Question

esdi_506.pdr problem -- inits twice and hangs on 2nd init in bootlog

Asked by: uniar

Hi, I'm hoping you can help me.  I'm pretty stuck on this question.

I couldn't figure out why a computer was locking up during its startup process.  Upon examining the bootlog, I found that on the 2nd time that esdi_506.pdr tried to init my computer froze.  When I removed the file from the system, it booted normally.  However, I did not have a CD-ROM and my C-drive was running in compatability mode (yellow exclamation marks on primary & secondary IDE channels, error code 10 on drivers, most likely because I removed esdi_506.pdr in order to get the computer to boot).  I then turned to google.com to help me find my answer by searching for "esdi_506.pdr" and found a computing.net forum, which linked me to the following microsoft knowledge base article:

MS-DOS Compatibility Mode Problems with PCI IDE Controllers
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/q151/9/11.asp&NoWebContent=1

However, upon searching the registry, I was unable to find a NOIDE value like the article above told me to.  I've tried reinstalling the controller twice, and switching its type.  I've tried changing CD-ROM drives.  I've also tried switching hard drives (between a new 40 GB WD drive and an older 6.4 GB Maxtor drive).

As a side note, when I got this computer, it was freezing at the DMI screen. . . an fdisk /mbr took care of that, but I believe that that is also related to IDE devices.  Then again, maybe it's not.  Just thought I'd throw that in there.

System specs:

Brand - Quantum
RAM - 64MB
Processor - 200 Mhz Pentium I
OS - Win 98 SE (Have also tried Win 95 and Win 98)
Video Card - Diamond 3D 4MB
Modem - LT WinModem
Audio - Unknown (ISA device, use default audio drivers and it works as well as I need it to)
HD - Maxtor 6.4 GB  (Have also tried a WD 40 GB drive)
CD-ROM - Sony CD-RW  10/12/24 (Rw/W/R)

Was thinking about trying a different IDE cable, right now I'm using a "Cable Select" IDE cable that came with the WD hard drive and read somewhere that that could cause problems as well.

In any case, I appreciate any help that you could give me.

Thank you in advance.

This Question has been solved and asker verified All Experts Exchange premium technology solutions are available to subscription members.

Subscribe now for full access to Experts Exchange and get

Instant Access to this Solution

  • Plus...
  • 30 Day FREE access, no risk, no obligation
  • Collaborate with the world's top tech experts
  • Unlimited access to our exclusive solution database
  • Never be left without tech help again

Subscribe Now

Asked On
2003-07-31 at 05:11:24ID20695872
Topic

Windows 98 Operating System

Participating Experts
2
Points
325
Comments
17

Trusted by hundreds of thousands everyday for fast, accurate and reliable tech support.

  • "The time we save is the biggest benefit of Experts Exchange to Warner Bros. What could take multiple guys 2 hours or more each to find is accessed in around 15 minutes on Experts Exchange." Mike Kapnisakis, Warner Bros.
  • "Our team likes having a resource that is more secure than just using Google and most experts using this service really know their stuff. It's nice to look here first versus using Google." Dayna Sellner, Lockheed Martin
  • "Anytime that I've been stumped with a problem, 9 out of 10 times Experts Exchange has either the accepted solution or an open discussion of the potential solution to the problem." Kenny Red, eBay Inc.

See what Experts Exchange can do for you.

Got a question?

We've got the answer.

Experts Exchange has been collecting answers to technology questions since 1996…3 million and counting! If you have a question, chances are we already have your answer.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Need individual assistance?

Our experts are ready to help.

If you can't find the exact answer you're looking for, ask our exclusive community of 50,000 experts. You’ll get a personalized answer from a trusted professional.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Want to learn from the best?

Read articles from industry experts.

Thousands of free tech tips, tricks, how-to’s and tutorials are available in our peer reviewed articles section. See for yourself how smart our experts are, no login required.

Screenshot of an Article

Working on a long term project?

Store your work and research.

Save solutions to your questions, answers you’ve discovered through searching plus helpful articles in your personal knowledgebase for easy future access.

Screenshot of Experts Exchange Knowledgebase

Access the answers to your technology questions today.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

What Makes Experts Exchange Unique?

Members of the expert community talk about why the experience at Experts Exchange is different than what you will find anywhere else.

Trusted by the world's most respected brands.

image of each brand's logo

Faithfully serving IT professionals since 1996.

Experts Exchange Logo

Try it out and discover for yourself.

Subscribe Now

30-day free trial. Register in 60 seconds.

Related Solutions

  1. CD-RW
    Is it possible to create audio tracks on a CD-RW (rewritable CDs). If so, should I format the CD-RW in DirectCD format when purchased. If I dont format it and I copy the tracks, how do I then delete them?
  2. PC133 on a 100 MHZ computer
    This may be a stupid question and if it is I appologize but I have a computer with the following specs on the Motherboard Supports Pentium® II microprocessors operating at 233 megahertz (MHz) to 333 MHz with 66-MHz front side bus (FSB) and 350 MHz to 450 MHz with 100-MHz FS...
  3. Will 52x24x52 CD/RW work with 266 mhz ?
    I've got a new MicroAdvantage CD/RW 52x24x52, and want to install it an older Compac that is Pentium II w/Windows 2000 but it has only 266 mhz instead of the 350 MHz the box says it requires. Will this still work? Should I just take the chance and try it? Will it hurt anythin...

Free Tech Articles

  1. WARNING: 5 Reasons why you should NEVER fix a computer for free.
    It is in our nature to love the puzzle. We are obsessed. The lot of us. We love puzzles. We love the challenge. We thrive on finding the answer. We hate disarray. It bothers us deep in our soul. W...
  2. SCCM OSD Basic troubleshooting
    SCCM 2007 OSD is a fantastic way to deploy operating systems, however, like most things SCCM issues can sometimes be difficult to resolve due to the sheer volume of logs to sift through and the dispe...
  3. Migrate Small Business Server 2003 to Exchange 2010 and Windows 2008 R2
    This guide is intended to provide step by step instructions on how to migrate from Small Business Server 2003 to Windows 2008 R2 with Exchange 2010. For this migration to work you will need the fo...
  4. Create a Win7 Gadget
    This article shows you how to create a simple "Gadget" -- a sort of mini-application supported by Windows 7 and Vista. Gadgets can be dropped anywhere on the desktop to provide instant information, ...
  5. Outlook continually prompting for username and password
    There have been a lot of questions recently regarding Outlook prompting for a username and password whilst using Exchange 2007. There are a few reasons why this would happen and I will try to cover t...
  6. Backup Exchange 2010 Information Store using Windows Backup
    There seems to be quite a lot of confusion around the ability to backup Exchange 2010 using the built in Windows Backup feature. This stems from the omission of this feature prior to Exchange 2007 s...

Cloud Class Webinars

  1. Avoiding Bugs in Microsoft Access
    Alison Balter takes and in-depth look at avoiding bugs in Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the immediate window to debug your applications, invoking the debugger, using breakpoints to troubleshoot, stepping through code, setting the next statement to execute, ...
  2. Top 10 Best New Features in Visio 2010
    Scott Helmers gives live demonstrations of the top 10 new features in Visio 2010. This webinar will teach you how to create compelling diagrams by adding shapes to the page with a single click, linking the shapes in a diagram to data in Excel (or SQL Server, or SharePoint), ...
  3. IT Consultant Business Secrets Revealed
    Michael Munger, Experts Exchange tech pro and IT consultant, pulls back the curtain on his very successful businesses and answers question on every IT consultant and business owner should know about. He shares secrets on what he did to solve the 5 most common problems in IT, ...
  4. Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity
    Quest CTO, Mike Billon, gives an overview of the steps involved in building a dunamic disaster recovery plan. Through case studies and an examination of software/hardware tooles for monitoring and testing, you'll gain a better understandin of where you are, where you want ...
  5. Organize Your Visio Diagrams with Containers and Lists
    Scott Helmers uses cross functional flowcharts, wireframe diagrams, data graphic legends and seating charts to teach you: how to ustilize all three new structured diagram components in Visio 2010, the best practices for organizeing shapes in previous version of Visio, how to organize ...
  6. How to Us Objects, Properties, Events and Methods in Microsoft Access
    Alison Dalter gives an in-depbth look at objects, properties, events and methods in Microsoft Access. In this webinar you will learn about using the object browser, referring to objects, working with properties and methods, working with object variables, understanding the ...

Join the Community

Give a Little. Get a Lot.

Join the community of experts here and help other tech pros by answering question in your area of expertise. You can earn FREE access to all Experts Exchange's premium features and resources.

Join the Community

Answers

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-07-31 at 05:57:53ID: 9042483

here's a reletaed MS kb article http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=http://support.microsoft.com:80/support/kb/articles/Q151/9/11.asp&NoWebContent=1
Try booting in safe mode and regedit
Or: boot in command prompt and search in win.ini or system.ini for references to this file (I don't have win in order to search and find where it's called from)
Can also update your file: http://www.storagedrivers.com/drivers/52/52186.htm
See this too: http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/6602.html  it's been active on a wide range of time

hope you can use some of this info to solve your probl.
Kronos

wow...now I see you've updated the Q.
some of what I wrote here are now useless...you've tried, anyway, I won't delete though

 

by: uniarPosted on 2003-07-31 at 06:20:18ID: 9042534

Okay, I've tried the regedit thing, and also have tried the system.ini and win.ini.  Removing the file reference from those files acts as if I've removed the file from the system itself.  I'm trying to avoid using DOS drivers for the CD-ROM because I don't believe it wouldn't be able to write, only to read, and that would be at a slower speed.

I've also tried updating the file (driversguide.com) and looking through the computing.net forum.

Thanks for the input in any case, I appreciate your time.  Any more suggestions would be greatly appreciated :)

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-07-31 at 06:42:00ID: 9042588

well , I hoped it's just a stupid double reference to that file  (written in two consecutive lines :-))  and that's all. I didn't ment to remove the file completely.
Anyway, the entry has to be remembered in order to be able to boot up your GUI (by removing that line) . (I guess that and safe mode are the only ways to boot up in GUI, right?)
Errr......somehow doesn't make sense..... if you've found the "appealer" and it just does once and the file is ok (you've updated),(and if you remove the file from config doesn't init at all)  then WTF inits again? I'll think....
till I'll give up or find a solution I'd say you dig deeper on the computing forum topic.

 

by: uniarPosted on 2003-07-31 at 07:10:05ID: 9042631

Nice to know I'm not the only one that's confused :)
Quick summary, maybe this will put it into a more easily readable form than the one above.

Tried the following --

Removing file ref from system.ini -- booted fine, no CDRom, C:\ compatability mode
Removing file altogether -- ditto
Installing diff OS -- fdisk and formatted, reinstalled, same problem.  Did the same with the other HD, same results.
Updating esdi_506.pdr from driversguide and from your link -- still loads 2xs
Restored system.ini (backed up before I messed with it) -- found there was a single reference to the file, not two.
Restored default BIOS settings and booted -- no help there.
Ensured that HD mode was LBA -- still no go.
Reinstalled IDE Controller -- see above.
Used DOS Drivers for CD-ROM -- Can't write to CDs.
Tried switching IDE Cables -- Nice thought, but still same problem.
Read M$'s article -- told me to turn to my system administrator if the problem continued.  I am my system's own administrator unfortunately, and I'm stumped.
Searched registry for NOIDE value -- NOIDE value didn't exist.
Tried booting up without modem -- computer still did same as above mentioned.

Going to go through my hardware 1 piece at a time to see what happens, 'til there's nothing left but the CDROM, HD, and the built in stuff on the motherboard.  Also going back to computing.net forums.  Will let you know if something changes.

Thanks again.

I'm away for a few hours at least, need to get to work, but I'll check back a bit later, probably during lunch break.

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-07-31 at 07:36:33ID: 9042669

I have to go. I'll try to dig deeper tomorrow, but till then PLEASE study carefully http://www.computing.net/windows95/wwwboard/forum/6602.html cause there are some VERY similar problems to yours there and have been solved. I didn't have the time to read carefully everything, but I hope you have the patience.

cheers
Kronos

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-01 at 01:39:37ID: 9047032

extract a new IDE Protected mode drvr

Start - Run - SFC - Extract 1 file - input control.exe - Start - Restore From: C:\WINDOWS\OPTIONS\CABS\ (or cdrom drive letter) Save File In: C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\IOSUBSYS - OK)

Should have the following file attributes (or later):  file's prop's - version tab
   File name     Version            Date      Time       Size
   --------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Esdi_506.pdr  4.10.2002  11/10/98  8:51pm   24,430 bytes

Reboot into safe mode, run msconfig - general tab - advanced - unchk Force Compatibility Mode Disk Access, reboot again.

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-08-01 at 01:45:10ID: 9047059

listening....

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-01 at 01:56:25ID: 9047092

excerts from kronostm's link

"My computer doesn't boot in Win98. If I remove "esdi_506.pdr" then Win98 starts, but in compatibility mode.  In this mode, I can't read my CDs correctly. Long file names aren't recognized and some CDs can't be read at all."

"My computer didn't boot... according to bootlog.txt it got stuck immediatly after the loading of esdi_506.pdr. I resolved it by deleting the file and instead loading my CDROM device in config.sys and autoexec.bat (with DOS-drivers)."

Another person had loaded updated mobo drivers.

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-01 at 02:51:37ID: 9047271

In SFC input ESDI_506.PDR not control.exe

 

by: uniarPosted on 2003-08-04 at 04:26:54ID: 9068415

Sorry, power line went down behind my house and I've been without power for the past two days or so. I'll go ahead and try the stuff you've suggested.
The problem with loading DOS drivers for the CD-ROM is that, because it's a rewritable, it needs the windows drivers installed to be able to write / rewrite. . . or so I think, anyways.  I'll also try that, and let you know of the outcome.
By the way, I've visited that link (kronostm) about five times now, I have the whole discussion printed and laying on my computer lol.

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-08-04 at 06:47:44ID: 9070133

there's dos-based cd-writing software. Do a google search. Don't have time now. Sorry.  
 Good luck digging in that listing    ;-)

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-04 at 22:16:08ID: 9076604

You do not need dos dev drvrs loading from the autoexec.bat or config.sys in order to have full functionality in windows.  The IDE protected mode drvr "esdi_506.pdr", if corrupted can cause this type of error, therefore extracting a good one from the w98 cabs is worth trying & won't hurt anything.

 

by: kronostmPosted on 2003-08-04 at 23:48:07ID: 9077350

mimicsu .... unirar already tried to update the file, so I don't think it's just a corrupted one. <<I've also tried updating the file (driversguide.com)>>

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-05 at 00:21:10ID: 9077652

Also using SFC try extracting a new IOS.VXD to C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\VMM32.

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-07 at 23:20:13ID: 9106010

Uniar, what's your status?

 

by: uniarPosted on 2003-08-23 at 09:46:43ID: 9209233

Hey you two, thank you for all your help.  I did get the problem ironed out, and it was related to all of what you both had mentioned lol.  I apologize that I forgot to check back in with you.  In any case, here are the points I promised.
I appreciate your help greatly.

 

by: mimicsuPosted on 2003-08-25 at 01:50:50ID: 9214826

Your welcome, glad we could help get your problem resolved, & thanks for the points.

20120131-EE-VQP-002

3 Ways to Join

30-Day Free Trial

The Experts

98% positive feedback on 31,087 answers since March 2000. angeliii is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional for his work with MS SQL Server & Develoment.

He has also proven his knowledge of Visual Basic Programming, PHP Scripting and Oracle Databases.

The Experts

97% positive feedback on 10,752 answers since July 2000. lrmoore has more than 18 years experience in the networking industry.

The six-time Mircosoft MVPs specialties include firewalls, virtual private networking, and network management.

Testimonials

"...and excellent source for support... Kind of like having your very own IT dept." Electriciansnet

Testimonials

"I was apprehensive at signing up at first. However... it has already made my life as an IT administrator much easier." JaCrews

Testimonials

"WOW! You guys have great, active, and knowledgeable people on here." moore50

Business Clients

Business Clients

In the Press

"If you’ve got a question... Experts Exchange can supply an answer.”

In the Press

"...an invaluable aid for both IT professionals and those who require tech support."

In the Press

"where IT professionals provide quick answers on just about any topic"

Business Account Plans

Loading Advertisement...