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PhL

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MSCDEX /E under DOS 6.22 ?


Is there some risk of using the /E option in MSCDEX for DOS 6.22 ?

I have some problem with SMARTDRV (without the /U option)
writing bad DIR on my hard disk.

Is it possible that DOS4GW would make the think worst ?
Or placing SMARTDRV and/or MSCDEX in High Memory?
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datn

Mscdex.exe /E lets your CD-ROM use expanded memory, if available. Smartdrive /U disables your CD-ROM caching. The Smartdrive /U will therefore override the /E command. Since you are having difficulties with SMARTDRV, I would limit the cache available to Windows by using a large InitCacheSize and a small WinCacheSize in the autoexec.bat.
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ASKER

I think both things can go together...
PhL...

Didn't we cover this one??
Regards
PhL...

An if I didn't here it is:

Command Line Switches

The following is the command line for MSCDEX.EXE:

MSCDEX.EXE: /D:x /M:n /E /V /L:x /S /K

The following table defines the MSCDEX.EXE command-line switches:



Switch                  Definition

/D:<device name>        - Allows you to specify a name for the                             device driver. This name must be                           identical to the device name used in                           the CONFIG.SYS file.

/M:<n>                  - Specifies the number of sector buffers                           used to cache the path table of a                           CD-ROM disk. Typically, each drive                           should have a minimum of four to five                           buffers. The larger this number is, the                           less your computer will have to read                           directly from the CD-ROM drive.

/E                      - Tells MSCDEX.EXE to use expanded memory                           if your system is using expanded                           memory.

/V                      - Displays information on memory usage
                          when you boot your PC.

/L:<drive letter>       - Allows you to specify the letter you                           want to assign to the first CD-ROM                           drive.

/S                      - Allows the CD-ROM to be shared on                            MS-NET based systems.

/K                      - Tells MSCDEX.EXE to use any KANJI                               (Japanese)file structures, if present,                          rather than the default of alphanumeric                          file structures.

I hope that the above information helped to clarify the question.
Regards
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ASKER

The question is more the effect on speed between some
caching inside MSCDEX and SMARTDRV ...
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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magigraf

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ASKER

The point is more about the influence of /E in MSCDEX
and (not /U) in SMARTDRV on the speed and efficiency of
CD-ROM caching ...

What is the best compromise ?

About /U in Smartdrv it seems mandatory for being
able to play VIDEO-CD through an Soft Mpeg player...
PhL...

Your question was if there is any risk of using that /E switch.
Now the answer was NO there is no risk, I posted you more details about the use of each switch.

Again the /E switch tells the CD-Rom to use the EXPANDED memory of your system IF available.

Could you be more clear in what do you mean by "influence".
I don't get it, I'm trying to help you here.

Regards
Avatar of PhL

ASKER

Having a sector cached may speed the access of it !

The access time may depend on weither the sector is cached
in the Expanded memory by MSCDEX or in Extended memory
by SMARTDRV.  What is the best ?

Are the caching policies the same ?
PhL...

You have created a big conversation here with all my Techs.
Yet no one can give a confirmed answer what would be the difference between the 2 ways of caching the CD-ROM.  They appear to say that caching is caching weither it's expanded or extented.

Speed wise?? it does not look like it's an issue here.

Hope this has reassured you for a while until I can get other opinion about that cache argument.

Regards
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ASKER

Caching with SMARTDRV destroys VIDEO-CD reading...
Caching with MSCDEX not...

I will let the question locked for 2 weeks and then give you a C.

If you have more information, tell me !

Regards,

PhL...

Where did you get this kind of information that caching with Smartdrv destroys VIDEO-CD???

Regards
Avatar of PhL

ASKER

Not physically but prevent to read data...

In fact I have ONE VIDEO-CD
It seems that you can read directories as computer data
files BUT if you try to move one of the Video files it is like
a Audio Track you cannot copy it on your hard disk.

My ATI mpeg player can play them if /U is used but not
if caching is done on the CD.

This was the meaning of destroy i.e. make unsutable for use !