Configuring SMARTDRV.EXE 4.0 DOUBLE_BUFFERING ProperlyLast reviewed: November 21, 1994Article ID: Q82856 |
The information in this article applies to:
SUMMARYFailure to use the double-buffering feature of the SMARTDrive (SMARTDRV.EXE) utility included with the Microsoft Windows version 3.1 when this feature is required may cause MS-DOS virtual machines to crash, Windows to crash at startup, and other random operational problems. The Windows Setup program attempts to install the double-buffering portion of SMARTDrive if Windows detects that it is needed. These problems may occur if the DOUBLE_BUFFERING entry is disabled in the CONFIG.SYS file.
MORE INFORMATIONTo verify whether the SMARTDrive utility is necessary, enter the following command at the MS-DOS command prompt:
smartdrvIf all of the buffering entries list "no", then double buffering is not necessary. If the double-buffering entry is contained within the CONFIG.SYS file, it may be disabled. The entry in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file should not be disabled. If the 32-Bit Disk Access option is available, then double-buffering is probably not necessary. If the 32-Bit Disk Access option is not available, the following command line should be present in the CONFIG.SYS file
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFERwhere C is the drive and Windows is the directory location of the Windows 3.1 SMARTDrive utility. If at any time the buffering entries list "yes", then the problem has been corrected. If the entry "-" appears in the DEVICE= buffering line, SMARTDrive hasn't yet determined if double buffering is necessary. This entry may be forced to change (from a "-" to a "yes" or a "no") by one of the following methods:
DEVICE=C:\WINDOWS\SMARTDRV.EXE /DOUBLE_BUFFER+where C is the drive and Windows is the directory location of the Windows 3.1 SMARTDrive utility. Usually, a better approach is to disable the 32-Bit Disk Access option and use a temporary swap file. If the machine continues to exhibit random operational problems while the 32-Bit Disk Access option is disabled, install the DOUBLE_BUFFER+ entry into the CONFIG.SYS file. Because "instance faults" on the double buffer may still occur, the complete solution is to load a 4K memory buffer before and after the double-buffer line in the CONFIG.SYS file. (Most any driver will work, as long as it does not contain Windows instance data. The idea is to ensure there is no Windows instance data in the same 4K page[s] as the double buffer.)
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KBCategory: kbsetup kbenv
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