SMARTDrive Settings and Windows Running in Standard Mode

 Last reviewed: November 30, 1994
Article ID: Q82375
The information in this article applies to:
  • Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11

SUMMARY

If you use the default parameters for SMARTDrive, Microsoft Windows does not automatically start in enhanced mode on 386/486s with only 2 MB of memory. You must either remove SMARTDrive (SMARTDRV.EXE) from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or reduce the cache size.

MORE INFORMATION

SMARTDrive defaults to a 256K cache size. This reduces the amount of extended memory below what is required to automatically start Windows in enhanced mode.

NOTE: You can try to force Windows into enhanced mode even though memory is low with this command: 

   WIN /3
If you need more memory for Windows 3.1, change the settings of SMARTDrive in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. The actual values needed vary depending on the device drivers and TSRs being loaded from the CONFIG.SYS and AUTOEXEC.BAT files. A good starting value to try is: 

   Smartdrv.exe 256 128
The first value specifies the size of the cache when in MS-DOS, and the second value specifies the size of the cache while Windows is running.

If this does not allow Windows to run in enhanced mode by default, lower the second value until Windows starts in enhanced mode by default.

Before experimenting with SMARTDrive values, Microsoft recommends that you remark out SMARTDrive (use the REM command), and ensure that Windows runs in enhanced mode by default without SMARTDrive installed. To make these changes take effect, reboot your computer.

KBCategory: kbsetup kbenv
KBSubcategory: win31 winmem
Additional reference words: 3.10 smartdrv smart drive 3.11

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Last reviewed: November 30, 1994
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