows driver?

A Windows driver is a "translation program" that helps Microsoft Windows and Windows for Workgroups communicate with devices attached to your computer. Such devices may include modems, CD-ROMs, video cards, and hard drives.

What is the Windows 32-bit disc access driver?

This is a driver that allows Windows to communicate with your hard disc directly (in protected mode) rather than going through DOS or through your system BIOS. This means that your CPU remains in 32-bit mode (if it supports this mode) rather than slowing to 16-bit mode.

The 32-bit driver that Microsoft created for Windows 3.1 and Windows for Workgroups 3.11 is named *WDCTRL. Unfortunately, this driver does not work with hard drives larger than 528 Mbytes.

What is SEG32BIT.386?

SEG32BIT.386 is a 32-bit Windows disc access driver designed by Seagate to replace the generic driver *WDCTRL. It is designed specifically to work with ATA (IDE) drives larger than 528 Mbytes and to configure your computer to take advantage of any high-speed or LBA data transfer modes supported by your computer and your hard drives.

Why should I use SEG32BIT.386?

The Microsoft 32-bit driver does not work with ATA hard drives larger than 528 Mbytes. The Seagate driver does. SEG32BIT also supports advanced disc access features that may significantly improve the performance of your drive. These features are not supported by the Microsoft 32-bit driver.

Note: If your computer and drive host adapter do not support 32-bit addressing or advanced data transfer modes, you do not need to use this driver.

Does SEG32BIT work with any hard drive?

As long as your computer contains at least one Seagate hard drive, SEG32BIT can be used for 32-bit disc access with any ATA hard drive attached to that computer.

How much will my disc performance improve if I use SEG32BIT?

Once installed, SEG32BIT optimizes the data transfers to and from your drive, if your system and drive support high-speed data access features. The increase in performance will vary depending on many factors, including the system architecture, bus speed, interface chip manufacturer and version level.

I already have a 32-bit driver with Microsoft Windows 3.x. Can I use it with my Seagate ATA Drive?

It depends. If your Seagate ATA drive is under 528 Mbytes, you can use the default Windows 3.x 32-bit driver. If your ATA drive is larger than 528 Mbytes, you will need to replace the default driver. Seagate's 32-bit disc access driver for Windows 3.x is a performance-enhanced driver for drives greater than 528 Mbytes and less than 8.4 Gbytes. If you are using EZ-Drive^® or DiscWizard Starter Edition, it is included on the diskette. If you have a 32-bit (EISA, PCI, or VLB) ATA controller, contact the controller manufacturer. Otherwise, you can download our replacement driver from several sources: as part of the new DiscWizard program suite, from our ftp site, or as a file called SEG32BIT.386 from our Disc Utilities download page.

What type of driver should I use with my Enhanced ATA controller?

If you are using a 32-bit Enhanced ATA controller, contact the controller manufacturer for help. Our 32-bit replacement driver is designed for 16-bit controllers only and will not work with a 32-bit ATA controller.

I installed the Micro House 32-bit driver just fine. I restarted Windows and got an error message saying there is a driver conflict. What do I do now?

Several possibilities follow. Start at the top and continue trying until 32-bit access works:

1. Some brand name computers use their own 32-bit driver. Check the SYSTEM.INI for a proprietary driver. You may need to remark this driver out.

2. DOS 6.22 loads VFINTD.386 into the SYSTEM.INI file and remarks out the "*INT13" line. Remark out the "vfintd.386" line and restore the "*INT13" line.

3. Most 32-bit ATA controller (EISA, PCE, and VLB) cards do not need software to enable 32-bit disc access, but some may require loading a driver for proper operation. This driver will most likely be incompatible with the Micro House driver. Contact the controller vendor for possible solutions.

4. Check the SYSTEM.INI file for the line "VirtualHDIRQ=False". Remark out this line and verify the "*INT13" line is present. Restart Windows.

I installed the Micro House 32-bit driver just fine. I restarted Windows and got an error message saying there is a drive with unrecognized geometry. What do I do now?

You may have an older copy of the 32-bit replacement driver or you may be attempting to install the 32-bit driver bundled with EZ-Drive as a stand alone driver. Consider downloading Seagate's 32-bit disc access driver from one of the following sources: as part of the new DiscWizard program suite, from our ftp site, or as a file called SEG32BIT.386 from our Disc Utilities download page.

None of these suggestions have helped me. What do I do now?

Contact our Technical Support department for help.