Using Multiple Software Disk Caches Can Destroy Data (73584)


The information in this article applies to:
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.1
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.2
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.21
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 3.3a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 4.01
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 5.0a
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.0
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.2
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.21
    • Microsoft MS-DOS operating system 6.22
This article was previously published under Q73584

SUMMARY

Using multiple software disk caches concurrently can cause corruption in the file allocation table (FAT) or in individual files.

MORE INFORMATION

When running more than one disk cache, information can be thrown from one cache to another. This can create problems if the code exists in more than one cache at the time a program is requested. The first cache may intercept and hold information for later writing, while the second cache may not have all the code it needs to return the proper data for processing.

Some common disk caches are:
    • PCKwik
    • Icache
    • Ncache
    • Dcache
    • Fast
    • PC-Cache
    • Mcache
The MS-DOS utility FASTOPEN is not a disk cache per se, but instead speeds up repeat accesses of files. You may find it useful with applications that repeatedly reopen the same files, such as a database or compiler. In general, a disk cache will increase performance much more than FASTOPEN.

The products included here are manufactured by vendors independent of Microsoft; we make no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding these products' performance or reliability.
Modification Type: Major Last Reviewed: 5/12/2003
Keywords: KB73584
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