DOCUMENT:Q120134 20-NOV-1999 [accother] TITLE :Workgroup Add-On for MS-DOS Continuously Accesses Hard Disk PRODUCT :Microsoft Access Distribution Kit PROD/VER:MS-DOS:3.11 OPER/SYS: KEYWORDS: ====================================================================== ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The information in this article applies to: - Microsoft Workgroup Add-On for MS-DOS, version 3.11 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SYMPTOMS ======== When you share a network printer (NET SHARE PRINTER=LPTx) from a Workgroup Add-On for MS-DOS machine and you change to a large directory (more than 50 files), your hard disk continuously spins. This continuous access slows down other commands (such as DIR), making your computer work slower. CAUSE ===== Workgroup Add-On for MS-DOS uses conventional memory to spool print jobs in order to be backwards compatible. This spooler requires buffers or a drive cache to do to operate optimally. RESOLUTION ========== To stop the spooler from continuously accessing the hard disk in large directories, do the following: - Open the AUTOEXEC.BAT file in a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) and set SMARTDRV.EXE as the first statement. -or- - Open the CONFIG.SYS file in a text editor (such as Windows Notepad) and set BUFFERS to a value greater than 30. Additional query words: 3.11 slow wgao ====================================================================== Keywords : Technology : kbAudDeveloper kbWFWSearch kbWFW311DOS Version : MS-DOS:3.11 ============================================================================= THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE MICROSOFT KNOWLEDGE BASE IS PROVIDED "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND. MICROSOFT DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF MICROSOFT CORPORATION OR ITS SUPPLIERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. SOME STATES DO NOT ALLOW THE EXCLUSION OR LIMITATION OF LIABILITY FOR CONSEQUENTIAL OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES SO THE FOREGOING LIMITATION MAY NOT APPLY. Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1999.