Microsoft KB Archive/26623

Drive Types That SMARTDrive Will Cache PSS ID Number: Q26623 Article last modified on 11-18-1992 PSS database name: W_Win3

2.0x 2.10 2.11 3.00

WINDOWS |

Summary:

The disk-cache utility supplied with Windows (SMARTDRV.SYS) caches only nonremovable hard drives that operate on the IBM ROM INT 13H interface using drive numbers starting at 80H. SMARTDrive does not cache network drives, RAM drives, or removable drives of any kind, including floppy drives and removable hard drives such as the Iomega Bernoulli Box. These drive types do not use INT 13H.

Since SMARTDrive is operating at the INT 13H level of the system, all logical partitioning schemes that operate above the INT 13H interface will not be cached. SMARTDrive caches all hard-disk activity (up to 16 physical drives) that is processed by the INT 13H interface.

Note: The number of physical hard drives is the number returned in the DL register on an AH=08 INT 13H call. SMARTDrive caches logical drives if the physical drive uses INT 13H.

SMARTDrive frequently does not work correctly on hard disks with third-party partitioning software such as Disk Manager and Priam hard disk partitioning utilities.

Additional reference words: win286, win30, win386

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1992.