Windows NT 4 provides a fine environment for CD-R. Operation is quite similar to that in Win95, but a few comments are worth noting.
To use NT Server for burning CDR's successfully you need to use regedit and change the following registry setting:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control \Session Manager\Memory Management
Find a DWORD entry "LargeSystemCache=0". If the value is set to
"1", file caching has higher priority than the application code in
the fight for real memory. This has the nasty effect that when you handle large
files, like a cd image, or a stream of files to be burnt, NT will page out the
cdr-software executable (and everything else, except the kitchen sink) to the
hard disk. Problem is that in the next instant NT finds that it needs to page
the executable back in as it is actually running and handling these large files
NT made room for... So the system will keep bouncing the program code in and
out of memory, competely annihilating the system throughput, until you end up
with a coaster. If I remember right, is this value set to 0 (as desired) as
default on NTWS, while it is set to 1 (coaster city) as default on NTS. It is
quite possible that the install (or use) of the Server resource kit caused this
change to the "standard server value". This tip might be useful for
anyone wanting to use NT Server when making cdrs. I run Server myself, and have
no problems burning provided I do this single change to the registry.
Provided by Glenn, glennb@algonet.se
Iain Jenkins, ijenkins@btinternet.com offers the following variation on the above and additional data:
The change can be implemented using control panel as follows:
Go to control panel - network - services - server click properties
optimization change from the default "optimize for file sharing" to
"maximize throughput for network applications" dismiss boxes
job done on reboot!
Another tip for setting the DMA on/off on NT for EIDE devices (it doesn't
appear on the drive settings as in W9X):
Extract program DMACHECK.EXE from your service pack (3up) disk, and run it - it
will give you the chance to control the DMA setting. If it doesn't give you the
choice, you can still fall back on regedit to give you the desired results (it
doesn't always allow DMA to be set due to incorrect device detection)
Go to:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Atapi\Parameters\Device X
(where X is your hard disk/CD no.) look for a key DmaDetectionLevel (It may
need to be created) DMA set as required:
0x0=off
0x1=on
0x2=forced
Also, check the file ATAPI.SYS for at least version dated 1/98.
Again, this takes editing the registry.
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\ControlSet001\Services\Cdrom
Enable AIN by setting the value of Autorun to 0x00000001 (1)
NOTE: This in itself does not enable Autorun (or Autoplay). For that purpose, I suggest using TweakUI from Microsoft's Power Toys. At this writing, it can be found at http://www.microsoft.com/NTWorkstation/downloads/PowerToys/Networking/NTTweakUI.asp
ARTICLE-ID: Q168113 TITLE : Using Windows 95 PowerToys with Windows NT 4.0
Additional Information. There are two other keys that can affect this
functionality:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun=0x00000095
HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoDriveTypeAutoRun=0x00000095
The correct value for each is 0x00000095.
There are times when Windows NT won't start, and you know why. If this
occurs, you can go through the usual procedures to restore the system, but
since you know what's wrong, you can get running again more quickly if you have
a boot floppy. To create one, insert a floppy disk into Drive A. Right-click on
the floppy disk icon and choose Format. Format the disk using Full Format (just
to be safe). Now open Windows NT Explorer and click on the root folder (usually
C:\). Copy the following files to the floppy disk:
Boot.ini
Ntdetect.com
Bootsect.dos (for dual start-up installations)
NTLDR
Ntbootdd.sys (if it's in the root folder, copy it)
If you don't see these files in your root folder, choose View, Options in Windows NT Explorer. Select the radio button labeled Show All Files. Click Apply and then OK. Now you should see the files. If you don't, press F5 and look again. Using the boot floppy, you can boot into your damaged system and make the appropriate repairs.
E-mail me at cdrecording@mrichter.com
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