MS DOS Command: SMARTDRV.EXE

Reference from Microsoft MS-DOS cmd help

Description

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.

Remarks

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.

Examples

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