ForceASPI 1.7

ForceASPI is a suite of scripts designed to install the latest Adaptec ASPI layer on your Intel x86 (or compatible) 32bit Windows operating system.

ForceASPI ignores the system requirements which are imposed by Adaptec's own installer and allows you to install Adaptec ASPI 4.60 (1021) on your PC regardless of your hardware or software configuration.

The scripts which make up ForceASPI will automatically detect your operating system and install the appropriate files correctly. The following operating systems have been (breifly) tested...

• Windows 98 Second Edition
• Windows ME
• Windows NT 4.0
• Windows 2000

Why use ForceASPI?

These are the main reasons I created ForceASPI and why you might want to use it...

• No ASPI Layer in Windows 2000
• Windows 9x and Windows ME ASPI Layer sucks
• Many CD Digital Audio rippers require a working ASPI layer
• Many DVD Rippers require a working ASPI layer
• Most CD-R wirting application require a working ASPI layer
• I have been applying this hack manually on my own systems and decided to automate the process and let everyone benefit
• Plenty of other reasons I cant be bothered to list

Installation

Simply extract the .ZIP file to a directory somewhere. Open a Command Prompt and run the appropriate .BAT file(s) as required.

Usage and Instructions

Here is a brief description of what each script does.

instASPI - Installs the latest, 4.60 (1021), Adaptec ASPI layer on Win9x,
           WinME, WinNT and Win2K. Any existing ASPI Layers will be
           overwritten.

dumpASPI - Creates a backup of your existing ASPI layer, or parts thereof.
           Some Win32 operating systems do not have an ASPI layer, in this
           situation you will create an empty backup.

restASPI - Restores the ASPI layer backup created with 'dumpASPI'.
           WARNING! If your ASPI backp is empty this will completely erase
           your currently installed ASPI layer.

killASPI - This will completely remove your currently installed ASPI layer.

killDUMP - The deletes your dumped ASPI layer.

I would recommend that you use ForceASPI in the following way...

• Run dumpASPI to backup your current ASPI layer
• Run instASPI to install the new ASPI layer
• Reboot your PC
• Run aspichk to see if everything worked OK

aspichk.exe

aspichk.exe is a tool provided by Adpatec to report what version of the ASPI Layer you have installed and checks if everything is working OK. To test your ASPI Layer with aspichk.exe just download it and then run it.

Here are some example screenshots of what aspichk should look like after a successful install. NOTE! The number of Host Adapters detected will is dependant on your hardware configuration.

History

ForceASPI 1.7

+ The Command Prompt windows now close on completion and the registry keys get added without prompting. Thanks to Apachez for these suggestions.

ForceASPI 1.6

+ Compatibility fixes for Win9x. Thanks to Tymoteusz Swiech

ForceASPI 1.5

+ ForceASPI now updates the registry with the appropriate keys to fully enable the ASPI layer, even on ATAPI only systems. Hopefully this will be the end of the remaining issues. Thanks to Stuey for pointing out my oversight.

- I have fixed some erroneous messages generated by ForceASPI when running under Win9x.

ForceASPI 1.4

- I have fixed a major bug which caused some of the scripts to fail under WinNT 4.0. Sorry, my bad. Thanks to Tronje Bäßler for spotting it.

ForceASPI 1.3

+ I have added a pause at the end of each script of people running the scripts from Explorer under WInNT or Win2k can see the script output before the windows closes.

- Fixed a typo in restASPI.bat. Thanks Jozart.

ForceASPI 1.2

- I have removed aspichk.exe from the ForceASPI distribution and added download links to the documentation

+ The scripts display a more complete status while running

+ The scripts error checking is slightly enhanced

+ Added killDUMP to remove your dumped ASPI layer

+ Various HTML, documentation and typo fixes

ForceASPI 1.1

- I have reverted to simple .BAT files as the compiled .COM files didn't work under WinNT and Win2K

+ The scripts will now abort if they detect a non-Intel x86 CPU

- Fixed typos in HTML and resized screenshots

ForceASPI 1.0

+ Initial public release

To Do

• Auto reboot option
• .INF installer maybe

Disclaimer

You agree to use ForceASPI at your own risk. I will not be held responsible for any loss of data, damage to hardware or loss of earnings as a result of using any of the files distributed in this package.

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