FAT32 error from kernel

[Michael Blaustein <mblauste capaccess org>]

I've been using kernel 2.1.125 with no problems for several months.
After installing some new software on my Windows95 partition (about
which more below) I'm starting to get error messages from the kernel.

E.g. if I do 'ls' on the subdirectory of the new software, I get (in part):

Dec 30 22:02:11 localhost kernel: Filesystem panic (dev 03:01).
Dec 30 22:02:11 localhost kernel:   fat_free: deleting beyond EOF
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217003, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217004, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217004, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217005, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217005, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217006, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217006, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: attempt to access beyond end of device
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: 03:01: rw=0, want=1217007, limit=1052226
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: Filesystem panic (dev 03:01).
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel:   FAT error
Dec 30 22:02:12 localhost kernel: Directory 28646887: bad FAT


The new software requires a security plug (dongle?) in the parallel
port, which uses software called (I think) Nethasp to control access.
But in windows95, I can read the files, which seem to be encoded
(and/or compressed?) in the new subdirectory without error; in linux,
I get these errors.  Nothing like this has happened with reading the
fat32 partitions before.

I'd like to know how to troubleshoot this.  Any guidance?

I have no experience with these security plugs, which are clearly a
great inconvenience.  In this case, it seems unnecessary to me since
the software is only used to read a cdrom.  Oh well.

Michael Blaustein
mblauste capaccess org