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From: colfelt@news.colorado.edu (COLFELT ANDREW BRINTON W)
Subject: Re: ---Catch-All for Windows Problems---
Message-ID: <colfelt.674977066@tramp.Colorado.EDU>
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References: <colfelt.674898394@tramp.Colorado.EDU> <3463@travis.csd.harris.com> <JOHN.91May22213035@utafll.utafll.uta.edu>
Date: 23 May 91 05:37:46 GMT
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john@utafll.uta.edu (John Baima) writes:

>I've had more success with SmartDrv than the PC-TOOLS disk cache. I
>switched to PC-TOOLS a few weeks ago (and made some other changes at
>the same time) and Windows went *BOOM* quite a lot. Now it's only
>sometimes :-)

In response to my own question regarding the Norton Cache vs. SmartDrv,
I did some experimenting.

I took the ole stopwatch and keen eyeball to starting Windows.  (What prompted
this was a temporary Windows spasm- DOS programs that ALWAYS run full screen
with no problem wouldn't load?!  Hard drive light just stayed on and no 
response from any keys (my 'crucial test' indicated a fatality; the NUMLOCK
light response!) so I thought I'd try using the Norton Cache instead of 
SmartDrv, which seemed to be the cause of this problem the other day...a VERY
random spasm). 

---Pause for a tangent---
Incidentally, for those of you curious about the small
and inconsequential, though sometimes useful: you can tell if Windows is
going to come up in Enhanced mode or Real mode BEFORE it comes up!  That is,
if you desire Enhanced mode but are unsure whether or not you'll get it
because of memory dispute, the secret message to look for is on the screen
between Windows 3.0 Logo and the desktop (Wallpaper, whatever you see
when running windows).  
	-If the logo blanks out and the screen goes totally blank, and then
	you see the desktop, you'll be in Real mode.
	-If the logo blanks out and then a cursor flashes in the Upper left
	corner on an otherwise blank screen, and then you see the desktop, 
	you'll be in enhanced mode!
So, if you're fooling around and experimenting with different config's, timing
the loading process, whatever, and you don't see the cursor, don't waste your
time waiting to see the final result; hit Crtl-C and try another config.
---End of tangent---

Anyway, I tried using the Norton Cache but couldn't figure out how to 
specify memory values, so it took all it could and this put me in Real mode.
I 'lost' the manual...  My suspiscion is that the Norton Cache will do the 
same thing as the PCTools cache did to you, though I can't be sure for sure.

I don't remember who posted the reply before yours, but he said that the 
Microsoft help line told him that SmartDrv isn't a real cache and that a
cache of the PCTools or Qualitas variety would be better.  Why isn't SmartDrv
a real cache?  You're proof that the PCTools solution is a bad one...
