🚀 go-pugleaf

The following article was taken from the PC WORLD ONLINE via the America
Online BBS and is an important warning for all MS WINDOWS 3.1 users.

The following information was passed on to PC WORLD ONLINE by PCW George,
(George Campbell, a PC WORLD Editor).

"After considerable testing, I have discovered a major problem with the 
version of SmartDrive included with Windows 3.1. The default installation
of SMARTDRV.EXE enables write caching on your hard disks. Most often this
is not a problem but, under certain circumstances, it could crash your hard
disk. A typical situation is described below :


1) If you use a program wich handles multiple boot-up configurations by using
   alternative Autoexec.bat and Config.sys files then automatically
   re-booting, SmartDrive won't write the new files to the hard disk before
   the computer reboots. This could cause damage to you FAT table if the disk
   write is only partiallt completed. In most cases, however, the copying job
   will not be done, and the computer will reboot safely.

2) In some Windows programs, not enough time is allowed for SmartDRive to
   write files to disk. In this case, if you shut off your computer for some 
   reason, your files will not be saved. In the worst scenario, your FAT tables
   may be damaged.

3) If a power failure occurs during the gap before cached data is written to
   the hard disk, you could damage your FAT tables.


******************
SOLUTION :
******************

Disable write-caching in SmartDrive. This is not a documented in the Windows
Manual, but is ducomented in SmartDrive's help screen. To disable
write-caching, modify the line in your AUTOEXEC.BAT file as shown below :


Original Line (substitute your own drive information)

C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE

Altered line to disable write-caching : (again, supply your own drive info)

C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE C D E (list all hard drives)


This modification will disable write-caching. You will get a minor slowdown
in Windows, but it won't be too noticeable.


Tip from George Campbell (PCWGeorge)