MS-DOS v6.22 Help: SMARTDRV.EXE

--------------------- MS-DOS v6.22 Help: SMARTDRV.EXE ----------------------
<Notes> <Examples>                                               <Index>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                       SMARTDRV.EXE--Double Buffering

Loads the SMARTDRV.EXE device driver to perform double buffering. Double
buffering provides compatibility for certain hard-disk controllers that
cannot work with memory provided by EMM386 or Windows running in 386
enhanced mode. To find out whether you need to use double buffering, see
<SMARTDRV.EXE--Notes>.

SMARTDrive can also perform disk caching, which can speed up your computer.
To use SMARTDrive for disk caching, add the <SMARTDRV> command to your
AUTOEXEC.BAT file.

To use the double-buffering feature of SMARTDrive, the SMARTDRV.EXE device
driver must be loaded by a <DEVICE> command in your CONFIG.SYS file.

Syntax

    DEVICE=[drive:][path]SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER

Parameters

[drive:][path]
    Specifies the location of the SMARTDRV.EXE file.

/DOUBLE_BUFFER
    Instructs SMARTDrive to perform double buffering.

                                      ***

<Syntax> <Examples>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            SMARTDRV.EXE--Notes

Double buffering and conventional memory

SMARTDrive's double-buffering component must be loaded in conventional
memory. It uses 2K of conventional memory, and cannot be loaded in upper
memory.

The SMARTDrive disk cache can use either upper memory or conventional
memory. For more information, see <SMARTDRV--Notes>.

Determining whether you need to use double buffering

If you use EMM386 or run Windows in 386 enhanced mode, you may need to use
double buffering. Double buffering is most commonly required with an SCSI
(small computer system interface) hard disk or other device, but can also be
necessary with an ESDI (enhanced system device interface) or MCA
(microchannel architecture) device.

Most hard disks do not need to use double buffering. If you are not sure
whether your hard disk needs double buffering, follow these steps:

1  Add the following command to your CONFIG.SYS file if the file does not
   already contain such a command:

       device=c:\dos\smartdrv.exe /double_buffer

   This command must appear before the DEVICE command that starts EMM386, if
   any.

2  Add the following command to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file if the file does not
   already contain such a command:

       c:\dos\smartdrv

3  Run the MemMaker program if you haven't already done so.

4  Use the MEM /C /P command to confirm that upper memory is in use.

5  At the command prompt, type SMARTDRV and then press ENTER.

   SMARTDrive displays information about your system.

6  Look at the column labeled "Buffering." If any line in this column reads
   "yes," you need to run the double-buffering component of SMARTDrive. (If
   your system seems to be running slowly, try adding the /L switch to the
   SMARTDRV command in AUTOEXEC.BAT.)

   If every line in the "Buffering" column says "no," you can remove the
   DEVICE command for SMARTDRV.EXE from your CONFIG.SYS file.

   If any line in the "Buffering" column contains the character "-", then
   SMARTDrive is unable to detect whether double buffering is needed. Use
   the MEM /C /P command to confirm that programs are located in upper
   memory.

                                      ***

<Syntax> <Notes>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           SMARTDRV.EXE--Example

Suppose you need to use SMARTDrive's double-buffering feature so that you
can use EMM386 to gain access to the upper memory area. To enable double
buffering, you would add the following command to your CONFIG.SYS file:

    device=c:\dos\smartdrv.exe /double_buffer

To improve your computer's speed, you could also install the SMARTDrive disk
cache by adding the following line to your AUTOEXEC.BAT file:

    c:\dos\smartdrv /l

                                      ***

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
<Top of page>