Microsoft KB Archive/40435

= SMARTDrive Does Not Support Conventional Memory =

Article ID: 40435

Article Last Modified on 11/16/2006

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APPLIES TO


 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 4.01 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 5.0a
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.0 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.2 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.21 Standard Edition
 * Microsoft MS-DOS 6.22 Standard Edition

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This article was previously published under Q40435



SUMMARY
SMARTDrive, the MS-DOS disk caching driver, supports the use of extended memory and expanded memory, but not conventional memory. SMARTDRV.SYS was designed as a disk caching program for environments with memory that MS-DOS does not use heavily: extended and expanded memory. The maximum 640K of conventional memory is so valuable that most people don't waste it with disk caching.

Most people would rather use this precious conventional memory for running programs, and not for SMARTDrive to speed up their systems. However, if you do want to use SMARTDrive to speed up your system, there are two upgrade paths available, which are as follows:


 * Obtain an expanded memory board (or software to emulate an expanded memory board, such as the MS-DOS version 4.0 driver EMM386.SYS). -or-


 * Obtain an extended memory board.

SMARTDrive can be used in the extended or expanded memory areas. MS-DOS original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) may choose to modify SMARTDrive to support conventional memory if they decide that the memory choices SMARTDrive was designed with are not adequate.

Additional query words: 6.22 4.00 4.01 5.00 5.00a 6.00 6.20

Keywords: KB40435

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