CompuServe Thread

And you thought this thread was finished. <g> Well it would have been but after your last comment regarding different versions of SMARTDRV I felt there was still some confusion regarding the use of SMARTDRV. As a result I contacted Microsoft and apparently the default settings for the various versions since DOS 5 and after Windows 3.0 all automatically write any new data or revised data to the hard disk when enabled. In addition DOS 6 and 6.2 have delayed "writes" with the SMARTDRV /C or /N switches. These delayed "writes" can potentially cause problems if your system locks up, there's a power outage, or the cache is not flushed before the computer is turned off. However the default settings should be as safe as when you write to your disk normally. As David has noted there are many different versions of SMARTDRV for both DOS and Windows, and also third party vendors like Gateway and Compaq. Anyone desiring to use SMARTDRV should read the related documentation to their version of SMARTDRV to insure a clear understanding of the inherent problems of using the "write" feature. Microsoft considers the default "write" safe, which it should be to the point that your system doesn't have other problems. The latest version of DOS 6.2 has some additional safety features including an advanced memory check to insure that your system is stable. Further, I would suggest that if anyone feels a "write" cache is important to the efficient operation of their system that they look into the various 3rd party caches available. While they all have the same basic function, many have additional features which give you greater control over how they work on your system. There is a potential problem with using "delayed write" caches and is inherent to all cache schemes that delay the "writes". This is because the data is held in volatile memory longer that would be the case without the use of a cache. As a result the data can be corrupted in a variety of ways. Caches which automatically write to the disk are the safest, but not the fastest and that's the trade-off. I hope this clears up any lingering confusion regarding the use of SMARTDRV. Thankyou David for raising your concerns and I hope this sufficiently answers your questions. -JE