AST RESEARCH, INC.        TECHNICAL BULLETIN # 1641          12/10/96 
 
 
 
TITLE:  Netware 4.1 Machine Check Exception
 
 
ISSUE 
 
   After installing Netware 4.1 patches (410PT6.EXE) on any 
   Pentium-based system that does not contain cache parity checking 
   (such as the Manhattan G system), Netware 4.1 will load with the 
   following message:
   
     "Machine Check Exception not supported.
      Netware will not load CPU & local cache parity 
      checking."
   
      OS Loading.....
   
   Netware will continue to load without any additional messages.
   
   This issue affects all the types of systems mentioned above, 
   regardless of manufacturer.    

 
BACKGROUND 
 
   Previous Netware 4.1 installations required the patch, 
   CR4CRLFX.EXE, to complete the installation.  This patch allowed 
   the installation to proceed. See 1045TB.TXT, for instructions.
   
   This patch and the current LOADER.EXE supplied with the 
   410PT6.EXE are not compatible.
   
   Novell has determined that the elimination of the message by 
   CR4CRLFX.EXE would not provide an accurate account of available 
   features for Netware's SFTIII Operating System.    

 
ACTION 
 
   There is no action required because Novell Netware 4.1 is 
   checking for a feature rather than a problem.    

 
NOTES 
 
   The Machine Check Exception indicated by Netware 4.1 is a 
   notification that parity checking will not be supported on the 
   particular system reporting the message. Netware 4.1 is checking 
   for a link between CPU and cache using a parity bit.  There is a 
   parity bit available on the Pentium CPU chip, but there isn't a 
   corresponding parity bit available on cache.  Since there is no 
   link, Netware can not support parity checking on this system.    

 
TAN 004800AH 
 
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