Re: XP's LargeSystemCache can cause data corruption?

Tech-Archive recommends: Fix windows errors by optimizing your registry

From: Arno Wagner (me_at_privacy.net)
Date: 12/08/04 

Date: 8 Dec 2004 00:34:22 GMT

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage David Peters <notmymail@mail.com> wrote:
> I came across a few slightly differing explanations on the Net which
> told me that setting the value of 'LargeSystemCache' in XP could lead
> to data corruption.

> Below are two extracts which I found on Google.

> Is what the first extract says just a myth or is it actually true?

> Dave

> ==================================

> HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer

> LargeSystemCache=0 For 512MB RAM or more set to 1 for potential
> performance improvement.

> Note that data corruption may occur if the Large System Cache feature
> is enabled in Windows XP. If you have more than 512MB of RAM, a large
> NTFS disk or multiple large volumes (60-100 gigabyte hard drives
> possibly in RAID arrays), and/or AGP graphics with large AGP resource
> requirements (AGP aperture greater than default) then you will get
> hard drive corruption. Don't enable Large System Cache in these
> circumstances, i.e use LargeSystemCache=0.

> [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \System \CurrentControlSet \Control \Session
> Manager \Memory Management]
> LargeSystemCache=1

> OR: Control Panel -> System-Applet -> Advanced-Tab -> Performance-
> Settings-Button -> Advanced-Tab then select "System Cache" option

> ==================================

> http://snakefoot.fateback.com/tweak/winnt/tweak.html says ...

> "enabling the large system cache can be fatal when working with files
> that takes more space than there is RAM. Because the file will be
> allowed to occupy all the RAM and force Windows to use the swap file,
> which makes the system extremely slow.

> For example this can happen when copying an ISO file from one HDD to
> another, or when someone copies a movie from your machine over the
> network, or if running a disk benchmark program."

> ================================== 

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