SMARTDrive Can't Load with Syntax Errors or Incorrect Options

• Microsoft Windows operating system versions 3.1, 3.11
• Microsoft Windows for Workgroups versions 3.1, 3.11
• Microsoft MS-DOS operating system versions 6.0, 6.2, 6.21, 6.22

SYMPTOMS

If a syntax error occurs when you try to load SMARTDrive version 4.0, 4.1, 4.2, or 5.0 from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file or the MS-DOS command line, SMARTDrive does not load. Instead of displaying an error message, SMARTDrive displays the online help screen. This screen contains the same information that is displayed if you type "SMARTDRV /?" (without the quotation marks) at the MS-DOS command prompt.

Similarly, if the /C or /Q switches are used on the command line to load SMARTDrive from the AUTOEXEC.BAT file, SMARTDrive does not load, but it also does not display any information, even if /V (Verbose) switch is used.

CAUSE

Any syntax errors that appear on the command line used to load SMARTDrive generate these problems. For example, if you try to enable write-behind caching for drive C by typing "+C" (instead of "C+") at the end of the SMARTDRV.EXE command line, SMARTDrive does not load, and the online help information is displayed (even if you specified a /Q switch, which normally prevents the display of SMARTDrive information on the screen).

In addition, the following command line switches prevent SMARTDrive from loading:

   Command Line Option              Purpose
   -------------------              -------

   /C                               Writes all cached information to
                                    the hard disk.

   /S                               Displays additional information about
                                    the status of SMARTDrive.

   /?                               Displays online help about SMARTDrive.