Norton Desktop for Windows DiskCopy Slow

 Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
Article ID: Q82073
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system version 3.1, 3.11

SYMPTOMS

Norton Desktop for Windows' (NDW) DiskCopy copies slowly when used with Microsoft Windows SMARTDrive (SMARTDRV.EXE) version 4.0. Using Windows 3.1 or 3.11, it may take more than twice as long to copy a disk as it does under Windows 3.0.

CAUSE

This slowdown occurs because NDW's DiskCopy uses disk access that is not optimal for SMARTDrive 4.0.

WORKAROUND

To correct this problem:

  1. Edit the AUTOEXEC.BAT file using a standard ASCII text editor such as Windows Notepad.

  2. Modify the SMARTDRV.EXE line to disable the floppy cache 

          C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE A- B- xxxx yyyy

    where "xxxx" refers to the SMARTDRV cache size at the MS-DOS level (before Windows starts). "yyyy" refers to the size of the cache after Windows starts.

    The sample line above disables the cache for both floppy drives (that is drives A and B). To disable caching on a drive, type the drive letter and a minus sign. For example, the following line disables caching on drive C: 

          SMARTDRV.EXE C-

Norton Desktop for Windows is manufactured by Symantec Corporation, a vendor independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding this product's performance or reliability.

KBCategory: kb3rdparty kbenv
KBSubcategory: Win31
Additional reference words: 3.10 3.11 NDW Norbert decrease late

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Last reviewed: November 23, 1994
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