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From: labc-1id@e260-1b.berkeley.edu (Joe Chung)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.amiga.hardware
Subject: Re: Is B.A.D any G.O.O.D? (RTFM)
Message-ID: <1991Mar17.064911.2950@agate.berkeley.edu>
Date: 17 Mar 91 06:49:11 GMT
References: <3592@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM> <1991Mar16.233204.17008@starnet.uucp>
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I've read more than enough complaints about B.A.D. not being able to optimize
a boot partition without trashing it, that I feel compelled to set the record
straight.

In the Manual ( Yes I know it's skimppy ) that comes with the package. It
clears warns you that if you're going to optimize the boot partition, or any
partition that contains the l: directory to:

ASSIGN L: to another directory

The reason is that B.A.D. needs to call the L:Disk-Validator after
optimization, and if it doesn't find it, then since the disk structure has
been completely re-arranged by now, there's no way for the new information
to get updated!!

The newest version of B.A.D. (v4.12) is out and it features a virtual ram
device for those large partitions, ( ie it allows you to pick another hd
partition to act as ram: ) so you don't have to resort to installing new ram
chips just to optimize a large partition. Incidentally, B.A.D.  requires
about 20K of ram per 1meg of a partition.

How good is it?

Well, B.A.D. is NOT just a defragmenter.  It's other main function is
placing either .info files or dir info in optimum places so that AmigaDos
can get at those information with the least amount of access.  A floppy disk
with a screen full of icons can completely be opened displayed in 3
seconds!! ( I've tried this before )

Note: I'm in no way affliated with the product.  Just a satisfied user.

-jc
--
labc-1id@web.berkeley.edu
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