🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <1992Aug13.040731.2286@cs.mcgill.ca> tennis@cs.mcgill.ca (Pascal PROULX) writes:

>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.

Ok.

>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.

This could happen without smartdrive.  Windows is unpredicatble about when
it will decide to write something to disk.  Solution: don't turn your
PC off without exiting Windows and parking your drive heads.

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

This could happen without smartdrive, too.  Solution: buy a UPS.  Nothing
else can give you nearly perfect protection.


>Tip from George Campbell (PCWGeorge)
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