Win Error 142 in simulation program: Refer.mdb, isinteg.exe

Dear News,

I am using a so-called 'finite-element' simulation program
to study materials. The name of the program is ABAQUS.

Occasionally - not always (!) - the computation comes to
a grinding halt with error 142:

ABAQUS Error: The executable C:\ABAQUS\6.6-3\exec\standard.exe
aborted with system error code 142.


A discussion within an ABAQUS mailing list come up with:

http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms681382(VS.85).aspx
which indicates that error code 142 is associated with a drive problem
(ERROR_BUSY_DRIVE). Perhaps this will help you debug things.


The error is not listed in the Windows event viewer. Nonetheless,
I typed the EventID in the appropriate box on www.eventid.net and got:

....
Details Comments and links for event id 142 from source ESE97

which carries us to:

Event ID: 142
Source ESE97
Type Error
Description The database disk is full.
Things to understand When can a disk become full?
Comments Ionut Marin (Last update 11/30/2003):
As per Microsoft: "This behavior can occur if there is not enough free space
on the drive to create the Refer.mdb file". See M258301 to fix this problem.


The direct link to M258301 is for cash only. But I did find
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/258301/en-us
XADM: How to Run Isinteg -t When Isinteg Fails Because of Lack of Disk Space


In this context also:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/182081/EN-US/
http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb125144(EXCHG.80).aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/?scid=kb%3Ben-us%3B301460&x=15&y=5


Unfortunately, I'm too dumb to get it. I wouldn't know that I am
using a program 'Microsoft Exchange'. Also, neither Refer.mdb nor
isinteg.exe could be located in my number cruncher.

Is anyone able to throw light on how to quench this error ? It
would be marvellous if someone could explain to a PC dummy what
to do. I am using Win XP Professional with Service Pack 2 installed.

The problem did persist when running a simulation on another, almost
completely void drive on the same PC.


Thanks for any advice !

Frank Richter

Chair of Materials Science
Institute for Materials
Dept. of Mechanical Engineering
Ruhr-University Bochum
Universitaetsstrasse 150
44780 Bochum
Germany