Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!bonnie.concordia.ca!ccu.umanitoba.ca!herald.usask.ca!alberta!ubc-cs!uw-beaver!mit-eddie!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!crdgw1!uunet!timbuk!cs.umn.edu!sialis!orbit!incstar!lhotka
From: lhotka@incstar.uucp
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: General Question Concerning Win3
Message-ID: <2597.27ba537d@incstar.uucp>
Date: 14 Feb 91 09:08:13 GMT
References: <167@cf_su20.cf_su10.Sbi.COM> <91040.131439NU055554@NDSUVM1.BITNET> <91041.010342MJLEPPER@MTUS5.BITNET>
Organization: INCSTAR Corp, Stillwater MN
Lines: 47

In article <91041.010342MJLEPPER@MTUS5.BITNET>, MJLEPPER@MTUS5.BITNET writes:
> I'm currently experimenting with Win3 on a 12MHz 286 computer with 1 Meg RAM
> and a 40 Meg HD.  I've raised a few questions during this time that I can't
> figure out.
> 
> 1 ) While formatting a disk through the file manager, _ALL_ activity stops,
>     this also occurs during copies.  Why can't the format become another
>     process, or does it really need all that processor time.
> 

Windows doesn't get this capability unless you are running with a 386
machine with at least 2 megs of RAM.  On the other hand, I have tried this
on a 25 mhz 386 with 4 megs of RAM and it still locked up the whole
machine...  Not too impressive...  Alternately I got the machine to keep
running, but the format stopped whenever the window was in the
background...

> 2 ) I've experimented with various configurations of HIMEM.SYS and SMARTDRV.SYS
>     and have found that I get the most memory available, and the best perform-
>     ance if I have HIMEM installed, w/o SMARTDRV.  If I get more memory (2.5 or
>     4 Meg ), should I enable the cache?

Good question - I look forward to the answers on this one!  Virtually all
of our machines have at least 2 meg and we leave the cache turned on,
prefering to let Windows install what it feels it needs, but I would be
most interested to hear whether this is a wise move...

> 
> 3 ) Switching between DOS apps and Windows is painfully slow, would this be
>     inproved with more RAM, or more free disk space ( I only have 5 Meg free
>     on the HD )
> 

Virtually all problems with speed can be solved by adding memory.  1 meg is
never enough to be practical for Windows in my experience.  You need at
least 512k extra, more like another meg or two.  Especially if you start
trying to run larger things like W4W you'll find that you need at least
another 512k to make the application run fast enough to be useful.

We have a 286 with only 512k added, but that 512k makes a VERY large
difference in speed - no comparison to a 1 meg machine!!
 ______________________________________________________________________
/ Rockford Lhotka				INCSTAR Corp	       \
| Applications Project Leader			1990 Industrial Blvd   |
| incstar!lhotka@uunet.uu.net         		PO Box 285             |
\ 612/779-1701					Stillwater, MN 55082   /
 -------------Amiga - The computer for the creative mind.--------------