China DOS Union

SMARTDRV.EXE is a program file used to create a disk cache area in extended memory, thereby reducing the time needed to read from and write to the hard disk. It can only be used when the system has both a hard disk and extended memory. SMARTDRV.EXE can be run from the command line, and it can also create double buffering through CONFIG.SYS, to provide compatibility for hard disk controllers that cannot run properly in the memory provided by EMM386 or in WINDOWS386 enhanced mode.

1、-------------Command-line mode
SMARTDRV
DRIVE +/- specifies that a certain disk has disk caching enabled. If +/- is not added, it means read caching only is allowed.
/E:block size Specifies the basic amount of data SMARTDRIVE moves each time between memory and disk.
The block size can only be 1024/2048/4096/8192
INIT CACHE SIZE The size of the disk cache that SMARTDRIVE has when starting up, in K
The larger this value is, the better the effect on disk access operations
WIN CACHE SIZE Specifies how much cache SMARTDRIVE will reduce for WINDOWS.
/B:BUFFER SIZE indicates the size of the buffer. The larger the buffer, the more conventional memory it uses. The default is 16
/C writes all buffer information in memory to the hard disk
/R clears all cache contents and restarts SMARTDRIVE
/L does not load the SMARTDRV.EXE program into the UMB. Without this parameter, the system will automatically load SMARTDRV.EXE into the UMB
/V sets SMARTDRIVE to display status information on the screen when it starts
/Q does not display status information, but if the program executes with an error, it will be shown
/S displays additional information

2、--------------Create double buffers
Use DEVICE in CONFIG.SYS to load the device driver SMARTDRV.EXE. The function of double buffering is to provide compatibility for those hard disk controllers that cannot work in the memory provided by EMM386 or when WINDOWS is running in 386 enhanced mode. The double-buffering part of SMARTDRIVE must be loaded into conventional memory and occupies 2K of space.
The user cannot load it with DEVICEHIGH.
The format is: DEVICE=SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER /D+
If it loads successfully, the SMARTDRV.EXE program should be run. At this time, the Buffering column will all show “yes”.

You've got me beat.

Thanks for the materials you provided, saved.

I’ve heard about SMARTDRV for a long time, but I really have never actually used it. I want to try installing WIN2K or WINXP in DOS, but because I heard SMARTDRV has to be loaded, I’ve never dared to try rashly. Experts, could you please give me a detailed operating procedure based on my actual situation, so I can try it once in a foolproof way? My machine has 256 MB of memory, the WIN2K installation package is on drive F, and the file format is FAT32. SMARTDRV is already included on the WIN98 boot CD I made myself, so how exactly should I operate it? Also, how should I set the SMARTDRV block size and buffer size? What are the exact commands?　　
　　I’m only a beginner newbie, so I’m bound to be a bit troublesome, please forgive me. Thanks in advance to all the experts here.

You don't need to add any parameters. Just run smartdrv directly, then cd i386, winnt.

Written pretty well!! There aren't any typos.

What is EMM386
What is WINDOWS 386 enhanced mode and what is extended memory
I don't know~ Please advise~~

Many thanks to expert HUNOME for the guidance, I’ll boldly give it a try, thanks again!

I’m a newbie, and I hope the veterans can give me more guidance on how to use other common DOS commands. Thanks here!!!

Why can't I see it

The Win98 installation files contain smartdrv.exe. Copy it to the hard disk and run it under DOS, then you can install Win2K or WinXP...

Boss, thanks. A couple of days ago, I installed winXP and forgot to load the smartdrv.exe file. It took a full 4 hours to install, and watching the hard disk light stay on the whole time just about broke my heart.

No way! Man. You installed XP without loading SMARTDRV.EXE. Hehe

Strong, wow, that's enough time for me to install it eight times